Insider Rowing

Alright, this was supposed to come out last week but whatever. Now is a great time to pick up a few books now that classes are over and fill your brain with sweet goodness. And no I’m not talking about Maxim mag or Cosmo, not that there’s anything wrong with those fine publications. Books, people. Reading is good for the soul.

These are in no particular order:

1. The Road, Cormac McCarthy. See my extended review here. About a boy and his dad trying to survive in a horribly ravaged post-Apocalyptic world. Cannibalism and carnage ensues. Just when you think Christmas is happy times, getting schnackered at the holiday party, and credit card debt, along comes this little number that is very much a journey through hell. Men, be prepared to weep. Do it in private, if you must.

2. The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. Ah yes, another story about a boy on a journey that may cause you to ponder and re-evaluate the way you go about your life. This one is more on the the joyful, adventure side of the ledger. Clocking in at around 200 pages, you should be able to finish in a sitting or two.

3. The Life of Pi, by Yann Martel. A boy and a bunch of animals, including a Bengal tiger, get stranded on a raft after their oven liner goes down. This is a tale of survival and it’s serious business. I would firmly place this in the “adult reading” category, so don’t be lulled by the friendly blue cover. Some grisly moments contained herein. This story is perfectly executed and there are some true moments of magic here. There is a twist at the end that is a real mindbender. Simply amazing.

4. The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman. Yes, this is the book of the movie that just came out (book was published in 1995 and is the first part of a trilogy). The book is totally awesome (the movie is less so) and can compete at Potteresque levels of fantasy excellence. Some totally original ideas and the themes are darker and more adult-ish. Another story of a young person (Lyra, age 11) on a journey. There seems to be a theme here.

5. Once A Runner, by John L Parker. I had to throw this one in here because it’s my favorite piece of sports fiction. Yes, that’s correct, an actual novel about sports, as in made up characters and plotlines. Protagonist is Quentin Cassidy, a talented miler on the college track team. Even better, this one takes place at a school loosely based at the University of Florida, my alma mater, and retains many of the same locations. This is a cult classic, and a MUST read for any competitive athlete, no matter the sport.

Honorable mentions: I am Legend, Robert Matheson; Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Philip K. Dick; Contact Harvest, Joseph Staten.