There and Back Again

Lately, I’ve been craving for a good (fictional) espionage novel but to my dismay, no book has curbed my craving yet. Every novel I’ve picked up in the last few days hasn’t met my criteria of what an entertaining espionage book should be. First of all, the characters should be a bit younger. Please, no more retired-marine-turned-spy heroes or stories about retired alcoholic assassins who come out of retirement for one more mission involving an ex-lover. Secondly, the storyline should be in the present setting. No more Cold War intel-swapping crap or World War II Nazi hunt-downs. We’ve read those before. Lastly, the opening chapter should jump out at me, promising unpredictable twists and turns, my head would spin before I can say “espionage.” The first few lines alone should be screaming, “Finish me, you won’t get bored!” I guess the next Day of the Jackal has not been written yet.

Anyway, today’s post is really not about my search for that ultimate spy book but about books in general. I thought I’d list my favorite reads, the books I always go back to when everything else in the library or at Barnes & Noble just don’t do it anymore. These are the books I wouldn’t mind having if I was stranded in an island or I’d readily pack in my hand-carry bag.

And now - insert drum rolls here - without further fuss, here is my list of all-time favorite books (in no particular order):

The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride

The title sums up what the story is about. It’s the true story of James McBride’s Jewish mother who married his black father in the 1940s. It’s a tale of love surpassing the boundaries of race and religion. His lyrical writing is touching but not overly dramatic. A book to read no matter what color your skin is.

Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

Need I say more? If you think the movie is brilliant, can you imagine what the book is like? Tolkien successfully created a whole new world, a whole new language, and a whole new race of living beings that makes you want to discover and explore. When Frodo flees to the Ford on an unguided horse, you feel as if you are riding along with him. When the evil brewing in Mordor is described, your skin crawls and you fear for the worst. And when the group meets for the last time as they travel towards the Grey Heavens, you feel Sam’s pain and you want to cry as if your own friends are saying goodbye. Such is the power of the book for me.

Walking Through Mirrorsby Brian Keith Jackson

The story is about a successful New York photographer, Jeremy Bishop (nicknamed Patience by his grandmother) who returns to Elsewhere, Louisiana to bury his father and the ghosts of his past. It describes Patience’s relationship with the aunt and grandmother who raised him and the absent father who haunts him. It’s a poignant and triumphant story about family and the human spirit. Beautifully written!

Harry Potter (The Philosopher’s Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire) by J. K. Rowling

There’s only one word to describe Rowling’s Harry Potter - magical! The world of Harry Potter and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a joyous place to visit albeit there’s evil lurking in every corner. The story is simple but Rowling wrote it beautifully so as to enchant the young and the old alike. The characters are well defined so that after The Philosopher’s Stone, you begin to become familiar with their quirks. I’ve read the books many times and every time I discover something new and the experience is just as delightful as the first time.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

A tale about a pilot downed in the Sahara Desert and who befriends a young boy - a little prince - who has traveled from planet to planet inhabited by a dysfunctional adult. He learns from every planet he visits and from every person he has met. For me the book is about a child’s point of view on life and love. It’s about finding solace in solitude. It’s a simple tale of that wonderful gift children have and we adults used to have - innocence.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story by Richard Bach

I can honestly say that this is the book that had the most impact in my life. Jonathan Livingston Seagull (and Richard Bach, for that matter) is my hero, my inspiration. Jonathan chose to be more than what the world expected him to be. He wasn’t contented with his life and he did something about it. He stretched his wings, saw what was beyond the horizon and he went for it. When I need a nudge to pursue something, when I want to be brave, I think of Jonathan’s tale and I get inspired. It’s a short read but its effect lasts forever.

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

Like Jonathan Livingston Seagull, this book is about finding yourself, finding what you can and can’t do by believing in who you are. As in most of his books, Bach uses flying as a metaphor for freedom, for discovery. The reluctant messiah passes on wisdom and knowledge but in the long run what he’s really saying is you don’t need a messiah or an all-knowing being to tell you how to live your life. If you believe in yourself, you will know how.

A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane

This book and all the other Angie Gennaro/Patrick Kenzie PI duo series is a must read for all mystery lovers. Dennis Lehane is very good at weaving mystery yet unlike other usual mystery novels, his are not just about a gruesome mystery, usual suspects and wise-ass PIs sorting out the whole thing. Lehane’s books are always interlaced with emotion and he writes with a poetic touch.