Rational Insanity
10 titles every human should have in their library
Hello dearies! Very recently I had a nice conversation with a reader friend of mine and we began dishing out titles of books we have read. When the conversation was almost over, I noticed that she was jotting down all the titles I was still mentioning after she had grown quiet due to loss of any more titles to say. I asked her why she was taking down the titles and she said that she would try to find the books I was mentioning to add to her library. I just smiled and decided to write this column for all of you bookworms out there. I wanted to write a must read list, but I considered that there are book reviews in newspapers every week and I would just be adding to the long list of must-reads. For this particular week, I will give you a list of library must-haves; books that you should and must have, otherwise you will fall behind the intellectual super high way. It doesn't mean though that you should just have these titles glaring at you from your bookshelf, you have to read them all, of course. So, here goes:
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The Complete Unabridged Shakespeare – I must admit, I find this very boring, but it has its saving graces especially when you need models for Elizabethan verse and when you cram to find a good script to stage. What could be better than Othello, Romeo and Juliet, or A Midsummer Night's Dream?
The Complete Edgar Allen Poe Collection – well, aside from the fact that this is required reading in most literature classes, the mystery and horror aficionado will surely find a wealth of stories from this man's great mind.
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Any Copy of 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' – I consider this brainless reading, but when you are sitting on a toilet and find nothing else to do, a story out of this book will surely inspire you.
God's Mercy by Bernard Malamud – aside from the writer being a Pulitzer Prize winning author, this book is a very clever retelling of Christ's story of salvation, guess who the star of the story is? A chimp! Beat that!
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The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies – ever wonder how to get through that nasty hang-over or a case of lice or crabs? It's all in this book – stuff you could do with household items (i.e. eggnog, a piece of bloody steak) in the privacy of your own room.
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Mythology by Edith Hamilton – Hmmm, familiar college studes? Trust me, this can be a real life saver when it comes to those twisted, head scratching world lit exams.
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Like Water for Chocolate by Lorna Esquirel – This one is a very cleverly written novel with a very subtle dish and dash of recipes, home remedies, and romances. Drop that cheap romance paperback for this treasure of a book.
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The Alchemist by Paolo Coello – if the translation of most of his books to many languages is not enough to convince you, then you must be sterile! You must have this in your library; Coello is an addiction – trust me, when you're done reading this title, you will want the rest of his work.
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The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino – 'The Alchemist' popped this genre, but read this book and have it firmly in your collection to understand where all those 'inspire me and make me think' books came from.
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The most comprehensive dictionary/thesaurus you can find and a Bible or Koran (depending on your religion) – need I explain why you need to have these two books?
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There you have it folks! Stock up on the knowledge – 'the mind is such a terrible thing to waste.'
Be rational; be insane…every once in a while!! TTFN!
I love you all! Byers!