Five Perfect Book Covers

Atwood insists on categorizing The Handmaid's Tale as speculative fiction as opposed to science fiction since she feels no technological breakthroughs are needed to make this story a reality. This book is a landmark in feminist dystopian literature and tackles the issue of religious fascism. However, I felt The Handmaid's Tale required a greater suspension of disbelief than other dystopian stories in this list. Nevertheless, Atwood raises a spectre that sticks in the mind.

Lost amidst the controversy over the exaggerations in this book was the fact that it is essentially a true and gripping tale. James Frey’s account of his descent into drug addiction and its consequent effects on his life is a redemptive story that provides insight into a world that most readers (including myself) know nothing about. I find it fascinating.

This is a premium book. I didn't want it to end and I didn't want to see the characters I loved be hurt. THAT is how you know a book has moved you. To the surprise of more than a few people, this is my introduction to Foer's work and I'm looking forward to reading his other book. However, I'm glad I read this one first as it gave me a chance to read a new style of writing. Its ability to capture what it feels like to love, lose, try, or fail made me remember what is so great about books in the first place. Just as music can sometimes bring an emotion without any words, sometimes the words in books can feel musical. (Does that make any sense?) I guess that's what reading "Everything is Illuminated" felt like to me: a kind of journey full of falsettos, crescendos, staccatos, and everything in between. If you're looking for a book to start off the new year, choose this one.

I have very specific memories of Jurassic Park. First, it was in hardcover the summer of 1990 — the summer I first worked in a bookstore. It didn't seem to sell too much but the cover was very distinctive. Second, I was on a weekend trip the winter of 1991/1992 with some friends. One of them literally entered the rental house with his nose in the paperback; he stumbled towards a chair and didn't move until he was done. He read the book in four hours, non-stop. My sister then picked it up and did the same thing that night. And then I finally did so the next day. But the story doesn't stop there! The book came home with me; a housemate picked it up and read it straight through. And it turns out he left it on the kitchen counter when he was home visiting his parents and his Mom picked it up late one night and read it straight through until dawn. So as I think you can figure out by now, while it's not timeless prose, Jurassic Park is definitely one of the most addictive page-turners of the late 20th century. Don't say I didn't warn you. ;-)