The mAd BlOnDe'S Top Ten Favorite Books

I have been an avid reader since my earliest memories. I constantly have a book by the bedside, and tons more waiting in line to be read. My interest run a very wide range of genres, but my favourites listed here are the books I have gone back to reread just for the pleasure of revisiting old friends. These ten books never fail to enthral me, no matter how many times I read them.

Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams
Genius. Just flat genius. I don’t recall how I first discovered Douglas Adams, but it wasn’t nearly soon enough. I have read this sci-fi misadventure over 20 times and each time I find some little bit that slipped by me on prior readings. Sarcasm, irony, hilarity… it is all here.

American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Gaiman is one of the most warped authors around, and I love him for that. In American Gods he takes on religion to sidesplitting results. Again, genius personified. That he uses Odin as a major figure doesn’t hurt, either.

Discworld Series – Terry Pratchett
Pratchett amazes me. Where does he come up with this stuff? This large series of books is set on a planet full of all manner of creatures from vampires to werewolves to numerous gods and everything in between… including DEATH. These characters keep reoccurring in various novels. Even if you don’t agree with Pratchett’s social observations, this set is a fun read as just for fun.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal – Christopher Moore
Christopher Moore has numerous books, all of which I adore, but my favourite of his has to be Lamb. Here Moore goes way over several lines and has way too much fun in the process.
Brilliantly done, and funny as hell.

1066 And All That - W.C Sellar and R.J Yeatman
This is British history as you've never read it before, and likely never will again. As H.V. Kaltenborn put it: The worst thing about it is that it is so close to truth as to send you back to the dull historians for a check up. This, my friends, is the most warped version of history you've ever read, and it will keep you in utter stitches.

Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoevsky
While most of my favourites are of the very warped humor variety, Dostoevsky nails this psychological masterpiece. Once you get past the problem with the name switch-ups, he grabs you and will not let go until the very last page. This voyeur’s look into the mind of a killer is fascinating.

Dragonlance Twins Trilogy – Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
I adore many books published under the Dragonlance banner, but the ones by Weis and Hickman rule the roost, especially the 3 having to do with the wizard Raistlin Mejere and his brother Caramon. This fantasy medieval world is well crafted and hooked me in from page one.

A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch – Alexander Solzhenitsyn
This one was suggested to me by one of my college profs when he found out I liked Dostoevsky. I am glad I got the chance to thank him for that. This is a remarkable book that will leave you very uncomfortable. It is about Ivan, and encompasses exactly one day in his life in a labour camp. It is astounding.

The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody – Will Cuppy
This is one of the cleverest books I've read on history to date. There are a total of eight parts, each of which cover anywhere from two to five historical figures. There is just a whole lot of great info packed into this book's 230 pages, and every page will have you at least smiling broadly. I read it all in one sitting. Witty as all get-out.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court – Mark Twain
While best remembered for Tom Sawyer, I personally favour Connecticut Yankee among Twain's works. I know I have overused the words brilliant and genius, but there you have it. This tale of a modern day man who wakes up in the Middle Ages is both of those things.