#144. "Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea" by Dav Pilkey

A lot has happened since Dav Pilkey last visited the world of Dog Man. As the most successful spin-off of the Captain Underpants series, it has developed its own spin-off that encourages kids to create their own stories as well as a stage musical and rumors of a movie. For a hero who's half dog, half man, he hasn't done all that bad. The question ultimately was if he'd ever return. After a hiatus, Dog Man has returned with "Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea," which finds our favorite hero once again getting into wacky hijinks and delivering some of the most enjoyable madcap children's literature of recent years. It's a reliably silly tale that also finds Pilky once again turning to deeper morals as the story goes on. It's a story that covers the entire spectrum of feeling, and the final one is thankfully satisfaction.

#143. "A Passage to India" by E.M. Forster

There have been few English writers who have felt empathetic to global politics quite like E.M. Forster. Over his short career, he explored the different ways that cultures interact and nowhere is that more prevalent than in "A Passage to India." It's a story that goes back centuries but focuses on a moment where England and India struggle to offer each other freedoms. There's racial undertones at every turn, making the reader aware at the discomfort that each character faces. It's hard to believe that anyone will end the story on a happy note, but Forster finds something even more profound emerging along the way. There is a study of discomfort caused by stereotypes, but what also emerges are friendships that cause the reader to long for sympathy from their own lives. The book is ultimately a call for a better world without relying on bad tropes. Instead it mixes reason with emotion in such a way that the results create their own spiritual DNA. It's a powerful novel and one of the essential British novels of the early 20th century.

#142. "Loveless" by Alice Oseman

It's a story as old as time. Most coming of age stories are about a search for identity, and it usually comes with the feeling of being alone. For the most part, nothing about "Loveless" is that revolutionary, becoming a story about trying to understand the struggles to fall in love and find a deeper connection. However, Oseman provides an interesting twist that ends up making it an essential text within youth queer literature. The protagonist is not someone who winds up falling in love by the end but learns to love herself for what she has achieved. There are the familiar stumbles along the way, but most of all "Loveless" gives readers a unique read on what it means to be young and confused. It's a story of identity that hasn't been explored as often, and the attention to detail makes it essential for anyone questioning who they are and what they want out of life.

#141. "A Room With a View" by E.M. Forster

Throughout "A Room With a View," there is one question that E.M. Forster seeks to answer. What's the importance of being open-minded? The titular room is at a hotel that overlooks the city, allowing its inhabitants to witness the wonders of the world. For some in the wealthier division, a view isn't as important, though for the protagonist it's a chance to find their own dependence on those around her. It's a chance to experience the world and take in art and culture that is there but feels cut off. It's not because of any exclusionary practice, but because she's been taught to not pay attention to it. When she allows herself to open up and embrace the world, her identity forms and makes the view something worth investing in. 

#140. "Orlando" by Virginia Woolf

In a career full of playful writing, "Orlando" may be Virginia Woolf's most enjoyable. The conceit of the text was to write a parodic text like it was historical. The premise itself was silly enough, finding the titular Orlando existing across multiple generations and taking on many forms. Sometimes it's female while others are male, placing Woolf in different contexts that allow for a curious study of gender politics throughout the centuries. Even as it delves into sometimes personal and affirming language, it reflects how sometimes the only difference between a man and a woman is clothes. Society places expectations on them that are in themselves ridiculous and it results in the humor in the text becoming something more intellectual. It's a commentary on what it means to be alive, finding that some things are difficult to reason with. Sometimes it's best just to be taken in by the magic of the moment. 

#139. "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf

A lot can happen over the course of a day. The issue is that the average person isn't often aware of every formative experience during a 24-hour period. There's very little reason to chronicle things as mundane as walking to a flower shop or sitting in a park. Even then, these can lead to some great revelations. For Virginia Woolf, she uses one day in England to uncover the intertwining lives of two individuals. They may never be in the same room nor really share similar interests, but they're more similar than you'd expect. What Woolf ultimately achieves is something sensitive and beautiful. She finds how the mundanity of every life can be full of beautiful meaning. It may be a story that comes to an end along with the sun, but it's one of the greatest, most lasting works of modernist fiction. It gives the reader a lot to think about, creating an intimacy that not only enhances the characters but connects them to every personal experience. In "Mrs. Dalloway," everything is connected. It goes beyond the physical and into somewhere mental and even spiritual. Its profundity is enormous.

#138. "Night and Day" by Virginia Woolf

While Virginia Woolf is now known as one of the most experimental writers of the modernist movement, her early work painted a very different picture. Maybe it was due to publishing novels under another company, but works like "Night and Day" were more in tune with what audiences of the time had expected. They were reminiscent of the romanticism of the 19th century, capturing a very stuffy and direct use of language that sought to trap its characters. However, within the conventional was something interesting. As the last "traditional" novel that Woolf produced, it showed signs of where her career would be heading. The characters were about trying to separate themselves from the old guard, to establish their voices in a society that didn't have a use for them. It may not be Woolf's most clever or energetic work, but it has way more personality and potential than many would think at first glance.

#137. "The Intuitionist" by Colson Whitehead

When it comes to allegories, there have been few in contemporary literature that match the weight of Colson Whitehead's "The Intuitionist." The debut novel from the acclaimed author finds an odd premise that may not make sense at first, but will slowly come to be a provocative text full of rich imagery and social allegory. By focusing on the struggles of elevator repairmen, he helps to build an economy of ideas that are constantly clashing with each other. What emerges is a power struggle between those who have the skills and those who have the wherewithal to get operations moving. It's a striking little novel and one that is consistently entertaining. Few works could hope to be as surrealistic in painting the mundanity of life as hiding these greater truths about what it means to be alive and working for someone. It's a great start to an even greater career. Colson establishes himself as a voice to watch and it's hard to deny that he more than earns a place at that table. 

#136. "Cat Kid Comics Club: Collaborations" by Dav Pilkey

Over the course of four books now, Dav Pilkey has achieved the thankless task of making the arts fun for children. While many have taken to more droll approaches to lesson plans, Pilkey understands that the easiest way to a young creative's mind is to make something that is in itself flourishes with visual wonderment. In the case of his latest entry of Cat Kid Comics Club, he takes on the subject of "Collaborations" and moves the student onto the next stage of the process. While it's difficult to come up with ideas by oneself, having to bring that to a group environment is even more difficult. What this book explores is the difficulties and benefits of trying this approach out. Who knows. It might even produce some of your best work.

#135. "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte

In the realm of Gothic romance novels, there are few with as cold of a reputation as "Wuthering Heights." For those expecting a straightforward story of a man betrothing a woman, it proves to be a much more complicated set of affairs than that. If anything, it delves into the unpleasant side effects of a relationship gone horribly wrong. Emily Bronte may have only produced one novel, but it's the type of story that has lingered in the public's consciousness, reflecting the efforts of abusive men and the way that they will ultimately try to seek power through a legacy that may not be fully earned. It's calculated work and one that hides behind unpleasantness, but the results are definitely a thrilling read for those willing to see a reality not often afforded to older literature. Not every man who played the hero is deserving of his status, and Bronte turned him into a tragic icon anyway, the butt of critics for centuries to come. 

#134. "Collected Stories" by William Faulkner

Over the course of an impressive career, William Faulkner achieved some of the most playful and dexterous writing of the early 20th century. With a fascination on the south, he detailed centuries of families overcoming a changing America while creating some of the most labyrinthian tales imaginable. A few sentences could convey hours of thought and nowhere is that seen better than in his gargantuan collection "Collected Stories." While it may seem like an overstuffed tribute to a writing legend, it actually works at conveying the themes that most interested him. Over the course of 42 short stories, he manages to reflect the way that humanity relates to itself, detailing the efforts for history to keep its traditions alive, and presenting them with humor and insight in such a way that each page has its own riveting accomplishments. While it's true that some of the tales have aged better than others, having these handpicked by the author himself allows for a peek inside a mind that was clearly never short on ideas. It's the study of a country as well as the study of a man. You just have to know how to look at it.

#133. "Her Autobiography - An Account of Her Last Years and Her Ethnobotanic Contributions" by Delfina Cuero

When understanding the history of America, indigenous perspectives are often overlooked. On top of a rich history that goes far beyond what is taught in schools, their stories have been in contrast to more socially accepted development. Among the interesting stories that should be discussed more is Deflina Cuero, whose autobiography exists less as a reason to celebrate her but to explain struggles she has faces as Southern California and Mexico have changed over the years. Following a visit to Baja California, she finds herself trapped due to visa issues, causing conversations over whether indigenous tribes should be forced to follow the laws of more contemporary cultures. After all, Baja was a place Cuero visited not so much for travel but for survival. In such a short space, she manages to convey a political matter worthy of more discussion, especially as it relates to border laws. 

#132. "Heartstopper: Vol. 1" by Alice Oseman

There are few plots as reliable as the coming-of-age stories. Few experiences are as universal and yet so diverse in how things could play out. They're moments that are formative and will define us for the rest of our lives. Even with such conventions being done to an exhausting degree, there's still room to subvert expectations and find ground for new approaches. Alice Oseman has found just that with her queer love story "Heartstopper," which explores the relationship of gay teenagers in the middle of other high school drama. It's one of those awkward love stories that many face in their youth, but Oseman's gift for finding the tenderness and nonjudgmental perspective for her characters brings out what has made this into a franchise, including a Netflix series adaptation. On the surface, there's not a lot that makes "Heartstopper" and its leads exceptional. However, give it enough time, and it will work to warm your heart and appreciate the simple joys of love all over again.

#131. "Attempting Normal" by Marc Maron

 

There have been few voices who have benefited as much from the podcast boom as much as Marc Maron. As the story goes, he was a struggling comic who decided to start a show less because it was profitable and more because he needed an outlet. Nobody would've expected his bi-weekly program recorded in his garage would amount to much, and yet it's become one of the most essential listens of the past decade. With top-tier guests, he continues to find ways to expand the potential of the confessional medium. It only makes sense that he would be tapped to write his own memoir full of his signature comedy and frustration with the world. While many of the stories feel familiar to loyal listeners of WTF, it's still thrilling to see that his voice works as well on the page as it does into a microphone.

#130. "The Antelope Woman" by Louise Erdrich

Throughout Louise Erdrich's "Antelope Woman," there is an exploration of what it means to have vindication and justice. From the perspective of a small community, magical realism spans decades and explores the different ways that humanity has interacted with nature. The results are ethereal, finding Erdrich at points taking the perspective of nature through comedic animal characters. Even then, their story is just as harrowing and full of mystery as their human counterparts. The results paint a complicated picture of what it means to be alive but also the role that the titular woman plays. Who does she protect and is she ultimately a virtuous figure. It can be argued that the answers aren't that simple and it makes for a compelling read.

#129. "Ghost Singer" by Anna Lee Walters

Throughout the course of American history, few things have been as shamefully ignored as the treatment of indigenous communities. Throughout Anna Lee Walters' "Ghost Singer," she focuses on the fact that this is a problem that doesn't exist only in life, but in death and through centuries of history. With emphasis on the unfair treatment of human remains, she creates a ghost story thats seeks to contemporize the conflict by making a figure whose presence symbolizes the disconnect between indigenous and white communities who try to find any way to maintain a beautiful harmony. The results is a powerful commentary on how even as time has gone on, there's still some things that are not close to being resolved and whose haunting present may be more difficult to lay to rest than initially believed. 

#128. "The BFG" by Roald Dahl

Of every character Roald Dahl created, there are few that jump off the page quite like "The BFG." Named the big, friendly giant, he is a figure who is immediately likeable thanks to his very specific vernacular and worldview that finds him willing to embrace the familiar Dahl logic of a world not as it seems. It's a curious book and one that finds the protagonist Sophie entering a giant world to discover that things that have scared the public for decades isn't as scary as many believed. The BFG may be hard to understand and sometimes a bit eclectic, but what results is a charming tale that shows the value of embracing one's differences and not being afraid to be a bit silly sometimes.

#127. "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt

For most people, there's something mysterious about visiting an art gallery. It's a place where one stares at paintings and tries to understand what they mean. In Donna Tartt's "The Goldfinch," the concept gets uprooted with one of the most firecracker premises imaginable, finding a childhood tragedy paving the way for a mix of intellectual pursuits and juvenile pleasures. The results create a fantastic character study that explores the variables that make someone who they are. As a lengthy read, it maneuvers some unexpected corners and results in a book that starts perfectly in its provocation before becoming something more pulpy and less thrilling. As a result, it's a great book that loses steam by the end, though it's a nice fit for the protagonist, whose journey is anything but conventional.

#126. "Working on a Song" by Anais Mitchell

Over the past decade, few Broadway musicals have been released to as much acclaim as Hadestown. The modernization of the Orpheus & Eurydice mythology comes with an impressive songbook that has kept fans singing ever since. Now that it's touring, the Tony-winning show has developed a legacy that will hopefully be passed on for generations to come. Still, to think that Hadestown was an overnight success is to miss the decade of time it took to get there. Along with various stagings, Anais Mitchell even released it as a concept and later live album with various versions. This isn't a story that came fully formed, and "Working on a Song" does a fantastic job of showing how the effort to keep improving the show until it finally all made sense is the most important thing in the world. For fans of the show, this is an essential read that helps to enhance the lore of a show that is likely to only continue growing. 

#125. "Fifty Shades of Grey" by E.L. James

For better or worse, E.L. James stumbled upon a winning formula. With her pop-fiction, she took S&M and turned it into a multi-million best selling series that tapped into the taboo fantasies of older conservative women. The appeal of a book being dirty and not for public discourse is exciting and one that likely drew many to the book, finding this perverse curiosity of just what the big deal was. For those who have made it to the other side and seen past the titillation, it will be difficult to really appreciate what this story is doing. Even for those who might find the sexuality of the book thrilling, it's difficult to not notice the redundancy that keeps James from making either protagonist a fascinating subject to latch onto. There's little evolution over the course of 500 pages and by the cliffhanger ending, the only one who feels screwed over is the reader's time. 

#124. "The Wayward Bus" by John Steinbeck

Throughout John Steinbeck's "The Wayward Bus," he finds several characters stuck at a crossroads. As they await the repair of a bus, they begin to discuss their diverse backgrounds with others and try to make sense of why they are on the voyage together. As one of the great ethnographers of early 20th century American literature, Steinbeck's biggest gift is being able to take these diverse backgrounds and give each of them a humanity that shows the ecosystem of coastal California's bordering lifestyles. What results is a story that's full of humor, meaning, and heartbreak in equal measure, creating a snapshot of how everyone is striving to survive and the various ways they work towards that goal.

#123. "On Writing" by Stephen King

For several generations, Stephen King has been one of the most influential authors when it comes to genre fiction. Both in terms of quantity and quality, he has released a great amount of work that has reshaped pop culture and has made him one of the most respected voices. Given that he's also one of the most accessible famous authors from the 20th century, it makes sense that he would want to write a book sharing some of his secrets. While it's far from the academic aura of other texts, King manages to break down "On Writing" to a language that connects him to his reader by showing that everyone is capable of becoming an author with enough hard work. As someone who used to write schlocky horror stories for b-movie magazines, he knows very well the struggle to be accepted. The results are at times insight, others soporific, but overall it's one of his most staggering works in his career for how it tears back the curtain of what one would expect and shows the humanity that goes into a fairly daunting process.

#122. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde

While he only wrote one novel in his lifetime, Oscar Wilde made every line count in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" with one of the most elegantly written explorations of vanity and death. Every line is treated as one of the most important things ever done, and in doing so not only captures the characters' high sense of self, but reflects a dark romanticization that Wilde has with life itself. As an artist, he can't help but look at this story through several media, whether it be art or performance, and understand their functions within our lives. With an opening chapter that centers around deconstructing the concept of criticism, this is a highly intellectual experience that still allows for emotions to strike fiercely when necessary. For a man who knew how to provoke, his balance of humor and tragedy here makes for one of the most satisfying 20th century reads one can have.