I've never been good at picking out books...
...so I was thinking that it'd rock to hear what everybody's favorite book is, and why. This could be the start of an awesome list, cuz as I said, I'm not good at picking them out, and I hate dropping myself in someone else's head only to come up a few days later thinking, "Well, that sucked." (This may mean you, Dan, but you're not alone.)

As for my contribution, I loved Katherine Dunn's Geek Love, cuz the relationships of the characters, despite the majority of their conceptions being drug-fueled experiments by their freak-show-owning parents, were beautifully, believably drawn, and their poignant humanity was drawn in all the sharper relief against the manipulation of their bodies. And I like circus-y things. Ahem. I do go on.

I loved Diane Ackerman's A Natural History of the Senses. She a poetic scientist, a drillingly deep lover of all things that come to us through the physical world and affect who we are spiritually. She made me aware that everything that touches me, every sight, sense, taste & sound, affects who I am & my relationship to the universe. And it was in this book that she referenced my next favorite:

Patrick Suskind's Perfume long before there was a movie about it. It's so powerfully sensual - I love books that make me think about commonplace things in extraordinary ways. And I love brilliant sociopaths. Mmmm...Hannibal Lecter.

And, well, when I finished Stephen King's The Talisman, I wanted to glue the front cover to the back cover & just keep reading the book in circles so I never had to leave the story. He blew my brain open to the probability of multiple dimensions & how choice & intent move us through the world.

So, there's my list. I know I gave four & I'm asking for one each, but hey, it's my journal. If you absolutely can't pick just one, I s'pose I'll suffer;)

Thanks for your thoughts!

(67 comments) - (Post a new comment)

	rowangolightly 2009-06-30 06:48 am UTC (link)
	Bearing in mind that I'm a real SciFi/Fantasy nut, I can't get over L.E.Modesitt's Recluse series. I keep re-reading them. The characters are so well drafted and each of the books draws me in immediately. Ok, it's not one book but it is one series... (Reply to this)

	kaleaanne 2009-06-30 09:13 am UTC (link)
	A bit odd I know, but my favorite books ever are two kids books: The Icecream Cone Coot and Other Rare Birds by Arnold Lobel and Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (Reply to this)

sothe 2009-06-30 09:58 am UTC (link)

Well, I personally love The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Tahir Shah. He has a unique and wonderful way of exploring different peoples and cultures, and gently letting the reader know just what a huge and amazing world we are all part of. And for anyone who is about to move, or has just moved, The Caliph's House by the same author will make you feel better about the experience, no matter how horrible it was! It is hard for me to chose between the two titles as a favorite actually. (Reply to this)

dreddy_reddy 2009-06-30 11:15 am UTC (link)

I love to read, i probably have 4 different books that I read at one time. One in my car, one in his car, one at work, one by the bed. I read anything that is not science fiction. I like WEB Griffin, Tanenbalm, Clive Cussler, i used to enjoy Steven King but then he got reallllly weird...The Stand was a good one though. I read murder, crime, erotic, anything but science fiction. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	shasplim 2009-07-01 02:30 pm UTC (link)
	The Stand is science fiction. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	guy_todd 2009-06-30 12:25 pm UTC (link)
	The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. Post-revolutionary Russia with witches, hot red-headed vampires, and oh yes, a pistol-packing black cat. Actually a multi-leveled, multi-threaded attack on the Communist system and corruption in the early Soviet era, with an ongoing debate over the possible redemption of Pontius Pilate. (Reply to this)

	mangosteen 2009-06-30 12:38 pm UTC (link)
	The Hyperion quadrology by Dan Simmons was pretty damn amazing. I'm a sucker for worldbuilding... I can handle slightly flat characters if I'm given a interesting and mostly consistent world for them to live in. From the first two Decameron-like books, to the last one, where I started in the morning and went to sleep at 2am having finished it, it's a great ride. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	guy_todd 2009-06-30 02:07 pm UTC (link)
	Have you read his book "The Terror"? An excellent read. (Reply to this) (Parent)

(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2009-06-30 02:18 pm UTC

littlehoudini 2009-06-30 12:53 pm UTC (link)

Curiously, I've read and enjoyed three of the four books you chose - I wouldn't have thought we'd have reading habits in common. I own Geek Love and have re-read it a few times (though I always find the ending a bit of a cop-out). I was given A Natural History of the Senses as a gift by a pivotal woman in my life, and found it fascinating. I read Perfume a few years ago - a fine read (I never saw the movie). I can't stand Steven King. kaleaanne mentioned Shel Silverstein - everything he's written is magnificient. My favorite book is Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart - I re-read it almost every year and never fail to delight in it, be moved by it. It's a wonderful, well-written story told (sort of) as a series of interlocking folk tales (and I love folk tales). I can't recommend it enough - each of my friends who's read it has loved it (except one - an outlying point). For sf, I suggest Orson Scott Card - in particular, Ender's Game - a classic. Also one I've re-read a few times. And for non-fiction, Freakonomics or Blink. Oh, I could go on about books a whole lot... (Reply to this) (Thread)

	cuntishness 2009-07-01 01:47 am UTC (link)
	Have you read Ender's Shadow? I liked it even more than Ender's Game. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - littlehoudini, 2009-07-01 03:38 am UTC

(no subject) - marrus, 2009-07-01 01:39 pm UTC

	kimatha 2009-06-30 01:20 pm UTC (link)
	The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	kimatha 2009-07-01 03:03 pm UTC (link)
	The Sparrow is about a Jesuit mission to another planet. It has all these deep themes about the nature of faith in the face of suffering... but it's also a total page turner. a great sci-fi story. A friend of mine said, "Jesuits in space! How can you not love it?" (Reply to this) (Parent)

	u2girl1966 2009-06-30 01:30 pm UTC (link)
	King's sequal to Talisman, The Black House was pretty good. Anything by Margaret Atwood. Anything. Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth is one I tend to re read every so often. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	archinatrix 2009-06-30 02:10 pm UTC (link)
	I have The Black House if you wish to borrow it. And I totally agree re Follett's Pillars of the Earth. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - marrus, 2009-07-01 01:40 pm UTC

(no subject) - littlehoudini, 2009-07-01 03:42 am UTC

(no subject) - marrus, 2009-07-01 01:43 pm UTC

	exgypsy 2009-06-30 01:42 pm UTC (link)
	My all time favorite author is Chine Meiville. He does fantasy/steampunky type stuff generally. The one of his that got me started was Perdido Street Station, and Crow is a big fan of King Rat. (Reply to this)

	folkloricfusion 2009-06-30 01:49 pm UTC (link)
	I second Bridge of Birds and Ender's Game :) (Reply to this) (Thread)

scribbledaway 2009-07-01 06:04 am UTC (link)

Enders Game....I forgot that when I made my list. I LOVE to give that book to people to read. And then watch them right when they get to the part where you figure out what's been really going on....they're always so simultaneously shocked, outraged, and utterly unsurprised, which is just comical as hell. I always know when they hit that part when I hear "OH YOU SONS OF....How could..oh well of course they....well I'm not even surprised!" or "Oh! Augh! assholes!" Then there are the ones who huck the book, curse for a minute, declare that "It figures!!" and go pick it up because there's still a lot of book left to go. It's a great story but it's definitely tops on my list of books to give to people just because I love the reaction it gets. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	archway 2009-06-30 02:02 pm UTC (link)
	American Gods by Neil Gaiman The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan Snow Country or House of the Sleeping Beauties by Kawabata (Reply to this)

	gairid 2009-06-30 02:12 pm UTC (link)
	As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann is a favorite of mine. (Reply to this)

celticbloodnigh 2009-06-30 02:14 pm UTC (link)

oh jeeze, I had to put my two cents in for this one, but it's so hard for me to pick. The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind is amazing. The characters and relationships are wonderful, and it's very philisophical, and political, once you're deeper in the series. Lamb or Fool by Christopher Moore are the two funniest books I've ever read. I'm reading Shogun by James Clavell right now, which is all about medieval Japan (it's where I learned about the 6 faces/3 hearts) and it's simply amazing. It's also 1200 pages, so you gotta have some free time. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	pyroguysr 2009-07-01 04:41 am UTC (link)
	Read Shogun about 20 years ago and found it to be a fascinating glimpse into the Japanese culture! The sequels weren't as enticing, though. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - celticbloodnigh, 2009-07-01 04:46 am UTC

(no subject) - marrus, 2009-07-01 01:45 pm UTC

(no subject) - celticbloodnigh, 2009-07-01 01:58 pm UTC

(no subject) - master_sea3, 2009-07-03 12:38 pm UTC

(no subject) - celticbloodnigh, 2009-07-03 02:09 pm UTC

sombrereptiles 2009-06-30 02:36 pm UTC (link)

Trust me to jump into a conversation after most of my suggestions have already been mentioned: Dan Simmon's "Hyperion", the works of Neil Gaiman, China Meiville's "Perdido Street Station", Barry Hughart's "Bridge of Birds" (some of which have already been poo-poo'd by Marrus, and I don't think less of her for having a different sense of literary enjoyment - how boring would it be if we all liked the same thing?) One of my authors is Daniel Pinkwater. He writes subversive, intelligent children's books, my favorite being "The Big Orange Splot". Check it out - this book reminds me of Marrus. I also enjoy "Author's Day". I also enjoy the works of Samuel Delaney: "Babel 17", "Trouble on Triton", "Neveryon", etc. Marrus's review of "Babel 17", some many years ago, was "I already had gone through all of this by the time I was sixteen - why are you making me read this?" I say it is a brilliant piece of SF literature, which touches on many social/societal issues while discussing the way language affects thought process (and I do not think revisiting why we think the way we do is so awful - not all of us are as self-actualized as we might be). (Reply to this) (Thread)

	littlehoudini 2009-07-01 03:44 am UTC (link)
	Oh dear god yes - Pinkwater! Pinkwater, Pinkwater! Lizard Music and Fat Men from Outer Space - and just about anything else. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ajjones 2009-06-30 02:52 pm UTC (link)
	And, well, when I finished Stephen King's The Talisman, I wanted to glue the front cover to the back cover & just keep reading the book in circles so I never had to leave the story. TOTALLY. I've read it more than once over the years, love it. The ironic thing is I'm of the unpopular opinion that Straub blows goats. But I guess it was just the right mix. (Reply to this)

	bard_wench 2009-06-30 02:57 pm UTC (link)
	Personally I like Jacqueline Carrey's Kushiel Series.... pretty much you have to read them in order, the first trilogy is better than the second. They are dark fantasy with plenty of sensuality, bondage and political intrigue....and now I'm thinking I should go re-read them. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	rosetiger 2009-07-01 12:46 am UTC (link)
	Yes Yes Yes. These books are amazing as well. I agree with you that the first trilogy is better than the second, too. I like to start reading them about a month before whatever fetish convention I'm going to...really gets one in the mood :) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	just_michelle 2009-06-30 03:08 pm UTC (link)
	He She and It by Marge Piercy Native Tongue by Suzette Haden Elgin The Belgariad by David Eddings (five books) All somewhat scifi/fantasy but the first two take on current societal issues. (Reply to this)

mahpiya_luta 2009-06-30 05:27 pm UTC (link)

Stephen King is one of my all-time favorite authors, even through the bad books (Cell, ahem). My Top 5 SK's are The Stand (unabridged is over 1000 pages, I think), Lisey's Story, Duma Key, Bag of Bones, and It. For quick "mind candy" reads -- books that you read for fun but you don't WANT to think of anything complicated -- I like the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson. They're so uncomplicated that their order is right there in the title. They're easy to read in a day or two. In the Shadow of Man and Through a Window are my favorites. I've met her in person, but I was too star-struck to say anything but "Thank you" when she gave me her autograph. Me heap big scientist, have heap good conversation with other heap big scientist. :-P I have more, butt I need food and to beta-read a pal's fan-fiction. I'll respond again later. By the way, I started Perfume but couldn't finish because grad school caught up to me. I TOTALLY intend to finish it, though. I mean -- WOW! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	mahpiya_luta 2009-06-30 05:28 pm UTC (link)
	Jeezum! By "her" in the third paragraph, I mean Jane Goodall. (Reply to this) (Parent)

(no subject) - docbrite, 2009-07-01 07:01 pm UTC

(no subject) - fionaniconnor, 2009-07-02 12:34 am UTC

(no subject) - mahpiya_luta, 2009-07-02 02:38 pm UTC

(no subject) - fionaniconnor, 2009-07-04 12:07 am UTC

	marquisdd 2009-06-30 07:01 pm UTC (link)
	You're welcome to drop by any time and peruse the library. I don't loan books out to many people, but something tells me you won't hock them and move to Tahiti as others have done. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	marrus 2009-07-01 01:47 pm UTC (link)
	Well, while that sucks, it's better than hocking your books for crack... You & Matt mentioned an author I HAD to read @ 700 - mebbe I can start with that? And I'm VERY good about returning books. No worries, and thank you:) (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - marquisdd, 2009-07-01 08:23 pm UTC

one? impossible alumiere 2009-06-30 08:49 pm UTC (link)

but 3 of your four books i've also enjoyed (haven't read anything by ackerman) so i'll stick with a few thoughts if you enjoyed the talisman, check out shadowland by peter straub (one of my favorites as a "kid", and written by king's co-author who actually played a big part in that book) - magic and fairytales and horror all in one and probably my favorite sci-fi of the moment is kim stanley robinson's mars trilogy - excellent writing, and some of the characters/storylines are amazing (Reply to this)

	dragontdc 2009-06-30 10:49 pm UTC (link)
	Creation - Gore Vidal (Reply to this)

	rosetiger 2009-07-01 12:44 am UTC (link)
	I enjoy reading biographies and biographic novels of strong, powerful women. My all-time favorite, so favorite that I've read it to shreds (it no longer has a front or back cover), is Green Dragon, White Tiger by Annette Motley. It tells the story of how the only woman to claim the Dragon Throne of China became it's ruling Empress. A wonderful read. (Reply to this)

	idav5d 2009-07-01 01:10 am UTC (link)
	I haven't thought about The Talisman in years, one of my King favorites.. The Stand is probably still my all time favorite... "Atlas Shrugged" is near the top... (Reply to this) (Thread)

	marrus 2009-07-01 01:49 pm UTC (link)
	Mmmm...I forgot about Atlas Shrugged. And yeah, for me, it's up there, not so much for the writing per se, but the content. I don't expect the rest of the world to live up to the lofty heights of Objectivism, but I aim for it for myself. (Reply to this) (Parent)

sippy9cup 2009-07-01 01:33 am UTC (link)

I've read Pet Semetary, The Shining, Tommyknockers, and stories from Night Shift, all by Stephen King, and I've loved every page of all of them. I think Pet Semetary was the creepiest. My favorite books are the three that I've read from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I think it's up to 5 or 7 books by now, and I'm craaaaaaving the ones I haven't read. It's about a woman who accidentally travels back in time in Scotland, and finds herself living just before Bonny Prince Charlie's uprising. The storytelling is fantastic, and her knowledge of history allows the books to be detailed and deep. And there's some tastefully done hot sex ;) A book that I liked that I think you would really love is Forever by Pete Hamill. It's about an Irish boy who comes to New York and lives forever. It tells a fascinating history of New York, as he comes over in the 1600s. It brings you to present day Manhattan, and is one of those books I think back to and get excited about. I know you love New York, and this portrays a kind of New York we never got to experience. I highly recommend it :) (Reply to this)

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