Ranting and Raving

I have several books that are now on the “R&R Required Summer Reading List”. They are all excellent books and I encourage everyone to read them.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman is the creator of the DC/Vertigo graphic novel Sandman. I cannot type words that would give justice to this amazing book. Trust me, you’ll like it.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
This book chronicles the childhood friendship of Levi (Biff) and Jesus. It’s a great read that tries to tell the story of Jesus, minus the seriousness of the Messiah. It is a work of fiction, and it is hilarious. I highly recommend this book

Star Wars: Legacy of the Force by Multiple Authors
After the New Jedi Order Series and the atrocities that were Episodes I-III I gave up on Star Wars. I was so burned out on it that I couldn’t handle anymore. George had taken the core of my being and turned it into plush toy Jar Jar Binks garbage. It’s like he tried to squeeze every last piece of coin out of that money making machine, and in the process, kick all the fans in the ‘mean bean machine‘.

Last year though saw a slight return to the beauty of the Star Wars expanded Universe that existed before George went batshit crazy and started making the prequel movies. The book series Legacy of the Force was created and comic series Star Wars: Legacy was created. Continuing the stories of the Solos and the Skywalkers in the book series and then following the Star Wars universe 100 years into the future with SW:Legacy. It all ties in together and it’s actually pretty good. I read the whole book series in a few months. So if you are in the mood for some Star Wars that doesn’t involve the whining of Anakin (thank god he became Vader….cause if he kept whining like that I was gonna kill him) check out these books and comics.

World War Z by Max Brooks
I have mentioned this before. I suggest the audio book (for it’s all-star cast). It’s a good listen, and it makes you wonder…..would you survive?

The Harry Potter Books by J.K. Rowling
Stop belly-aching and just read them. I don’t care if you’re not into fantasy, if they offend your religious beliefs or even if you think they are children’s books. These books are none of those things and so much more. Better yet listen to the Audio versions which are done by an amazing voice actor, Jim Dale

That’s what I have spent my summer reading….that and The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Wired Magazine….but none of those are required reading….just good.

I’ll be expecting a book report from each of you on one of these subjects to be handed in to me by the End of September.