Ten Books To Read Before You Die—with a bonus of Ten Short Stories To Read Before You Die

[tigriswolf]

Ten Books To Read Before You Die—with a bonus of Ten Short Stories To Read Before You Die

 

            The recommendations aren’t in any particular order—just how I picked them out on my shelf.

 

1. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

 

I remember buying this in—gosh, I think it was eighth grade. I can still pick it up and flip to a random page, fall into the story with ease. It’s the first in The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, all of which are worth reading. All the characters are wonderful and the world is lively. It’s a hilarious series.

 

2. Warchild by Karin Lowachee

 

            This is a serious book that deals with serious themes—finding yourself, becoming your own person, loyalty, betrayal. After I read it the first time, I had to go back and read it again to fully pick up on a very subtle plot point that is vital to understanding the main character and why he’s become the man he has.

 

3. Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies

 

            This is a book about deer. And it is lovely. It’s brilliantly woven and stunningly told, and I could reread it over and over and over again.

 

4. Changer by Jane Lindskold

 

            My all-time favorite novel. I found it at the library and then searched for it everywhere. I asked the bookstores but, alas, it’s no longer printed. I really really wanted to read the sequel, too, but no library in the state carried it.

            Luckily, the internet exists. I got both books for Christmas two years ago.

            Changer weaves together myths from all over the world in ways I can only dream of achieving. I love all of the characters, even the ones I hate, and I fully understand why they do what they do.

            If Dean Winchester and Ben are tied as my favorite characters ever, then the Changer is a close second, tied with Alec.

            Just try to locate a copy, okay? You won’t regret it.

 

5. Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcaterra

 

            Now, this is a painful book, it really is.

            Look, there’s something that should be understood about my reading habits. If I decide I don’t like the book or where I think it’s going, I put it down and never pick it up again. I don’t finish a story simply because I started it. And I can toss aside a book, come back months later, and read again with no problem.

            So when I say I couldn’t stop reading this book once I started, try to understand what I really mean.

            It’s not for everyone, I get that. It’s about a very tough subject and some people can’t handle it. But if you can, try reading it, please. And don’t miss the movie.

 

6. World On Fire by Michael Brownstein

 

            I first read this book when I was fifteen.

            I reread it, now and again, because it’s just so—powerful. It breaks me each time.

            Brownstein writes part poetry, part prose. Each time I read this book, I pick out something different. Try it.

 

7. Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop

 

            This is the first of The Black Jewels Trilogy. They are dark books infused with passion and humor, and I can lose myself in this universe for hours. Before Ben, before Dean, my favorite was Lucivar Yaslana. He’s one of the main people in the trilogy, and still one of my favorites.

            And if the books are ever made into movies, I think Jensen Ackles should play Daemon Sadi. Just… yes.

 

8. The House of Gaian by Anne Bishop

 

            Third of the Tir Alainn Trilogy. The best of the three in my opinion, though you should probably read the other two before attempting this one. 

            So many wonderful characters, so many scenes I love—when I first read this book, to my shock, I decided it tied with Black Jewels. Not quite as dark as Black Jewels, though close. Try it.

 

9. Plastic Jesus by Poppy Z. Brite

 

            I read this on a school bus to see a play in my junior year of high school and then reread it on the way back. It, too, is out of print. 
            It’s a short novella, not even a hundred pages long. If it’s ever made into a movie, I think Jared Padalecki should play Seth and Jensen Ackles play Peyton.

            And no, that’s not just because they’re singers in a band together and happen to be lovers. Really.

 

10. Shane by Jack Schaefer

 

            I first read this book in ninth grade. I picked it up at a garage sale for twenty-five cents.

            I love Shane, the title character. He’s just—so complex, so powerful. The movie is nowhere near as good as the book. If there’s ever a remake, Jensen Ackles would kick ass as Shane.

            It’s a short little novella, barely over a hundred twenty pages. Read it.

 

1. “Dream Done Green” by Alan Dean Foster, located in The Night Fantastic

 

            Roughly twenty pages long, “Dream Done Green” is about reclaiming parts of ourselves. It takes place far in the future when humanity has lost Earth in the vastness of space.

            I love it.

 

2. “A Wind From Heaven” by Laura Resnick, located in Ancient Enchantresses

 

            This story is part of the reason I wrote a poem about whether or not God raped Mary. It’s barely ten pages long, from Mary’s POV, telling how God came to her, what happened next, and the trip to Egypt so that Herod wouldn’t kill Jesus.

            It’s a haunting tale.

 

3. “In His Name” by Jennifer Robertson, located in Ancient Enchantresses

 

            This is the tale of what led to John the Baptist getting beheaded. It’s barely seven pages long. Once you’ve read it, it’ll never leave you.

 

4. “The Fields, The Sky” by Gary A. Braunbeck, located in Creature Fantastic

           

            This is the story of the Minotaur after Theseus left him for dead in the labyrinth. 

            I wonder how much this ten page story has affected me since I first read it, years ago.

 

5. “A Phoenix Too Frequent” by India Edgehill, located in Creature Fantastic

 

            Now this is a story that has lent much too me. It is epic and wrenching, encompasses millennia in less than ten pages. It is about time and myth, what humanity has lost as we march ever-forward.

 

6. “The Fire of a Found Heart” by Linda P. Baker, located in Earth, Air, Fire, Water: Tales from the Eternal Archives #2

 

“The Fire of a Found Heart” was one of the very first slash stories I ever read, and I keep coming back to it. It tells of two warring nations who keep fighting because of a misunderstood event, and the two princes who realize what must be done to end it.

It’s a really, really good story, clocking in at around forty pages.

 

7. “Winter Phoenix” by India Edgehill, located in The Magic Shop

 

            I’ve long been fascinated with Anastasia Romanov, youngest daughter of Russia’s last czar. This story, about twenty pages long, tells of what happened before that fateful night, and after. 

 

8. “A Quiet Justice” by Michelle West, located in Vengeance Fantastic

 

            Of all the Greek gods, my least favorite is Hera. I never liked her much. 

            Until this story, at least. Now, I find myself sympathizing with Zeus’ poor bride. It tells of what happened after centuries passed and the gods’ power waned. It’s bittersweet and lovely, and leaves me longing for more.

 

9. “To The Gods Their Due” by Michelle West, located in Conqueror Fantastic

 

            I have a thing for Alexander the Great. I wouldn’t call it an obsession or a fascination, but I like reading about him, learning about him. 

            This story is a fifty-page what-if scenario. What if Alexander never turned back on his quest across Asia and Hephaestion turned away from him, unable to bear the knowledge that he needed Alexander far more than Alexander would ever need him?

            Heartbreaking, is what it is. And so touching.

 

10. “Catseye” by Laura Anne Gilman, located in Familiars

 

            This is my all-time favorite story. Ever. Not even four pages long, it shouldn’t take but ten minutes to read, if that.

            The tale of a cat who watches his witch get abused by the man she’s chosen for her husband, it’s all about vengeance and consequences. 

            Excellent.

 

So, there you have it. Happy reading.

 

Comments

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for writing it.