Top 5 Books

Admittedly, I have struggled with what to write my second blog post about for this week. I thought maybe I could do another one about Jamie Oliver, and how much I just absolutely adore him, and how tonight is the season finale of "Food Revolution" and how, if you haven't done so yet, you should sign this petition for better lunches in elementary schools. Then I thought, since I've already done one blog post over Jamie and his revolutionary vision for the food future of America, I could probably find a better, more creative topic.

Then I thought "AHA! I know what I'll do my second topic over! The financial aid office and how friggin' irritating they can be!" Then I checked my mail and found a check in my mailbox from said financial aid office. My heart softened and I thought "ah well, I'll give the financial aid ladies a break for now."

I've already done topics of movies, television, songs and bands. Basically those are all my favorite things. Then I realized, books! I could do a blog post over my top 5 favorite books! So, here we go!

1. "Rats Saw God" by Rob Thomas- No not that Rob Thomas. The writer Rob Thomas. He probably doesn't have as good of a singing voice but his literary voice is wonderful. I read this book for the first time when I was in the 8th grade and have read it at least fifteen times since. To me, this book really captures what it's like to be a teenager; to feel love and subsequently heartache, for the first time, to struggle with your identity, and your parents. This book covers it all with depth and poignancy. Even now that I'm almost 22, I still read this book at least once a year. I love the journey on which it takes me.

2. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky- This is another one of those books I first read in high school and I absolutely fell in love with it. It is written through a series of letters to an anonymous recipient. The letters are written by a young boy entering high school named Charlie. Charlie talks of his struggles with life, family and friends. Honestly, the characters in this book feel like real people, people I would hang out with. While it is a bit of a downer, this book has a certain magical quality that I'm reminded of every time I read it.

3. "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck- Okay yeah, I had to put one stereotypical popular "Oprah's Book Club" book in here, but only because I really do love it. The comparisons to the Bible, specifically Cain and Able, and the struggles that the two brothers of the book (Adam and Charles) face are fascinating. Steinbeck is, of course, one of the most well known writers of our time and this book has convinced me that he isn't just overrated. Steinbeck really writes these characters with a sensitivity that shines through in the entire novel. It's interesting, dramatic, and hard to put down.

4. "Mississippi Sissy" by Kevin Sessums- Aside from fiction (which is probably my favorite genre) I love a good memoir and this is definitely that. Sessums talks of his struggles growing up as a young boy in Mississippi, the respective deaths of his parents, and his struggles with sexuality. He writes with poise and humor that's both charming and entrancing.

5. "I Know This Much is True" by Wally Lamb- Lamb is probably most famous for his popular book "She's Come Undone" and, while I have read "Undone", my favorite work by Lamb would have to be "I Know This Much is True." For one, this book is long, topping almost nine hundred pages. To some, that may seem intimidating, to me, it's a dream! I love settling in with a huge book, especially if it's as engaging as this one. Our protagonist, Dominick Birdsey, must deal with being the identical twin of a schizophrenic who cuts off his own hand, the death of his mother, and of his infant daughter, all the while trying to figure out who he is and who his biological father is. The end wraps up nicely, which I like, tying up all of the loose ends. Lamb really got it right with this book and if you enjoy reading a nice, long book, I certainly recommend this one.

So there you have it. My top 5 favorite books. These books all hold a very special place in my heart and, most of them, I've read multiple times. Reading an old favorite book is like slipping into a warm bath. It's comfortable and familiar. It's like seeing old friends that you haven't seen in a while, they haven't changed and they are just as welcoming as they always have been.