Older Reviews... c. 1999
Hichhiker's Guide To The Galaxy Trilogy
Apocalypse Wow!
Politically Correct Bedtime Stories
Papillion
A Separate Peace
Once And Future King
Watership Down
On The Beach
Fairenheit 451
The Time Machine
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy, By Douglas Adams
Ok, so it's not really a trilogy there are five books, but they call it that and I read them all.. they are sooooo funny. It follows a few space travelers (only two of which are human), and I really feel that these books are a must for any scifi fan... Meet Trillian, Arthur Dent, Zaphod Beetlebrox, Ford Prefect... and a cast of varied aliens characters that will make you start wondering if this creativity was a bit chemically induced...
Do you have your towel?.. The books in the series are :
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Life, the Universe, and Everything
So Long and Thanks for All the Fish
Mostly harmless
Apocalypse Wow!, By James Finn Garner
Now this author is funny, this book cracked me up. It was a spoof of all those "end is coming" books. It went and looked at all the signs of the apocalypse, it mocked old supersitions, and lead the reader on a funny journey toward life meaning, or something ;)
Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, By James Finn Garner
Another funny book by this author. It totally insults our society's drive for political correctness... the author rewrote all these fairy tale/bedtime stories to make them "politically correct" --- He has stories like "Little Red Riding Hood", "Cinderella", and "Snow White," but the stories are completely changed to make sure there is no bias (like: dwarfs are vertically impaired... women is spelt womyn...).
Papillion, By Henri Charriere
This has to be one of the best books I have ever read. It's about this guy who was falsely accused of murder and sent to a French prison in South American French Guiana(cerca 1930). Known for brutality in these prisons Papillion attempts excape. The 450+ page book cronicals his attempts and experiences within the prison and prison camp and the escape. I must warn anyone, though, that it does get kind of gross sometimes, what, it's a prison story!
A Separate Peace, By John Knowles
I had never read a book before that made me cry before this one. I mean I really cried, it remains one of my favorite books. It is about a boy in college who 'accidentally' causes his best friend to fall out of a tree and horribly break his leg. The result is rumors are rumors, tension, and heartbreak... as well as a complex mental stuggle going on as the two boys confront each other.
The Once and Future King, By T.H. White
Another excellent book, this is considered to be, by many, the difinintive King Arthur book. It's about 700 pages long but it is well worth it if you are at all interested in the King Arthur saga. I highly recommed the sequal to it as well The Book of Merlyn to everyoneone %)
Watership Down, By Richard Adams
Alright, many people look at this 500 page book and say "ewww a book about bunnies." But it's much more than that. It tells of a group of male rabbits that leave their home because the land is going to be developed. They need to search for a new warren and find female rabbits as well. They encounter problems, setbacks, and deaths. But it's more about humanity than anything. The rabbit warrens that they encounter mirror the government systems of countries in the world. It's a really intriguing book if you take the time to really consider the deeper meanings presented.
On the Beach, By Nevil Shute
This book is the story of the world after WWIII. It takes place in Australia, the only place in the world still alive, and the nuclear dust is coming through the jet stream. It tells of a settlement of people who are perfectly aware of their incoming death. It was interesting seeing what the author thought people would do knowing that they only had a few more months to live... some went crazy, some pretended they didnt know, others killed themselves. It was one of those really great books because it hits so close to home, and makes you seriously think of what you'd do if you knew you only had 9 months to live.
Fahrenheit 451, By Ray Bradbury
This book tells of a society where books are banned and the firefighter's sole purpose is buring books. One firefighter, named Guy Montag decides to challenge this and he begins secretly reading the books. He loses his wife and gets into all sorts of trouble, before the strangely uplifting end...
The Time Machine, By H.G. Wells
I have to admit I saw the movie before reading the book, but it is one of those books that you wish would never end, and it was different than the movie so that's ok :). I mean I really like H.G. Wells anyway, but this rather pessimistic view of the future was exceedingly interesting because it could actually happen I think. It was a short book, not too hard to read, and well worth the time.