#53. "The Dark Tower: Song of Susannah" by Stephen King

The legacy of Stephen King in real life has been just as curious as that on the page. As one of the most successful authors of the late-20th century, he's formed a memorable personality. He's been candid about his work and the adaptations of his work that he dislikes (I'm looking at you, The Shining) to the point that it's all part of the lore. Along with this news, it makes sense then why "The Dark Tower: Song of Susannah" has an ominous quality over it. The lengthy magnum opus spanning over 30 years has existed largely in the realm of fantasy until the infamous car crash that almost took from him his life and chance to complete his text. While this is the second written since that fateful day, it's the first that feels truly rooted in a self-conscious need to complete his vision, which just so happens to literally include him. It's a messy book that feels more like a set-up than a fulfilling entry, and it doesn't bode well for what's left in his story. This is the point where The Dark Tower begins to quiver and separate audiences. It's a divisive decision, but a bold and fascinating one nonetheless.

#52. "The Crying of Lot 49" by Thomas Pynchon

If the point of writing is to find deeper meaning about the human condition, then Thomas Pynchon's novella "The Crying of Lot 49" fails. It's a detective story in search of discovering a mysterious postage company only to discover that, maybe, it is all a delusion. As one of the premiere voices of the postmodernist movement, Pynchon has created some of the most provocative, confusing stories and it never gets more odd than here, where everything means something and nothing at the same time. It's one of the greatest works of fiction, leaving the reader with plenty to think about as they discover more details that will either make the story greater or them more likely to become a conspiracy theorist.

#51. "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes

If one wanted to understand the history of literature in a single novel, it begins and ends with Miguel de Cervantes' epic "Don Quixote," which was written in two parts and published in 1605 and 1615. The noble "knight" is known as the man who fought windmills thinking that they were giants, but there's so much more to the story than that. It's a satire of Spanish romance novels where heroes fought dragons and had grandiose adventures that would capture the audiences' affection. What Cervantes strove for was to deconstruct this mythology while creating a book that not only commented on the futility of the genre, but the lingering success of "Don Quixote" in literature. In many ways, it's the postmodern novel written over 350 years before it became a popular genre. It's an incredible feat made all the more impressive by the fact that underneath it all, Don Quixote isn't all that incredible of an individual. The journey he goes on is one that continues to captivate audiences and inspire imitations but alas, nobody did it better than Cervantes.

#50. "Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild" by Dav Pilkey

The legacy of Dog Man is one that's full of confusion. It's a spin-off written by characters in the "Captain Underpants" franchise that has slowly developed a bigger heart than its origins suggest. Written by "George and Harold" (but actually by Dav Pilkey), the stories have chronicled their maturity as they discover classic literature and learn how to grow as writers. As stories geared at children, it's a pretty ingenious evolution and one that adds pathos to the talking animals that inhabit this world. With the latest entry, "Brawl of the Wild," the series breaks from recent tradition and goes for an extremely silly story. Sure, there's lessons by the end about loving each other, but there's more jokes than heart here, and that's perfectly fine.

My Wishlist of 100 Books (2018 Update)

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it's time to celebrate the start of the Christmas season. For those who are looking to this blog and wondering "Thomas, what can we get you?" It only makes sense that Willett Reads would be dedicated to sharing all things that interest me in literature. Well, if you're one of those kind people who want to send me a book, here is a recommendation list of 100 books ranging from different genres and centuries. I am not too picky on quality of the book, save for my desire that the book not be filled with personal annotations. Beyond that, I hope that this list will help you prepare gifts that I not only want, but can often be found at a reasonable price. Click on to discover the list and where to send any comments regarding this list.

#49. "Savages" by Don Winslow

The prose of Don Winslow's "Savages" is a beast that unfurls like the anarchic characters that inhabit it. The first "chapter," a mere two words of neglect, set up the impression that not only are these characters rude, but they're working on a different level. As the pages unfold, it is discovered that these Southern California residents are a couple of small time drug dealers who get mixed up with the Mexican Drug Cartel. Winslow doesn't so much capture the ensuing conflict that resonates over 2008 and 2009, but finds a way to add intensity by playing with the structure of language, mixing poetry with immature philosophy, entire chapters written like screenplays, and a stream of consciousness approach that shows just how manic everything is. For all of the books' fault of being rooted in a time and place, it does so with such efficiency that it becomes astounding to witness the brief period between when the Bush era ended and the Obama one started. These are one of a kind characters, and Winslow knows how to get them under our skin.

#48. "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold

In an average story, choosing to start the first chapter with a major death is a gimmick. Even if it's a crime novel, the lack of pathos allowed for a character is an effective way to keep the brutality from stinging as much. It makes it almost clinical to what follows. However, Alice Sebold's debut novel is easily the exception that proves the rule. "The Lovely Bones" is a story about murder and rape, but mostly uses it as an establishing of something deeper. The book posits that there's more to a character's life than one traumatic event, and it paints it through a clever narration of a dead teenage girl. Despite its morbid start, it's surprisingly uplifting; depicting the challenges of grief and revenge through the lens of someone who can't. It's a provocative story that will at times wallop the reader with emotion and most of all present a more honest view of how humanity can better itself.