40 Books in 40 Weeks
I failed my attempt to read 40 books in 40 weeks in 2004. Truth be told, I
would have easily exceeded the goal of 40 books had my personal time not been
monopolized by a very enjoyable, but all-comsuming project. I literally
had no free time for the last two months of 2004. Ah, well. So it goes.
Regardless, I found my progress has instilled in me a great sense of
encouragement for the new year.
Goodbye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton (33)
This timeless classic is as poignant and beautiful and heartwarming and
heart-wrenching as I was told it would be. Wonderful, wonderful little
book.
Bad Trip by Joel Miller (32)
Informative and thorough analysis of the war on drugs and its effect on our
law enforcement agencies, government budgets, prison systems, privacy laws,
and over all quality of American life. Well written, painstakingly researched,
and thankfully concise.
Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay (31)
A highly satirical, Vonegut-like graphic novel about people in the distant
future (the year 4022) excavating a third-rate motel as if it were a
catacombs. Worth a chuckle or two.
Blankets by Craig Thompson (30)
Long graphic novel (500+ pages) about a young man caught between his religious
devotion and affection for a young girl named Raina. Heartfelt, poignant.
Time magazine nailed it in two words: "achingly beautiful."
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (29)
Goddamnit this thing is depressing! Brilliant writing, but christ almighty.
Somebody should have given Miller a fucking Coke and a smile.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (28)
Flippant fairy tale of dreamlands, pirates, blood-spill, and fairies.
A cynic's delight. Wonderfully sarcastic. Planted a big dumb smile on my
face.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (27)
Brilliant depiction of racism and childhood in an old Southern town.
Definitely worthy of it's Pulitzer.
Sketchbook Diaries by James Kochalka (26)
A comic diary of James Kochalka's life between October 1998 and October 1999.
Every day before he want to bed, Kochalka penned a 4-panel strip about an event
in his day. Deeply personal, odd, funny, and adorable. A treasure.
The Hero's Trail by T.A. Barron (27)
Blah! Sappy little book on heroes written with an almost condescending tone
to an audience of children. Although there were a few interesting stories
inside I had not yet heard, most of them I knew already.
The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron (25)
Beautifully written tale of young Merlin (you know, the magician), and his
adventures to save Fincayra. Very Tolkein. Wonderful. Enjoyable to read.
(J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter tales, which were published two years after
Barron's first book, have so many similarities to his work, it's scary.)
True Porn edited by Kelli Nelson and Robyn Chapman (24)
A graphic novel anthology of ~50 sex-related stories, all illustrated (some
graphically), all supposedly real. It's like a slow-motion car wreck of awkward
social disfunction and twisted sexual deviancy. The bottom line? Graphic novel
artists/writers are fucked up. But I'm not complaining. I'm just as fucked up.
And it makes for interesting reading.
32 Stories by Adrian Tomine (23)
A graphic novel collection from young Tomine. His more recent work is stifled,
dry, and insanely depressing, but (in this case) his work as a young man shows
a gifted, curious, irreverent spirit. At times hilarious, at times poignant.
9 Stories by Salinger (22)
In this collection of short stories, Salinger uses children as major characters
to reflect on the innocence of childhood and the trauma of losing it. The
result is pure genius.
Summer Blonde by Adrian Tomine (21)
This more recent work of the matured Adrian Tomine can only be described as
smart, but pitiful. [Yes, I'm now counting graphic novels ... longer ones
anyway, because I keep finding them in my hands.]
Candide by Voltaire (20)
Oh sumptuous satire! Still scathing and still hilarious. Genius.
The Cunning of History by Richard L. Rubenstein (19)
Brilliant, insightful examination of the holocaust from a very different angle.
The angle is: How bureaucracy was used as a vehicle for the elimination of a
minority within a society. He objectively examines the implications of the
events leading up to the holocaust. He dissects, compares, and contrasts the
bureaucratic machine of Nazi Germany with contemporary American society and
draws alarming parallels. A must-read short book for any conscientious
citizen with a brain.
Fraud by David Rakoff (18)
Hilarious, humble, and human. Delightfully witty, self-effacing, and sad.
Rakoff is the real deal. A book everyone must pick up at some point or another.
A good read for a vacation.
Days of Infamy: Military Blunders of the 20th Century by Michael Coffey (17)
Just as it's title suggests, an interesting little Cliffnotes on the major
blunders of war in the 20th Century. Par. A decent read.
Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnegut (16)
Doesn't achieve the perfection of Slaughterhouse-Five, but dangles within the
general vicinity. A beautiful work. Gufaw and sob worthy. Drenched with
Vonnegut's usual brand of irony.
How To Lose Friends and Alienate People by Toby Young (15)
Toby Young is not a very wise man. He's an excellent writer, but he'll never
write a great novel because he is void of character. His publishing career
memoirs are therefore just as the title suggests: a lesson in failure; of how
not to live. Instead of coming off as a witty skewering of one's own follies,
Toby's story takes on the air of a confused child crying over spilt milk. Sure,
there are a few laughs, but they amount to very little. Everything he says and
does is riddled with idiotic contradictions. He takes pride in finding
disappointment in success and bleeding heartaches in the face of reality. The
epiphany which settles upon him at the conclusion of his story could have been
explained to him by a child at the beginning, if only he'd asked and listened.
In the end his memoir is nothing more than a carefully crafted piece of crap.
It is a story of a simpleton, for simpletons, written with an Oxford education.
What a pathetic waste.
Without Remorse by Tom Clancy (14)
A voluminous and engrossing piece of tripe. A cheaply satisfying story of
revenge. This is the last Clancy novel I will read. At 750 pages with nothing
of substance to express, and a completely implausible all-too-tidy ending, I
find myself disgusted.
Buddha's Child: My Fight To Save Vietnam by Nguyen Cao Ky (13)
Fascinating first-hand account from the former prime minister and air force
commander of South Vietnam. I weighed his words carefully, knowing it was
just one man's viewpoint, but found his brutal honesty disarming and most of
his accounts illuminating. More than just a book of historical value, it's
one man's attempt to detail a life long struggle, which he continues to this
day. A very human story and an excellent book. (unabridged audiobook)
Travels With Charlie by John Steinbeck (12)
Handed to me by (of all people) my old man. He rarely reads these days. He
bought the thing off a rack in a campground a few years back, read it in a day
(goddamn speed readers), and handed it to me, saying, "This is good. Read it."
I wasn't reading back then, so I took it in my hand as if he handed me a live
trout. It got lost in a stack of books "I'll read someday." Well, I
am now a reading feind and "someday" became "today." The subject matter is a
familiar topic to me: Cross-country travel to explore America to find answers
to undefined questions, meet people, and get to know one's own country.
Familiar because others have written about it (Kerouac, et al) and familiar
because in July 2002, I did precisely this. Steinbeck travelled with his loyal
dog Charlie during the 60's, I traveled with my loyal friend Joshua in the 21st
century. He had an RV, we had a tent. He took his time, stopping in small
towns. We pretty much did the same. Interesting subject matter aside, this
was my first exposure to Steinbeck. What an amazing writer. The best writer
I have read so far. So easy to read ... so fluent ... so smooth ... so
insightful and intelligent ... so simple and American (how appropriate). That
damn old salt could pour his soul. A fantastic little book.
The Partner by John Grisham (11)
The fourth audiobook in my garage sale series. I was expecting the typical
courtroom drama bullshit that Grisham seems to be known for, but was pleasantly
surprised when Grisham unvieled a better suspense/thriller than Clancy. Pretty
damn captivating tale of an attorney who, after faking his own death, stole 90
million from the partners in his firm and their client, and fleed the country.
To his credit, well written, smart, and sad. Easily the best of the audiobooks.
Saucer by Stephen Coonts (10)
Stereotypical in every sense of the word. Everything you'd expect from a
flying saucer book. Basic story: guy named 'Rip Cantrell' finds a saucer
as part of an archeological excavation team. He's young, smart, and runs
off with the saucer and a beautiful girl. Fill in the blanks. Predictability
aside, ... the author must have enjoyed the writing of this tale. And that
joy is imprinted on every 'page'. After a short while I easily became swept up
in the silly little tale. Not a bad story. (Third audiobook.)
The Cardinal of the Kremlin by Tom Clancy (9)
A slight disappointment for a fan of Clancy films. It's amazing what Harrison
Ford can do for a role. And it's amazing how drab International espionage
can be made. Clancy seems more impressed and concerned with his ideas, than
the telling of the tale. (Second audiobook in the garage sale bunch.)
Lullaby by Ed McBain (8)
The first in a series of 4 audiobooks I nabbed at a garage sale for $0.10 a
piece. I figured: How could I go wrong? I assessed all four, and this seemed
the most likely to suck so I started with it. It sucked, but it was pulp. So,
in a sense, it wasn't too bad. Basically everything you'd expect from a pulp
murder mystery: a naked babysitter's corpse, gum shoes, campy dialogue, and
plot twists. <shrug> I could think of much better ways to spend the
four hours or so. (Yes, audiobooks are technically cheating, but I've got 3
hours of commute time every day, so ...)
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (7)
Captivating, yet uninteresting depiction of the 'lost generation'. I'd be much
more impressed if my generation was any less of a mess, but I'm afraid we're a
sorrier lot. And we're even less interesting. Even though it's written
beautifully, it remains a lesser work in Hemingway's arsenal.
The Groucho Letters by Julius "Groucho" Marx (6)
As one might expect: very, very funny. However, what I wasn't expecting was
an illuminating self-portrait of a somewhat lonely (although he married/divorced
countless times) frustrated intellectual.
A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway (5)
Brilliantly written. Terribly depressing/beautiful depiction of loss.
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (4)
Hilarious and heart-wrenching cockamamie genius.
For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (3)
A beastly, sobering novel of epic proportions. Brimming with an
overwhelming sadness. Brilliant and worthy of all praise.
A Short Guide To A Happy Life by Anna Quindlen (2)
Less melodramatic and more to the point than Tuesdays with Morrie.
A pleasant 10 minutes read.
Chateaubriand by Matthew Lotti (1)
Frivolous, yet pointed. Immensely entertaining, yet a gigantic
kick in the teeth. Amusing and antagonistic. You'll either want
to buy the author a drink or stab him in his sleep. (Next Stoli's
on me, bud.)
Books Are Fun
Below are some brief personal reactions to books I have read.
Genius and the Goddess by Aldous Huxley
Lovely little tale of forbidden love. A view of female sexual
liberation amongst old male ideologies of the feminine sexual
personality. Wonderfully written, and surprisingly lacking
Huxley's usual underlying sociopolitical commentary (or was it?).
Mussolini by Denis Mack Smith
Extremely detailed profile of the Italian dictator. Dense. It took
me a while to get through it. But, I'm glad I did get through it
because the reading experience was an enjoyable one. My only
complaint is that although the book gives an extremely detailed
account of Benito's political life, it often glances over (barely
touching on) his personal life and habits. They seem to be a distant
second priority of the author. I think a true biography should delve
just as much into the personality and habits of the subject as it
does his/her career. That aside, this book is brilliant and would
prove a fantastic source for many research papers (his bibliography
is 28 pages long--rivaling that of even Citizen Soldier).
The Common Defense by Ed Ruggero
I met the gentleman who wrote this one. I decided after meeting him
that I would have to make it a point to read some of his work. He
told me he got his start through Tom Clancy (an aquaintance of his)
during his teaching tenure at West Point. One can see Clancy's
influence deeply rooted in Ed's work. But, that doesn't detract
from his work. What's eerie is his prediction of a terrorist attack
on native soil. The book's copyright date is 1992, and a post-9/11
read of the book sends a chill up one's spine. I'm not really into
this Clancy-like dime novel fiction bullshit, but I couldn't help but
appreciate Common Defense. The author's writing prowess and
intellect shine through.
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
Sometimes heartfelt remembrances and life lessons, often sentimental
crap. Thankfully short.
Citizen Soldiers by Stephen Ambrose
Amazing book on the European campaign of World War II. Written with
a journalistic style, thoroughly researched, and detailed, this little
volume is nothing short of enthralling. I can't even begin to fathom
how many interviews were conducted, letters and military documentation
was sought, found, and read, and how many piles of notebooks were
filled in order to complete such a book. The amount of research
necessary for such a thorough account is absolutely staggering.
Ecstatic Lovemaking: An Intimate Guide to Soulful Sex by Dr. Victoria Lee
A good how-to, problem solving guide, and creative inspiration for
the bedroom. The underlying principle of the book is to infuse your
intimiate experiences with true ackowledgement of your love for your
partner. It also emphasizes communication and combining your sexual
experiences with your spiritual life. I'm not a very spiritual
person but still found much value in the book. I recommend it.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A captivating page-turner. A wonderful read. This was my introduc-
tion into the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. And, as The Thin Man whet
my appetite for more of its series, so has this book whet my appetite
for more of its series. Gotta love a brilliant mystery.
The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw
Unconvincing, sappy accounts of WWII vets who succeeded in the war
and in life. The most interesting parts were "Shame" (account of
racism) and the section which told the tales of some famous folk--
mostly journalists and politicians.
A Soldier's Story by Omar N. Bradley
Another World War II book recommended to me by one Weston Werst. I am
reading it for research. I became bogged down in the reading of
this book not only because of its size (550 pages), but also because
it is such a damn fascinating story. General Bradley commanded a
great bird's-eye view of the war having been involved in the North
African, Sicilian, and European campaigns. What I found most amusing
were the little exchanges, jibes, jokes, and arguements among the
people Bradley encountered. A recommended read for anyone interest-
ed in the history of the war.
Scholars in Foxholes by Louis E. Keefer
The cover tells it like it is: "The story of the Army Specialized
Training Program in World War II." I had to read this little book
on the ASTP for research purposes. Not a bad read, and certainly
of interest to the World War II/history buffs.
Island by Aldous Huxley
Detailed accounts of shroom-induced enlightenment, the exploration
of an isolated idealistic society with its roots in Budhist
philosophy, and a rich, noble, and somber protagonist, are the gems
found in this work from Huxley. He really doesn't hold anything back
in this one as he systematically dissects what is wrong with every
part of our society--from family structure, to education, to
religion, to diet, to applications of science and medicine, to sexual
relations, etc., etc. Thought provoking. Poignant. All in all, a
great literary achievement.
1984 by George Orwell
What can one say about a masterpiece written by a genius? The only
thing I can say is: I have heard the echoes of the Party Member war
cries in the mouths of contemporary Americans and it chilled me to
the bone.
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Uses fiction to describe how boredom, greed, lust, ambition, and
dishonesty can infect the soul. Extremely well written and concise.
Brilliant and insightful. For the spiritual types ("intellectual
Christians"). Prefered The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.
Without Feathers by Woody Allen
Funny. Sometimes hilarious. Favorite bits: impressionist
dentists and God: The Play.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Overly descriptive, yet vague. A disappointment to a fan
of Apocalypse Now.
The Moviegoer by Walker Percy
A spellbinding masterpiece. I found myself picturing Audrey
Hepburn as the character Kate. What an amazing work of
literature.
Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut
Highly original, often funny, and uninteresting.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Tragic. Brilliant. A masterpiece of literature.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
Hilarious, crazy fun.
On The Road by Jack Keroac
An inspiring, romantic tale (yes, romantic). I both
blame and thank this book for the demise of my business.
Something Happened by Joseph Heller
Haunting tale of social politics and madness. Not for everyone.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Funniest damn thing I've ever read. This is my bible.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Inarguably a masterpiece. Witty. Moving.
A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
A great tale. Fantastic science fiction. It is, in my opinion,
an optimistic depiction of our future. Mr. Huxley assumes
humanity will not destroy itself.
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
A long-winded, sweeping, epic tale and a fantastic moral.
The Nonconformist Plea-Bargain by Matthew Lotti
Now, it is granted that I am a biased reviewer because the author is a
friend of mine, which allows me to read things into the book others
would not. That aside, I think this is a fine literary achievement.
Matt has distinguished himself from other authors with a unique voice
and a distict message echoing the cries of a disillusioned generation
(my generation). A good read from an up-and-coming artist.
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