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Recently I have read a few lists of the "Top Ten" kind. Those of the cringe inducing absolutist variety like, for example, the 10 books not to read before you die, turning 30, having a child, graduating from high school, getting married, writing your own book....ad nausea.

I thought about adding my own little list, but realized that I really don't need to add gasoline to that bonfire. Favorite books (let alone good/bad/cliché /ripped off ones) are so subjective that it seems almost a waste of time to even make a list at all. Especially when every comment posted about these lists completely trashes half the books on each one before going on to suggest 3 that so totally should have taken the place of The Lord of the Rings or The Grapes of Wrath.

There are some books that are included on every must read list not to mention under everyone's favorite books that it makes me wonder whether or not people actually like these and honestly have read them or if they feel as though in order to be a respectable human being they are required to ABSOLUTELY ADORE (gasp, cry, clutch heart, slump over keyboard with hiccuping sobs) To Kill A Mockingbird, lest they be mauled to death by the ghost of Clark Gable. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with To Kill A Mockingbird, (Stay away, Gable. I have a metal baseball bat and I'm not afraid to use it!) but that there is something wrong with America that it is completely incapable of thinking of just one other compelling, heartbreaking, wonderful book to talk about and profess deep undying love for.

Luckily, I can.

And I'm just going to talk about one little (well, actually big) book, NOT a whole list, that I completely adore and think that more people should read and reread.


The Brothers K by David James Duncan



In my own personal top ten, this is very near the top, probably fighting for #1 with a pile of Dr. Seuss, a collection from Billy Collins and some E.M. Forster. At this point they are probably all out of breath, leaning against a brick wall somewhere, examining their various scratches and bruises. But I digress.

This book is a beautifully written, epic story of a family. It highlights their journey through the sixties and seventies related by one of the six children. It ranges from hilariously outrageous to jaw dropping in it's beauty and sadness. It's about history, love, religion, war, friendship and perhaps most importantly, baseball.

A few days ago I began to reread it and was reminded of exactly how much I thoroughly enjoy this book. It is a masterpiece in every sense.


You might want to think about reading it before you die. I won't make you, or anything, I'm just saying....