#110. "The English Patient" by Michael Ondaatje

When thinking about World War II, the common image is one of death and carnage. There are soldiers lifting their rifles in defense against a terrible foe. These stories have been told ad nauseum and the idea of the hero has been etched into stone. However, Michael Ondaatje had a different idea of how to project WWII. In "The English Patient," he decides instead to focus on the human component of war, specifically that of a romance between four individuals trying to survive in a war-torn Africa. In a decaying landscape, a nurse takes care of the soldier known as the English patient, fragile from a plane crash. He slowly gains life and every day she patiently waits for him to get better, keeping him company in order to survive. As she does this, there is a greater sense of the world, creating something ethereal and spiritual. 

#109. "Unprotected" by Billy Porter

Like most artists, Billy Porter had big aspirations. From his youth watching Dreamgirls perform on The Tony Awards, he knew that he wanted to be up there singing and dancing. As someone from a lower-class family who had an inherent queerness in everything he did, the effort to stand out and get away fueled him, driving him to be the hard worker he is today. But the journey isn't that simple. While hard work paid off as evident by his work in Kinky Boots and Pose, it was decades in the making, where a fraught home life only added to personal issues of valuing himself. Throughout his memoir "Unprotected," Porter opens up as only he can, presenting every conflict in his life with raw honesty and hard truths that helped to shape him into a better person. It's as much a fascinating look into how a singular artist evolved through a society that sought to oppress him as it is a chance to psychoanalyze how that impacts him personally. It's witty, heartbreaking, and beautiful all in one. 

#108. "Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel" by Val Emmich

In this modern age, everything needs to be made into a franchise. By some luck, the Tony-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen has taken advantage of its popularity in some profound ways. From inescapable covers of the hit "You Will Be Found" to a divisive film, the story has been everywhere. In one of the stranger moves, they even have moved into the world of young adult fiction, having Val Emmich expand upon the original story by Steven Levenson. Given that Broadway shows cater to exclusivity, it's interesting to see them spread themselves this thin. Though the question comes back to is this any good? Was this even necessary? To be totally honest, it's one of the rare shows that feels catered to the Y.A. genre and thus its transition isn't totally egregious. It may not be a work that overshadows the original, but for hardcore fans, it's something worth considering.

#107. "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

There are few books in the 20th century American literary canon as mythic as "A Confederacy of Dunces." While the story itself is an entertaining romp through 1960s New Orleans, the journey of author John Kennedy Toole is a more curious affair, both reflective of the "never give up" mentality that authors continually face and the tragedy of never seeing your success come to fruition. Over a decade after committing suicide, the book was published, presenting the author with acclaim and recognition that had been rejected continually, possibly leading to several mental health problems. Thanks to a passionate mother, it finally got into the hands of Walker Percy ("The Moviegoer") and change was made. But still, one has to wonder what would've happened if this happened in Toole's lifetime, able to be recognized for his perceived brilliance.

Because it is easy to see both sides of the argument. On the one hand, his book has a deft control of prose that is compulsory and entertaining. It's also deceptively complex, requiring the audience to empathize with a physically repugnant protagonist named Ignatius Riley and tackle such unflattering stories as sex work and disgruntled hot dog vendors. So much of the book is challenging you to like it, and the irony is the greater commentary. This is a story about someone who lacks value socially trying to find it. At times it may seem like Ignatius is doomed to live in his mother's house, falling victim to her alcoholic tendencies. He's far from perfect but, in its own strange way, Toole makes you like him by the end. All it required was patience and faith that he wasn't given in his own life. It's the epitome of dramatic irony, of a success that could never be built upon.

#106. "Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives" by Dav Pilkey

The extended universe of Captain Underpants continues to grow with the second spin-off ("Cat Kid Comic Club") to a spin-off ("Dog Man"). Much like the original, "Perspectives" is a story that turns the creative writing workshop process into an entertaining, accessible experience for children. By turning sometimes pretentious ideas into language that is entertaining and graspable, Dav Pilkey has found a way to make the reader want to write their own stories. There's a shamelessness within the text, proving that no idea is too juvenile for consideration. It's another welcomed look into literature not as something to be studied and learn from, but simply to create a vast imagination that inspires everyone. In some respects this is a lot of the same as the first entry, but even then it's a worthwhile read for those wanting a goofy lesson in how to write their own story.

#105. "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

There are few authors that feel as essential to Depression-Era California quite like John Steinbeck. He had a gift for not only capturing a moment but embodying the figures who are doing everything they can to survive. It is why "Of Mice and Men" remains timeless, exploring the working class during a fraught period of history. Even in his lesser books like "Cannery Row," he has a gift for conveying a scene with nothing more than a man standing on a street corner, wondering what the rest of his day will look like. It is here that his novels come to life. In this particular case, he forgoes conventional plot for a slice of life narrative that finds multiple narratives overlapping as they go about their jobs in Cannery Row, CA. It's a story full of mundanity, reflecting loneliness and desperation to try and cure that feeling. What it lacks in urgency it more than makes up for with compelling prose and a strong sense of introspection. 

My Wishlist of 100 Books (2021 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.