Book Baton

Since Max took the time to pass this thing to me, I thought that I would take the time to respond.

Disclaimer:
I decided not to count comics as books because, I have way too many to count and I don't think that is what the heart is all about since they don't actually sit on my bookshelves. However, I did include graphic novels because they actually sit on my bookshelves, but I only counted them for quantity not content. This will all make since as you read on, if you haven't by now gotten so bored that you've given up reading this, because lord knows, I wouldn't blame you.

Number of books on the shelves
Since I'm sure that this is not a scientific survey, I did a quick estimate by counting the books on two shelves, averaging the book count out for each shelf, then multiplying that by the number of shelves. By my half-assed calculations, Megan and I combine for a grand total of about 650 books. And when I say Megan and I, I mean mostly me. And Megan reads. She reads a lot. But she is better at giving things away after she reads them.

Since I'm a designer I have a fair amount of art and design books, but what really takes up most of the space on the shelves is graphic novels.

Last book purchased
The last book I bought was Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris. I haven't started it yet, because I'm busy and it turns out its a sequel of sorts to The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by the same author. So, I think that I should probably read that one first.

Books reading right now
As I mentioned before, no comics are included, so the quick and short answer is Make Love *The Bruce Campbell Way by Bruce Campbell. I absolutely loved his first book, but this one kind of sucks. My brother gave it to me, and was able to score me an autograph for it. So, of course, I have to finish it. But, if you like Bruce Campbell, stay away from this one and read If Chins Could Kill : Confessions of a B Movie Actor.

Last 5 books read
I'm not sure if this list is right, or in chronological order, but here it is:

5. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell
Sarah Vowell's travelogue of her vacation visiting sites dedicated to assassinated presidents and their assassins. Hilarious, educational, and intriguing. It's because of this book that I have a renewed interest in presidential history and plan to read more about Theodore Roosevelt and U.S. Grant (even though neither were assassinated.) By the way, Sarah Vowell is awesome, and I thoroughly recommend all of her books, as well as the greatest radio program ever: This American Life, on which she is a regular contributor.

4. Bushworld: Enter At Your Own Risk by Maureen Dowd
A collection of five years worth of pulitzer prize winner Maureen Dowd's columns chronicling the fall of George H.W. Bush and the rise of G.W. Bush. Biased, yes, but she's an op-ed columnist. Still, it's a fascinating and informative look inside the Bush family.

3. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
by Erik Larson
One of the most fascinating non-fiction books I have ever read. Larson simultaneously recounts the tales of two men during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The first is Daniel H. Burnham, an architect who was largely responsible for putting the fair, and ultimately the city of Chicago itself, on the map. The second man is H. H. Holmes, a pharmacist who is credited with being the first serial killer in America. The dichotomy of Burnham raising Chicago to new heights and Holmes killing perhaps hundreds of women is astounding. Written in a novel-like format, it makes for a great read.

2. The Rising by Brian Keene
Quite possibly the worst book I have ever read. It's about zombies and has an interesting premise, but is written in such a way that makes you feel dirty for reading it...think really graphic pornography, but with gore in the place of sex. Why did I finish it? 'Cause mama didn't raise no quitter. Oh, and the sequel is out now for those of you interested.

1. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
Ah, David Sedaris. Quite possibly the funniest neurotic ever, and that includes Woody Allen. The book is simply another collection of stories from his life, which if told by anybody else, would probably be almost considered tragic. From Sedaris's pen, though, it's comedy gold. This book contains my favorite Sedaris story of all time entitled "Six to Eight Black Men," about Christmas in Holland. If you can read or listen to this story without laughing, well, you're probably dead.

Meaningful Books

I'm not really sure what this means. Is it books that meant a lot to you because of how much you enjoyed them, or "meaningful" as in the content was meaningful? I mean, I don't think that I've ever read a book that "changed my life," or whatever. I'm just not a Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus or Dianetics type of guy. I do, however, have a couple of books that have really stuck with me, or that I have read more than once, and if that makes them "meaningful" then I'll go ahead and share.

The White Mountains by John Christopher

I think that I read this in 4th grade. It's the first book in a series set in a dystopian future earth where tripods rule the world and after you turn 13 you lose your free will by having a cap attached to your head. This book follows the adventures of Will and two other young men in search of place where free will still exists. Interesting, allegorical youth fiction that creeped me out when I was a kid.

1984 by George Orwell

Yet another tale of a dystopian future. This story follows Winston Smith as he slogs through his miserable existence in world where Big Brother is always watching. Truly a terrifying book, especially since things like "Department of Homeland Security" are starting sound a lot like the "Ministry of Truth." In my opinion, this book should be required reading for any elected official.

A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway

The second book I ever read by Hemingway. Holds a special place in my heart for a couple of reasons. This first is that I didn't really like The Old Man and the Sea that much, so this was the book that sold me on Hemingway. The second is that I read this in class with one of my all-time favorite teachers, Jim Coulter. Mr. Coulter not only looked like Papa Hemingway, he taught his works with such enthusiasm, you couldn't help but fall in love with them.

For those that don't know, this is a semi-autobiographical account of a young man who is wounded during World War I and his subsequent romance with a young nurse. Truly a great study on the human condition, whether at war or in love.

And last, but not least, is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon.

I included this book because I think that it is my favorite book of all time. It includes just about everything I think is cool in one book. It's got magic, comics, World War II, golems, escape artists, movie serials, and even a central character loosely based on comics legend Jim Steranko. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone and everyone. Oh, and it won the Pulitzer Prize for literature, too.

Whew. That's it. Now it's up to a couple of other people to keep on carrying the baton. I hope that Bronson and/or Andrea, Ryan, and Zach will all pick it up and run with it.

Have fun guys!