1. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Without a doubt, this novel is one of the best I have ever read, as well as the most stirring and inspiring. The depth of this book would have me reevaluate my entire way of life. While I cannot adopt every philosophy espoused by The Fountainhead, the novel is a triumph of self-reliance and absolutism, defined by beautifully complex characters. I feel as though I have discovered a great literary treasure, and I have no doubt that I will gladly read this work again someday.
2. Between Heaven and Hell by Peter Kreeft
I am not certain how accurate the portrayals of Lewis, Huxley, and Kennedy are, but this brief dialogue was both entertaining and thoughtful. Regrettably, my knowledge of Kennedy and his philosophies are vague; Huxley, not much better; Lewis, moderate. However, I have heard more about all three since I entered college, so the dialogue was a nice crash course, if a fictional one.
3. The Naked Voice by W. Stephen Smith
If you are not a student of music, particularly a singer, The Naked Voice will probably interest you very little. However, I can advocate some of Smith’s techniques (“inventions,” as he names them) for all people, singers or not. His wholistic view (misspelling intentional) begins with a singer’s natural vocalization—to simply speak simply. His advice for speaking is valuable for all and invaluable for singers. For singers, I highly recommend this book as a pedagogical resource.
3.5 The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan
I jokingly said that a book on D-Day could not be terribly interesting, as I already knew the ending, but this one kept my attention. Given, I read the book in under 48 hours because it was assigned, but through the frenzied tearing through pages, I really enjoyed the more personal look at June 6, 1944. It was a very human account, making a war that I did not fight seem much more real, which is the goal of any historian, I’m certain.
4. The Hunt For Red October by Tom Clancy
This was my first foray into Clancy’s genre. Okay, I take that back; I started Red October a few years ago, but never finished. Having completed the work, and assuming it is representative of Clancy, I have a few likes and dislikes.
Throughout Red October, I was very convinced. I know nothing about military protocol or naval technology, but I was very quickly and persuasively brought into the world of the Cold War. Additionally, the vast number of minor characters lent authenticity to the situation, somehow bolstering the story with their cameos. However, the technobabble and minor characters, as convincing as they were, often became a literary quagmire between me and the plot. All in all, I enjoyed the novel, but Clancy is not exactly my style.
5. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
6. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
7. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
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