This is gonna be tough. For the purpose of this I will make a top 5 of Kurt's books and top 5 of all others
Kurt Vonnegut-
God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian-
This isn't actually a book, rather the script for a radio show Kurt used to have. The basic premise is that this reporter goes and sees Dr. Kevorkian every so often and is killed, then brought to life again. While he is dead he interviews those he meets on the other side. This book is SO hilarious and is typical Vonnegut in every way. He interviews people as famous as Hitler and as unknown as an average joe. Super quick funny read. I think it took me 45 min and I read really slowly.
Slapstick-
This book is so interesting. Very hard to explain but it's amazing. Very different view of the future of this nation. There are basically two story lines in here. One follows the President of the United States in a semi-post apocalyptic-society and the other is the story of how he grew up. Both stories make you think and will continue to catch you off guard.
Cat's Cradle-
This follows a man that tries to document what happened the day the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in the life of the man responsible for creating them. While this may be the plot line, my favorite aspect is the fake religion Kurt creates called Bokononism. For those of you who have watched LOST, I'm certain they ripped the premise of the show off of this book. I'm not angry though, I love it!
Mother Night-
This book looks into identity. Basically you are whoever you pretend to be. This is about an American spy who is being tried in the Nuremberg Trials because he can not prove he is a spy. The reader must decide if they think he's a spy or not and the twist ending makes it perfection.
Timequake-
This book itself isn't that spectacular but I love the basic premise which is that at some point in time, there was a glitch in time and everyone was sent back 10 years. They couldn't change anything they had done, they could only sit there and redo everything they had already done for the last 10 years. The book starts at the instant the 'timequake' ends. In essence it is the end of the 10 year 'replay' and explores what happens when people have to turn off their auto pilot and make their own choices again after 10 years of having no control.
All Others-
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell-
An interesting look at todays Christianity through the eyes of a man who focuses very much on the Jewish roots of our religion. Can't explain it much better than that but it's very thought provoking
Animal Farm by George Orwell-
Basically how I feel about government and one of the only political books I've ever enjoyed.
"All animals are created equal; some animals are just more equal than others"
Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne-
I heard this guy talk about his book 'Jesus for President' and I thought he had to be nuts. He was this dude in homemade clothes and gnarly dreads. He looked like he should have been pan handling outside as opposed to giving a talk to a few hundred people. Zack encouraged me to read this book and basically it has revolutionized my life and may do the same to you. Go into it open-mindedly though. If you're a republican... don't read it, you'll just get pissed off.
Burned by Ellen Hopkins-
This is a phenomenal book and I loved reading it. Another good twist ending and still thought provoking which is always good. It follows the story of a Morman girl who is constantly abused by her alcoholic father. She goes to her aunt's house to find herself and become a woman. She falls in love and it's just a nice fluffy coming of age story.
The shack by William P. Young
Yet again, a good thought provoking book about a man whose daughter is abducted and killed. In a search to discover how to grieve for her, he goes to this abandoned shack and is met by God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit who show him what love, loss and grief mean from an eternal perspective. Very very intriguing.
