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My Top 7 Books of all time...as of now.

01

The Alchemist 

by Paulo Coelho

This is the type of book every man, woman and child should read. I keep four copies at all time: my collectors edition, my "I just need to read you tonight" copy, and two copies I lend to friends...wait. Looks like I'm down a copy. Go figure!

 

If you are not familiar with the book, I will take a few sentences here to enlighten you. The Alchemist is a fable about a young Shepard who is longing to find his purpose in life. He continues to have a reoccurring dream that occupies his waking hours daily. When he finally decides to go out into the world and "follow his dream", what he finds at the end of his journey is something that we all can relate to.

 

I first read this book when I moved back to Las Vegas from New York. I came home monetarily, emotionally, and spiritually broke. Nothing made sense, and I was at a point in my life where I knew my life wasn't headed in the direction I had once hoped it would go in. Upon reading this novel, I had an "aha" moment that sparked a new fire in me. I would highly recommend this short novel to anyone who needs a quick reminder of what life is truly about. Someone who has become cynical and overly critical of life would benefit by reading this book. Having sold millions of copies worldwide, it is not difficult to come by. Pick up a copy today.

 

02

The Little Prince

by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

This classic tale grows with its readers. Another title that readers of all ages can relate to and enjoy throughout their entire lives. Every once in a while, we, as adults need to be reminded of how life is more than work and responsibility. We need to see that life I not as complex as we make it. The things we put an emphasis on as adults is slowly killing us and our spirit. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child with a pure heart is the best way to remind us of these facts. Following the young prince on a pure journey for knowledge teaches us more than any other lesson we can learn from any other book.

 

I give it as a Baby Shower gift because it truly is a timeless beauty. But don't just take my word for it! See for yourself! An official Cannes Film Festival selection, here is the newest, animated film version trailer. 

 

03

The Prophet

by Kahlil Gibran

By now, you can probably tell that I have a soft spot for books with meat and meaning. In this very short book, you will read pages upon pages of enlightening and inspiring creeds to live by. Poetry that speak to the heart and can be treasured for all those in search for a higher spiritual purpose. I've referred to this book as my souls bible, and when you take the time to read it, even a Theists can understand why.

 

This is a story of a group of villagers who, upon hearing that they great Prophet is arriving, gather to seek answers to questions they have about their lives. From questions about love and marriage to guidance for death and grieving, the Prophet gives the villagers answers that speak to them, and the audience, without being sugary and hard to comprehend. You'll find yourself saying "wow, I never thought about it like that". In my opinion, this book, as well as Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, are the precursors to modern self-improvement books...minus the fluff and bullshit. This YouTube video is a beautiful glimpse at one of my favorite passages from the book. It will give you the very essence of the book. Pull it out on a rainy day, a sunny day, a quiet night, a stormy evening or after a stressful week. There is no bad time to awaken your senses to the glory written within these pages.

 

04

No One Belongs Here More Than You

by Miranda July

Miranda July is my spirit animal, and in this collection of short stories, she welcomes you into her world of broken and flawed humans living an all too real human experience. Thoughts that we are ashamed to think are played out into actions by characters that live within all of us at some point in our lives. The humor, the humility and the humbling spirit of this world is a welcome treat to those who fancy themselves against the social construct of complacent normality.

 

After watching Miranda July's Me and You and Everyone We Know, I became a fan of her grip of humanity. She is so in tune with herself, that she becomes a mirror for the rest of us. Within the quiet recesses of our confusion, and the dark shadows of our hearts are the whispers of our subconscious. Miranda exposes them here with a tender touch at times, and a heavy fist at other times. She shakes you awake and shines a spotlight on  shame putting it, not only front and center but also showering it with applause. Urging you for an encore. You will walk away from these short stories feeling like you have woken up from a coma, and your view of the world, and your place within it, forever changed. It isn't overly deep and meta. It isn't an elitist book reserved for snooty bibliophiles. Those are books reserved for Italo Calvino though I can sense her admiration for his work in her writing. She skates on a much more connected and firm ocean of meaning and substance.

 

In brief, this is a great book of short stories for the quirkster in us all. A must for fans of Portlandia, Twin Peaks, and The Twilight Zone. 

 

05

Nightwood

by Djuna Barnes

Dark and shadowy, sensuous and foreboding, this work of classic literature strikes a chord in the heart of its reader that will leave you dizzy and broken. The words are like honey and the imagery like rose thorns, it creeps into you and will leave you breathless. For fans of LGBT literature, I cannot recommend the sultry world of Nightwood enough!

 

Sensuality and sexuality are turned on their heads in this novel. It reads like a personal biography with fantasy, confusion, and passion, Nora Flood drowns you with glimpses of Djuna Barnes. As you follow the story and read about the affairs, failures and triumphs, you thrust yourself into this Omnisexual, or more aptly Demisexual landscape with a crushing conclusion, your heart will pump with all the virtuosity of the dizzying jazz age at the center of the books time period.

 

This book became, quickly, a guilty pleasure of mine as I began exploring my sexuality for better understanding. Though this was not a book to aid a teenage girl into her sexual awakening and escape from the closet, it was, for me, the book of poetry that myself and other queer girls could feel inspired by. Seeing ourselves in a way that wasn't overly sexualized for male audiences. This book was like a secret society of queerness and understanding. A silent head nod of understanding. A stare that lingers too long, this book spoke to me in a way no one else had. This book was my first love affair; with words and with strong yet complicated women. A delicious and dizzying concoction.

 

To better understand the book, it is first important that you know about the reclusive author. Read about Djuna Barnes here, then get to know her on a more personal level by reading Nightwood.

 

06

Little Bee

by Chris Cleave

There is something to be said about a book that tells you nothing in its description. Describing the events in Little Bee will not give it justice. Suffice it to say, this is one of those rare books that will have you laughing while tears of pain are streaming down your face simultaneously. Yeah! Try that idea on for size. I'll let Chris Cleave, author of Little Bee, give you a brief synopsis here.

 

I picked this book up simply because there were no author blurbs on the Advanced Readers Copy in the breakroom at my work. There were no long plot summaries. There was no indication of why this book was worth a read. So I had to read it and be my own judge. Living in a world where we are given sneak peeks at everything, and we can't discover meaning or worth on our own, this book was right on time. I can't tell you that you will love it. I can't even promise that you will like it. But for me, the mystery of it was enough to grab my attention. The writing blew me away. The story surprised me just the way the publisher and author anticipated. Kudos for creativity. 

 

07

Come to Me

by Amy Bloom

I like a really great book of short stories, and Amy Bloom is the queen of that genre. These stories are jazz, they are summertime, they are death and longing, they are heart and soul. The words are like heartbeats, rhythmic and strong, and the characters are the blood pulsing through the book. Giving new life to every reader of each page. If you don't FEEL something when you read any of these stories, you have no soul. Period!

 

Yes, those are bold words, but in my opinion, when you encounter a great writer such as Amy Bloom, bolder words need to be used. I wish more people were exposed to her literary genius, and I believe this book is a great gateway drug.

 

I could tell you how tender Love Is Not Pie reads, or that The Sight of You EASILY inspired the critically acclaimed, better-known author Tom Perrotta's novel Little Children, but there is no use. If I went into detail about all the many words, feelings, thoughts and themes of Amy Blooms writing that lead to a silent renaissance of post-modern literature, we would be here for days.  In short, Come to Me encompasses the world that surrounds us without removing us from our comfort zone. She weaves stories onto the pages like the fabric of a quilt, that you, burrowing under its warmth, tugging at each line on each page like the frayed edges of a blanket, have subconsciously metamorphosized yourself into.

 

Independent of one another, but familiar, each short story in Come To Me, as the title suggests, will beckon you. 

 

The Magnificent Seven!!!

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Featured Review
The Alchemist
The Little Prine
The Prophet
Nobody Belongs Here More Than You
Nightwood
Little Bee
Come To Me

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