book tag - you're it.

I've been tagged by Jennipher.
I'm to name my 5 favorite books, and she gave good explanations, so I will do my best to emulate her.

*Keep in mind, I have a degree in literature. I've been reading since I was 3. I don't watch tv. All I do is read. These may not be my 5 absolute favorites, but they are the ones that I'm listing.

1. Alice in Wonderland / Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
Put aside the pedophilia. Lewis Carroll was a linguistic genius. And I know that this is technically 2 books, but some of my many many many many editions are combined into one. I have more copies of this than any other book. I have a copy in Spanish from Argentina. I have a copy in French from Canada. I even love the Disney version, because that encompasses elements from both books.

This book is full of riddles, puns, and other curiouser and curiouser plays on language which bring about a whole fantastic story. A poem called "The Mouse's Tale" is written in a such a way that the words form the shape of a mouse's tail. No other book does that.

2. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
Asimov is often called the "father of robotics." This collection of linked short stories gave us the 3 fundamental laws of robotics, which so many other authors have followed. Yes, I know there was a movie made with the Fresh Prince, but I didn't see it out of principle. The previews look more like another Asimov book The Caves of Steel, than this collection of short stories.

There is a robot that reads minds. A robot that can only go in circles because 2 of the fundamental laws are contradicting each other. A robot tricks the humans that made it by blending into the crowd. Great stories. And you don't have to be a tech nerd to appreciate them.

3. All of the Sherlock Holmes stories, by Arthur Conan Doyle
There are 4 novels and many short stories that encompass Sherlock Holmes, a character so loved that there was public outcry when his creator killed him off. So much so that he was forced to bring him back to life. I love them all.

Sherlock Holmes is the archetypal detective. The stories are told from the point of view of Dr. Watson, with whom the reader can identify easily. Holmes, with his almost inhuman powers, is forced to reveal his steps to the confuddled Watson (and reader) at the end of each case because the mystery is invariably solved in ways that the reader cannot guess. This is not an Agatha Christie novel wherein the reader is given the same clues as the detective. We are kept in the dark until the end. (Though after reading several of the stories you are able to deduce Holmes' methods.) Entertaining and not taxing, there is a reason these stories have succeeded over the past 100+ years.

4. The Inferno by Dante Aligheri
Dante was one cocky son of a bitch. Not only did he create his own intricate version of Hell, but he put the people he personally disliked in there as examples to the rest of us. Dante played God. He got his idol, Virgil, to come guide him on his eventual journey to Heaven (but the other 2 books of the Comedy are not as good, in my opinion).

If you don't have an annotated version of this book, you have no idea why these people are in Hell carrying out these ironic punishments.But you can certainly appreciate why Dante put them there. They pissed him off in some way, and now, 750 years later, we know their names solely because they made the wrong guy mad, and have been immortalized for it. That's vengeance, baby.

5. Oneadayreason to be Happy by Laura Archera Huxley
This is a short, illustrated story that was given to me when I was little with the message "you'll understand it when you're older." Well the person who gave it to me was an idiot, and I understood it then. But I still understand it. It's about appreciateing the little things in life.

The townspeople speak to a magic dolphin (I know) and list why they are happy. I'm happy because... "there is no pain today." ...."my Mommy is not going to work today." ...."everybody told me I couldn't do it, but I can!" and so on. It's really a very cute story to read, especially if you are in a bad mood because the Yankees lost or some other trivial crap.

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So there are my books.I could have easily done a more in-depth list, with analyses of all my favortie books in each sub-genre, but this is sufficient. Just remember that if you ever want to discuss books, I am willing and able.

You're tagged if you want to be. I think this is a good way to worm your way into someone's psyche.