You asked for it… I read. A lot. It’s surprising that I fit it into my hectic life, but I do. Anyway, over the years, I put together a list of recommended reads. When the fifth or sixth friend asks you to suggest something, you wise up… So, here’s a few…
If you decide to go with another Buckley at some point, try Supreme Courtship. Especially hee-lar-ious. Or maybe that’s just my inner lawyer who appreciates it.
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore. One of my favorite books. Deals with the missing years of Christ’s life. But in a pee your pants funny kind of way.
Any of the Thursday Next novels by Jasper Fforde. Another humorist, similar to Douglas Adams. Writes about an alternative England where there are “literary crimes” and Thursday Next is the special ops agent. To fully appreciate them, it helps if you are familiar with classic literature as well.
Rock On: An Office Power Ballad by Dan Kennedy. Found this guy through McSweeney’s. Basically, this guy lands a dream job in the music industry only to find it’s not all that he imagined. It’s a great mindless read.
Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. Again, made into a movie. Amazingly wonderful movie. Same can be said for the book.
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman. This came out years ago, but was recently re-released. An ex turned me onto it. Probably the only good thing to come from that relationship.
The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse… by Robert Rankin. AMAZING writing. Very big in wordplay. Sort of like Monty Python but in book format and with Mother Gooseish characters.
I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle. My brother lives and dies by the Simpsons and apparently this guy was a staff writer or something on the show. Think Pretty In Pink. But male-centric. And in book form.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journe… by Hunter S. Thompson. Book is better than the movie. Craziest road trip. Ever.
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Mani… by Chuck Klosterman. A collection of essays dealing with Gen X.
Reasons to Live by Amy Hempel. Not the thing to read if you are looking for laughs and lightness. Really explores the concept of lost opportunity. But her stories are the kind of thing I read and think about for days after.
Kiss Me, Judas by Will Christopher Baer. Very noir. Not the kind of thing I usually read but still interesting.
High Fidelity: A Novel by Nick Hornby. Much better than the movie (although the movie was pretty good and had a great soundtrack). Guy runs a vinyl records store, was just abandoned by his girlfriend, and that’s where the story picks up.
