Reporter reviews list of favorite books for 2005
"The books that help you most are those which make you think the most. The hardest way of learning is that of easy reading; but a great book that comes from a great thinker is a ship of thought, deep freighted with truth and beauty." (Theodore Parker, American minister, 1810-1860)
I’ve had the chance to read more than a few good books during the past year, and this week, I thought that I’d give you, the reading audience, a run-down of my 10 favorite books from 2005.
1. "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson: This book has been unnerving readers since its publication in 1959. A tale of subtle, psychological terror, it has earned its place as one of the best haunted house stories ever. This book also comes highly recommended by the Horror Writers Association.
2. "William Barret Travis: A Biography" by Archie P. McDonald: In this first complete scholarly biography of Travis, McDonald treats his subject not merely as a god-like hero but as the complete human being he was. I liked the book because it contained entire chapters on life in early Southwest Alabama and painted a vivid picture of life in Old Claiborne in Monroe County.
3. "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelly: Frankenstein is the prototype of the twentieth-century science-fiction novel, and it’s a lot of fun to read. Shelley's classic hints in part at the possible dangers inherent in the pursuit of pure science and portrays the injustice of a society which persecutes outcasts such as the "Monster."
4. "The Last Juror" by John Grisham: I liked this book because I could really relate to it. It’s all about Willie Traynor, who works as a staff writer at The Ford County Times, a weekly newspaper in Mississippi. About the time Traynor joins the newspaper, the story of a lifetime breaks and the action doesn’t slow down from there.
5. "The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: Solving the Oak Island Mystery" by Steven Sora: This book connects the lost treasure of the Knights Templar to the mysterious money pit on Oak Island, Nova Scotia, that has baffled treasure hunters for two centuries.
6. "The Bloody Crown of Conan" by Robert E. Howard: Illustrated by Gary Gianni, this book gathers Robert E. Howard's only Conan novel, "The Hour of the Dragon," plus two short stories and rare Howard miscellany. Scholar Rusty Burke explains Conan's enduring appeal in his introduction.
7. "Something Wicked This Way Comes" by Ray Bradbury: Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. Two boys will discover the secret of its smoke, mazes, and mirrors and soon know the heavy cost of wishes and the stuff of nightmare.
8. "The Mike Hammer Collection, Vol. 1" by Mickey Spillane: This book features Spillane's first three Mike Hammer mysteries: "I, The Jury," "My Gun Is Quick" and "Vengeance Is Mine!" The book also includes an introduction by Shamus Award-winner Max Allan Collins.
9. "We Were Soldiers Once... And Young: Ia Drang - The Battle That Changed The War In Vietnam" by Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway: Some of you have probably seen the movie version with Mel Gibson. The book, which details the exploits of the U.S. Cavalry in Vietnam, is a lot better.
10. "Growing Up in a Foxhole: 1944-1946, A Foot Soldier Looks Back" by Stanley E. Richardson: This is a good-humored, yet sometimes serious, look at Richardson’s time as an infantry solider in World War II. From harrowing to hilarious, Richardson’s account takes you through the ups and downs of Army life during his time in the military.
I’ve had the chance to read more than a few good books during the past year, and this week, I thought that I’d give you, the reading audience, a run-down of my 10 favorite books from 2005.
1. "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson: This book has been unnerving readers since its publication in 1959. A tale of subtle, psychological terror, it has earned its place as one of the best haunted house stories ever. This book also comes highly recommended by the Horror Writers Association.
2. "William Barret Travis: A Biography" by Archie P. McDonald: In this first complete scholarly biography of Travis, McDonald treats his subject not merely as a god-like hero but as the complete human being he was. I liked the book because it contained entire chapters on life in early Southwest Alabama and painted a vivid picture of life in Old Claiborne in Monroe County.
3. "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelly: Frankenstein is the prototype of the twentieth-century science-fiction novel, and it’s a lot of fun to read. Shelley's classic hints in part at the possible dangers inherent in the pursuit of pure science and portrays the injustice of a society which persecutes outcasts such as the "Monster."
4. "The Last Juror" by John Grisham: I liked this book because I could really relate to it. It’s all about Willie Traynor, who works as a staff writer at The Ford County Times, a weekly newspaper in Mississippi. About the time Traynor joins the newspaper, the story of a lifetime breaks and the action doesn’t slow down from there.
5. "The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: Solving the Oak Island Mystery" by Steven Sora: This book connects the lost treasure of the Knights Templar to the mysterious money pit on Oak Island, Nova Scotia, that has baffled treasure hunters for two centuries.
6. "The Bloody Crown of Conan" by Robert E. Howard: Illustrated by Gary Gianni, this book gathers Robert E. Howard's only Conan novel, "The Hour of the Dragon," plus two short stories and rare Howard miscellany. Scholar Rusty Burke explains Conan's enduring appeal in his introduction.
7. "Something Wicked This Way Comes" by Ray Bradbury: Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. Two boys will discover the secret of its smoke, mazes, and mirrors and soon know the heavy cost of wishes and the stuff of nightmare.
8. "The Mike Hammer Collection, Vol. 1" by Mickey Spillane: This book features Spillane's first three Mike Hammer mysteries: "I, The Jury," "My Gun Is Quick" and "Vengeance Is Mine!" The book also includes an introduction by Shamus Award-winner Max Allan Collins.
9. "We Were Soldiers Once... And Young: Ia Drang - The Battle That Changed The War In Vietnam" by Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway: Some of you have probably seen the movie version with Mel Gibson. The book, which details the exploits of the U.S. Cavalry in Vietnam, is a lot better.
10. "Growing Up in a Foxhole: 1944-1946, A Foot Soldier Looks Back" by Stanley E. Richardson: This is a good-humored, yet sometimes serious, look at Richardson’s time as an infantry solider in World War II. From harrowing to hilarious, Richardson’s account takes you through the ups and downs of Army life during his time in the military.
posted by Lee Peacock at 4:00 PM
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