THE BOOKER AWARD

THE BOOKER AWARD

The thoughtful, inspiring and overall fantastic Jalisa Blackman has shared another award with me. This time,  it’s The Booker Award.

This award targets literary and book-centered blogs.  The rules are simple: I post my top five books of all time; post the Booker Award icon; and nominate other bloggers to do the same.

Sounds easy enough, except for pulling five books out of the insurmountable pile I’ve read since I was…eight? But Jalisa set the bar high by picking books with some great titles, here!

My list will, without a doubt, look foolish mingled with a little bravado. I like reading run-of-the-mill novels and classics. Enjoy!

5. A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. I’m a huge science-nerd, not going to lie about it either. The book covers Hawking’s theories on everything from the Big Bang (and before) to Black Holes and the birth-death cycle of stars. There’s a number of editions, so I suggest getting the newest one. Plain and simple, this man knew Black Holes when everyone laughed, thinking they were nonexistent. Now, we just need to find our first White Hole :-)

4. The Bible. Okay, despite your religious beliefs or lack thereof, the Bible is simply just a good book. Its very words have survived millennium and have affected all of mankind over the last some thousand odd years. It set in motion all great modern thinkers, whether by inspiration or condemnation. Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and I could go on. Besides the fact it’s inspirational, contains wise words, and all that jazz.

3. The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah. If you don’t know what this book is—I’m not sure how that’s possible—but go read it. A gritty coming of age story of a youth growing up in the ghetto. Drugs. Gangs. Deadbeat/absent fathers. I hate the fact that if it’s in a bookstore, it’s stocked in the “African-American” section…like we have to judge books by race now? Anyway, I totally relate to the issues and environment in the story–and it’s important for everyone to read. Plain and simple.

2. Nietzsche: Vol. 3 The Will to Power as Knowledge and as Metaphysics by Friedrich Nietzsche. This is kind of cheating, because it encompasses so much, but oh well. Nietzsche is a diehard Atheist, so once I push past that, his theories are amazing. Metaphysics is one of my favorite subjects—maybe because it’s near impossible to define. Basically, it’s the -ology of anything that can’t be defined. All I have to say is heavy stuff, but worth giving it a once over.

1. Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley.  First, Frankenstein is the DOCTOR! The monster is simply called the creature or daemon or wretch. Anyway. Touted as the first science-fiction book, it is amazing. This is the novel I did my paper on using metaphysyics. There are no true protagonists—they are all evil—but the creature is the only protagonist with any redeeming values. A wholesome man turned monster due to isolation. Why? Because he is “un-beautiful.” Everything about him offends the senses, which blocks anyone from seeing beyond his ugliness. It delves into issues of racism, the danger of science, human cruelty, and love. My favorite nuance is that common saying that our eyes are windows to the soul. But, the creature’s eyes are cloudy, dewy, and unable to meet anyone’s gaze. This is mentioned a number of times—being unable to meet his gaze keeps us from connecting with him.

And now to share the love: nominees.

1. Vanessa North

2. Margaret Lesh

3. Ashley Heckman

4. Simon P. Clark

5. Ashleigh McGrew (I love her fashion energy and posts!)

Okay, tell me your favorite books! Anybody?

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Comments

  1. Geez, Lane. Your picks are very lofty and impressive. I’ve tried to read the Bible, but have never gotten far. (Ashamed.)

    My son is interested in physics and many things science related. I bet the two of you could have some fascinating conversations. We watch Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman. Usually it ends up making my head hurt.:)

    Just the other day, I heard that Mary Shelley was 18 when she wrote Frankenstein. Isn’t that amazing? (I haven’t read this one either. It’s on my list.)

    I’m going to list some of my favorites here on your blog, and if I feel inspired, I’ll list them on mine too. We’ll see. Lol.

    Here are some of my favorites:

    1. The Hobbit
    2. Pride & Prejudice
    3. Bridget Jones’ Diary
    4. The Outsiders
    5. Catcher in the Rye

    Honorable mentions:

    Exodus
    The Fellowship of the Ring
    The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
    The Little Prince
    My Antonia
    My Name is Asher Lev
    Like Water for Chocolate
    The Chosen
    A Wrinkle in Time
    The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
    Great Expectations
    The Idiot
    Nicholas & Alexandra

    To name a few. It’s really hard narrowing them down though!

    • Lofty? Yes. Impressive? Probably not! That’s fantastic that your son’s into physics, we need more youth interested in it. Through the Wormhole’s a good show, too. As for Mary Shelley, I’m also pretty sure she published it as a man first.

      PS I think your list is WAY more impressive than mine! Thanks for the comment.

  2. Geez, Lane. Your picks are very lofty and impressive. I’m going to list some of my favorites here on your blog, and if I feel inspired, I’ll list them on mine too. Here are some of my favorites:

    1. The Hobbit
    2. Pride & Prejudice
    3. Bridget Jones’ Diary
    4. The Outsiders
    5. Catcher in the Rye

    Honorable mentions:

    Exodus
    The Fellowship of the Ring
    The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
    The Little Prince
    My Antonia
    My Name is Asher Lev
    Like Water for Chocolate
    Great Expectations
    The Idiot
    The Chosen
    Nicholas & Alexandra
    A Wrinkle in Time

    It’s really hard to narrow the list down! I’m sure there are a few I’ve left out. :)

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