1) Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
In the 90's, following an absurd fascination with Franklin Mint collectibles, my dad managed to amass three-bookshelves-worth of leather-bound classics. As a kid ardently devoted to Amelia Bedelia, the reapportionment of play space for "old-people" books had me ticked. But, years later, I mellowed out and gave them a chance.
One of the first I tried was Treasure Island, a trusty title from the realm of VHS. I trudged through Stevenson's seaside world until, for a second, I was the briny sailor echoing "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum." The black spot was corroding my palm. And I loved it. I'm not a die-hard pirate fan, and I probably couldn't tell you the plot now. But it was the book that taught me to love reading. I'd say that merits a spot on the shelf.
2) The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
The Imperfectionists is a book I actually discovered in the dregs of Mrs. Adair's garage sale box. (We're neighbors, so it's not creepy.) I paid a whopping 75¢ for it, and ironically, it has become one of my favorite books of all-time.
This book is written as a series of profiles, chronicling the zany private (and professional) lives of staff members working for an English-language newspaper in Rome. It's inventive, it's hilarious, and it always makes me laugh thinking about yellow room antics and Spartana staff drama.
3) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand *cue people cringing*
Say what you want about that crazy gal Ayn Rand, but I seriously love this book. I've read it twice now, and every time I'm amazed by my fascination with this allegorical neo-capitalistic manifesto. Granted, Rand can get nutzo at times. But I've found a lot of truth in her fiscal philosophy, and I find myself thinking back on the board rooms of Taggart Transcontinental every time I watch the news.
But, at risk of sounding like an economics nerd, (which I'm seriously not; check my grades), I am absolutely in love with Rand's style. I always get sucked into this story, and repeatedly find myself in a cold sweat, gripping the pages and screaming WHO IS JOHN GALT?!?!? in despair. Kidding. But actually.
4) Selected Poems by John Ashbery
I'm actually just starting to get into this book, but I have a feeling it's here to stay. A few weeks ago, "My Philosophy of Life" landed a spot in my top-ten favorite poems, so I decided to give Ashbery a try. I won't say his poetry really "sings to my soul" or whatever--sometimes it's way too cryptic and uncomfortable. But his verses are fascinating; I could just pick them apart for hours.
5) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I really don't have any personal connections to this book; it's just one of the greatest stories and finest pieces of writing I've ever read. It's inspiring and it's devastating--one I'd read over and over again. Plus, it's a classic, so, as I learned in AP Composition today, that makes me "culturally literate." So pumped to name-drop books.
6) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
I'm one of those people who really hates answering the question "what is your favorite book," but I'd say Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a pretty strong contender for the number-one spot. As a kid growing up in the post-9/11 era, I guess this book made me feel emotions I didn't even know I had about that day in 2001. It's an incredibly beautiful piece of writing and a story that's very dear to my heart.
7) Clarence the Cranberry Who Couldn't Bounce by Jim Coogan.
I picked this baby up on my way back from Fargo, North Dakota. It's kind of a big deal.
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