Fiction
 Airframe | A disaster 35,000 feet above the earth leaves 3 dead, 56 wounded, and the cabin in shambles. What happened? With a multi-billion-dollar company-saving deal on the line, Casey Singleton is sent by her hard-driving boss to uncover the mysterious circumstances that led to the disaster before more people die. But someone doesn't want her to find the truth. Airframe bristles with authentic information, technical jargon, and the command of detail Michael Crichton's readers have come to expect. |
 The Andromeda Strain | The original Michael Crichton thriller, The Andromeda Strain explores the possibility of an extremely rapidly mutating lifeform entering a human population. First, it appears to feed on rubber, but its appetites soon take a deadlier turn... A must-read. |
 The Chosen | Chaim Potok's incredible first novel explores the lives of two Jewish
boys, growing up in New York City. The subjects covered include the
boys' lives; their relationships to each other, to their fathers, and
to their teachers; the Holocaust; and much more. Ultimately, it is a
book about fathers and about faith. One of my favorite books, this is a
must-read. |
 Jurassic Park | On a private island in the Carribean, people are dying, and creatures that died millions of years ago walk again... The movie doesn't do this book justice. For the scientific background and much better character development, you'll have to read Jurassic Park for yourself. |
 Les Misérables | My all-time favorite novel, Victor Hugo's masterpiece explores the
highs and lows of society, along with everything in between. Set in
nineteenth-century France, during the turbulent years between the fall
of Napoleon and the student uprising of 1832, this epic tale has
touched the hearts of millions for good reason: it shows the best and
worst of humanity; it causes us to stop and think; it might cause us to
pray; it causes us to persevere; it certainly gives us a glimmer of
hope. A must-read. Note: I strongly recommend reading the unabridged version. Yes, it's longer, but abridging this book takes out so much of its value that it should never even be considered. Part of its splendour is in its breadth and simultaneous depth of detail. |
 The Lord of the Rings | One of my two favorite books of all time, The Lord of the Rings is an
incredible epic. This, Tolkien's greatest work, prompted The Guardian
to ask,"How, given a little over half a century of work, did
one man become the creative equivalent of a people?" Although this is
Tolkien's longest and best-known work, one can sense within its pages
even greater, older stories, far beyond its contents or those of The Hobbit.
The Lord of the Rings is a story of good and evil (both subtle and
obvious), of humanity, and of what humanity could be. Underneath, one
finds a whole mythology and an almost-real narrative of how things came
to be what they are. The movies were good, but the full impact of the story can only be found on the printed page. I can not say enough good things about this book; you will simply have to read it for yourself. |
 My Name is Asher Lev | Chaim Potok, author of the bestselling novel The Chosen, has produced a masterpiece in My Name is Asher Lev. Asher Lev, a Ladover Hasid, is a devout Jew and a compulsively driven and phenomenally talented artist. The novel is the story of his early life and maturity as a person and as an artist. Absolutely phenomenal. |
 Prey | Cutting-edge research into nanotechnology, using "nanobots" as cameras, has gone horribly awry, and another Michael Crichton thriller is underway. Though the book gives perhaps too much credit to human abilities and the processes of evolution, Prey is a fast-paced and enjoyable read. |
 The Promise | The second novel in Chaim Potok's series, following the young Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter, brings the young men into adulthood, as each finds his own place in the world and Reuven is challenged to help a very special and gifted young man find his. Another must-read. |
| Sphere | Of all the books Michael Crichton has written, this is possibly my favorite. A deep-sea discovery and recovery project puts the researchers on site in spine-chilling danger, but opens doors none of them thought possible... A must-read. |
 State of Fear | Never one to shy away from writing about controversial topics, Michael Crichton tackles eco-terrorism and the debate (yes, there is one) over global warming in his newest thriller, State of Fear. This book provoked less controversy than it should have, honestly. I wouldn't honestly say it's Crichton's best, but, as usual, it's pretty cutting-edge and it's well worth reading. |
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Last Updated: May 12, 2008
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