Book Recommendations Day 4: Miscellaneous

Today will be my final book recommendations post, and I thought I would suggest some books from several different authors instead of focusing on just one.  I'm going to try and list a wide variety of genres as well, so hopefully everyone can find something they might enjoy.  Let's get started!

If you've never heard of the late Douglas Adams, shame on you!  Adams is best known for his science fiction comedy series, kicking off with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  There has been a television show, a computer game, comic books, and even a movie based on this story.  I have seen both the television series and the movie, and am of course convinced that the book is still the best way to enjoy Hitchhiker's Guide.  The series follows Arthur Dent and his colorful companions on their adventures through the galaxy, following the destruction of Earth.  The link above is actually to an omnibus edition that includes the entire series (which I wish I owned), but you can also buy the books individually.  If you're looking for a good laugh, you can't go wrong with this one.

My next recommendation may seem daunting to some, shall we say, "inexperienced" readers.  Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead follows the story of an architect, Howard Roark, as he struggles to express his creativity during a time when originality and alterations from the norm are frowned upon and shunned.  The novel also contains elements from Rand's own philosophy, Objectivism.  This is not an easy read by any means, but the compelling story and philosophical elements could quite possibly give you a new outlook on life.  Next on my own personal reading list is Atlas Shrugged, considered to be Rand's crowning work.  I am looking forward to the read!

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami is quite a thrill ride.  If you are the squeamish type, you may want to just skip over this now.  Battle Royale is the story of a class of junior high school students that are ripped from their normal lives and sent to a deserted island where they are forced to kill each other until only one remains.  The novel  explores the varied reactions of the students as they come to the realization that there will be no escape if they don't play the game.

My final recommendation is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.  There is a movie, which admittedly captured the story fairly well, but if you have not yet seen it, please read the book first.  Henry DeTamble has a unique condition that causes him to involuntarily travel through time.  He cannot control whether he goes into the past or future any more than he can control when it happens.  The novel is actually a love story between Henry and Clare Abshire.  Clare first meets an adult version of time traveling Henry during her childhood.  This is the most touching story of love and commitment I have ever experienced and I'm not embarrassed to say, it brought me to tears.  Even if you don't normally go for love stories, you should check this one out.

I hope I've been able to provide some decent reading recommendations this week.  It's been pretty fun for me to talk about my favorite authors.  I think I may have another week in the future where I recommend some of my favorite comics, so if you're into that, keep an eye out for it!