Books, Number One

Number One: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

This is it. And while I said that the rankings on this "Top Ten" varies with my mood, this one is always on the top of the list. It is without a doubt the best book I've ever read, and my absolute favorite. While I learned valuable life lessons from Herbert's Dune, Stranger in a Strange Land changed the way I think; about life, about religion, about politics, about human nature, about everything. Perhaps it's because I was introduced to Heinlein as I began college and was young and idealistic, and this book appealed to my broadening horizons, but I think that in addition to that, this book really does encourage acceptance of other points of view. The story of Michael Valentine Smith, the Man from Mars, as he learns what it is to be a human, is an amazing and ultimately emotionally gut wrenching tale. Beautifully crafted and engaging, this one is another that I think should be required reading for high schoolers everywhere. Most importantly, however, this is the book that introduced me to Heinlein's work. I freely admit to being an avid Heinlein fan, having read all of his published fiction and several of his essays. I could easily have done a list of "Top Ten Heinlein" novels and had a difficult time narrowing it down to just ten titles. The man was a genius and undisputed Grand Master of Science Fiction.


This book is both of it's time (it was published in 1961) and decades ahead of it's time. Hell, it this book had been written today, it would STILL be decades ahead of it's time. Truly a magnificent piece of literature.


So there it is. My top ten list (plus some close runners up), culminating in the best book I've ever read.


What do you think? How does it measure up to your top ten list? What books to we have in common? What books did I exclude that you'd have listed instead?

Books, the Runners Up

Before we get to the number one book on my list, I'm going to tease you a little bit. As is the case with any "top ten" list, there were some really good books that didn't make it onto the list, but are still worthy of mention, and definitely worth your time to read . . .


Here then, are the "Honorable Mention" books. In no particular order . . .


The God Game by Andrew Greeley



A Catholic priest is playing an "interactive fiction" computer game when lightning strikes and suddenly his "game" is real and he's controlling the lives of people in a parallel world. It's not quite as silly as it sounds. Great examination of modern religious themes while still being a really fun read.











Wicked by Gregory Maguire

The story of the Wicked Witch of the West prior to Dorothy's arrival. This book, the basis for the hit Broadway musical and the upcoming film, is a fantastic examination of what is viewed as "good" and "bad" in our society. The pretty yet vain and selfish girl is lauded because she conforms, while the unusual looking girl who champions the cause of the underdog is labeled "wicked" because she is different, and refuses to to be quiet. Brilliant book (if a bit slow in the beginning) with wonderful characters and enough twists on the familiar plot to make it interesting.






The Spellsinger Series by Alan Dean Foster



Jon Thomas is high one night when he accidentally answers the summons of a turtle wizard from an alternate dimension. In a world predominantly populated by talking animals "JonTom" discovers that he can make magic by playing music. At home he'd be called a "slacker", but now he's a hero. Fun series of books following JonTom's adventures with his sidekick, Mudge the otter. Kind of a "fluff" read, but lots of laughs, and a few tugs at the heartstrings along the way.






The Incarnations of Immortality Series by Piers Anthony

Another great series of books that I started reading while in college. Essentially, the immortal incarnations of Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Good, and Evil are not godlike beings, but humans who have taken office for a period of time. With each post comes unique tools and responsibilities. What appears early on to be a set of stand-alone stories about individual "office holders" turns out to be one big story tying them all together. It's beautifully done, and the ending is as satisfying as the rest of the series is thought provoking.

The Charm School by Nelson DeMille

One of the last great "Cold War" novels. This is a very intense, action packed story about a couple of Americans who discover that the KGB has kept American P.O.W.s captive for years and is using them to train Soviet spies to infiltrate the United States. The "Charm School" in the title refers to the mock Midwestern town that the soviets have built as the location for this training. So many unexpected twists and turns in this story kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through.















Okay, that does it for the "also rans". I'll be back tomorrow to tell you about my favorite book.

Books, Number Two

Getting down to the wire . . . I think this one will surprise some people.

Number Two: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling


I'm guessing that there are several of my friends who expected the book representing the Harry Potter series to be listed in first place. It was tough choosing just one book in Rowling's magnificent Harry Potter saga, but ultimately I chose the final installment because it brings the series to such a satisfactory conclusion. This one was a tough read because I was so torn between wanting to find out what happens next and not wanting to finish the series and be forced to leave Harry's world and return to the world of the muggles. This imaginative, vivid, and exciting adventure has brought me hours and hours of joy, and I have no doubt it will be hailed as a classic for decades to come. I pity any adults that have dismissed this series as "children's books" because J.K. Rowling has spun a very sophisticated tale that appeals as much to adults as it does to children.

Honestly, this one isn't the number one book on my list, because I simply can't single out one book in the series that is better than the others. It's one beautiful epic. Plus no single book in this series affected me in the way that the number one book does. Not that these books, with their message that the magic of love and friendship are powerful enough to defeat the evils of prejudice and greed don't affect me deeply. They do; just not as much as the last book on my list.

Not including my mom (who already knows) any guesses as to what the last book on the list is?

Books, Number Three

Now it's getting serious.

Number Three: Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
It should be no surprise that after I praised another book as being the "Gay Gone With the Wind" that the actual GWTW would be on this list as well. I'd argue that this is THE great American novel, and that Scarlett O'Hara is a tragic heroine worthy of Shakespeare. I honestly have nothing bad to say about this book. I saw the movie version, first and then picked up the book in college when I wanted something to read for fun. I'd loved the movie, but the book is . . . well, it's Gone With the Wind. That pretty much says it all.

Books, Number Four

Birthday celebrations are over, so we're back with


Number Four: Dune by Frank Herbert


Dune. What else needs to be said? This (and all the subsequent Dune novels) stands as one of the great monuments of Science Fiction storytelling. It's deep, it's complex, the characters are conflicted, passionate, and emotionally engaging. Yes, the terminology is quite esoteric, and you have to pick up some of the jargon as you go, but it's worth it, as Herbert was a master storyteller. I picked up SO many life lessons in this series. (Fear is the mind killer . . . ) The use of "spice" as the symbol for "oil" in our own society is obvious, yet the reader never feels like he's being preached to; or like the "message" is more important than the story itself. I am also a fan of the other Dune books, both written by Frank Herbert and those written after his death by his son Brian Herbert with Kevin J. Anderson using Frank Herbert's notes. Overall, they're great stories, with great characters, with universal themes. That's what makes the Dune novels classics as well as a damn good read.

Two 21 Year Olds . . .

We interrupt this top ten books list for a bit of reflection. We'll get back to the book list shortly, so the two of you who are anxiously awaiting the last four books will be able to read my inane ramblings soon.

So today is my birthday. Today, I'm officially old enough to purchase and consume alcohol. TWICE OVER! That's right, I'm the equivalent of two 21 year olds.

And yes, my "dirty old man joke" all day has been "If you're only as old as you feel, I'm going to go feel two 21 year olds!" I didn't actually get to fondle any young hotties, today. Too much other stuff to do. But when we make it back to Parliament House, I'll tip the dancing boys, and reflect that one guy in his forties is probably better than two twinks, anyway. And Scott . . . well Scott is worth more than all of them put together; I'm a very lucky guy.

Back in September of last year, I blogged about how Facebook scares me sometimes. Today, my observation on Facebook is completely different.

Today, Facebook rocks!

I know it's really easy to click on the birthdays list and fire off a quick "Hey, have a great one" message; but I really wasn't prepared for the birthday messages from well over a hundred people.

I send birthday messages all the time. Like I said, it's easy. But being on the receiving end, is a bit overwhelming. In the best way. Even if it was for the briefest moment of their day, all of those people stopped and thought about me, and took a bit of time to say "hi, hope you're doing well". It makes up for all the maddening things about Facebook (like farmville, and fishytown, etc). It reminds us that in the end, it's about keeping in touch with the people who are in our lives, however briefly, however trivially, however near, however long term, however importantly, however far away. They're right there.

No, it's not any less scary than it was last September when worlds collided, but today, the cool part of it shines through.

And it got me thinking about the really amazing people I've been lucky enough to have in my life. Not just my wonderful family, and my perfect partner; but people that I've know from grade school, up to people that I work with now. I've been truly blessed with some remarkable people in my life. And they mean the world to me, even if we don't keep in touch as much as we'd like.

If I've amassed such a remarkable group of friends in the first 42 years of my life, I can't wait to see what it's like when I'm another 21 year old along . . .

Books, Number Five

Rolling right along with the Top Ten. From here on out, I'm only going to do one book per post, so the blog titles jump from "Part Three" to "Number Five". I'm trusting you to all make the leap, and not let this confuse you. Please don't disappoint me by asking, "where's four?". LOL

Number Five: First Among Equals by Jeffery Archer

I'm a big fan of Jeffery Archer's novels, and re-read several of them from time to time. Of all of his novels, this one about three men (or four men, depending on which version you've got your hands on) with ambitions to be Prime Minister of Great Britain is my favorite. I love the inside look at British politics (Archer was himself a Member of Parliament) and the main characters are very well drawn, leading to some fantastic plot twists. As good as Archer's other works (such as As the Crow Flies, The Prodigal Daughter, or A Matter of Honor) are, this one is just slightly a cut above them, so it lands on this list. The original version of this book, published in the U.K. with four men from three political parties vying for Prime Minister; was edited for American audiences; released as the "American Version" and has only three main characters, and two political parties. I've read both, and for the life of me can't decide which version I like better. Either way, it's one of my favorites, and I've read both versions over and over again.

Books, Part Three

Rob's Top Ten Books continues with

Number Seven: Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
I picked this one up immediately after reading and loving The DaVinci Code, and thought this one was SO much better. One of the more recent on my list, I've still read it multiple times. It evokes it's locale beautifully and makes me want to return to Rome. Meticulously researched, with a fast moving plot, this one is really hard to put down. I really loved the back story on the Catholic Church and how they had suppressed knowledge over the centuries to maintain power, but honestly the gripping story is the best thing about this one.

Number Six: Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
I'd almost put the entire Tales of the City series on this list, including his latest Michael Tolliver Lives; but I promised to list only one book per author, so I'll list this gateway into the wonderful world of 28 Barbary Lane. This series is very character driven, and the characters are amazing. I'd argue that the character of Michael Tolliver is among the best characters in the world of gay literature, and his journey through the seven books is moving, amusing, and life affirming. Our much-loved and very spoiled dachshund, Tolliver, is named after him.

Well, that's the first five down. Any guesses as to which books will show up listed among the other five?

Books, Part Two

Continuing with the Top Ten Books list, two books that start in the Jazz Age:


Number Nine: Auntie Mame, an Irreverent Escapade by Patrick Dennis

The book that is credited with introducing "camp" to the mainstream. This collection of anecdotes about growing up with an eccentric aunt is as heartwarming as it is funny--and it's VERY funny. The basis of two stage shows and two movies (one musical and one non-musical of each medium), it also spawned a sequel entitled Around the World with Auntie Mame, which is also a favorite. This book should be required reading for schoolchildren everywhere as a primer on "be who you are, not who others tell you that you should". I can't sing the praises of Madcap Mame enough. She's the crazy aunt that everyone wishes they'd had; but even more, the wise inner child each of us harbors, and should let out to play more often. Inevitably, re-reading this book leads to a re-viewing of Auntie Mame on DVD starring the incomparable Rosalind Russel, but the discussion of that wonderful movie is fodder for another blog post entirely.

Number Eight: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Ah, the jazz age classic of intrigues, forbidden loves, and the mysterious title character as viewed by an "objective" outsider in the form of Nick Carraway (who narrates). I read this book on the recommen-dation of my High School English teacher when I couldn't decide on a "classic" to read for a book report. He thought I'd like it, and he was right. It's a classic for a reason. It's very well crafted and engaging. And it always makes me crave a mint julep in a silver cup. The unexpected plot twists, and convergence of story lines, Gatsby's longing, and the ending where no one seems to be happy, or even capable of happiness, is all so tragically beautiful.

More from the top ten list soon . . .

Books, Part One

One of my facebook friends re-circulated that "Books you should read before you die" list my way again recently. I'd seen it before, and frankly, it annoys me. Why should I bother checking boxes next to book titles that someone else says I should read? How do my friends get to know anything about me from that? Or, perhaps more importantly, how do they get any idea of what books I actually liked? I'm sure that the person or people who compiled that list meant well, but that list for for them; not for me. So, as I attempt to start blogging more consistantly again I'm going to give you the run down of my Top 10 books of all time. They're not listed in any particular order. And in order to keep specific authors from monopolizing the list, I also limited myself to one book per author, and tried to choose the work that most represents what I love about his or her work. I also tried to only list the books that are comfortable old friends. The books that I come back to and re-read only to discover new and exciting things each time I pick them up. I've read all of these books many times, and I recommend them all highly to anyone who will stand still long enough for me to gush about them. Consider yourself warned. If you ask me about any of these books in person, get comfortable and get ready for me to talk your ear off.


So here's the first one; and since this is a "Top 10" we'll observe the convention and number from ten backwards. Even though the "ranking" varies with my mood, the season, or the direction of the wind.


Number Ten: Like People in History by Felice Picano

I (and many others) have frequently described this book as the "Gay Gone with the Wind". It tracks the life of it's protagonist (Roger) through several decades, cities, friends, and lovers. It's beautiful, it's poetic, and it makes me cry every time I read it. Just as Gone With the Wind covers the changing times in the South during and after the Civil War through the viewpoint of one person, Like People in History does the same thing with the gay rights movement and AIDS epidemic. It manages to be very personal, yet kind of epic in scope all at the same time.

The rest of the list will follow soon . . .