Top Ten Books I Read in College: Numbers 3

College has begun, and my list has been neglected.

To make things worse, I've made a drastic change in my schedule, putting me very far behind in my schoolwork, so the posts may be even fewer and farther between.

This change in schedule has also presented another interesting dilemma: I have decided to drop the secondary education emphasis on my degree. I'm officially a literary studies student now. That means I will be reading more books. More books that might contend for the title of "Best Book Read in College." So, should I continue with the list? Or should I put everything on hold until graduation next May?

I'm so far in, I've decided to finish, and then amend as necessary.

The number three spot is another cheater spot. Two books taking one place. I really couldn't decide between these two, and, like entries number 4, I decided that the reasons were so similar that I'd make a single entry for both books.

In descending order, my favorite books (and by books I mean fiction-novels) from four years of study at Dixie State College (so far):

3. To the Lighthouse By Virginia Woolf

Maybe it's the setting, but for some reason I think of this book as a "beach" read. It's pretty short, and quite easy to read. But unlike the fluff you'll find on the shores today, this book packs an amazing punch. Woolf's novel spans a couple of decades, but really only tells the story of a couple of days. The story starts with a young boy wanting to go to the lighthouse, and ends with him being granted his wish as a young man. Trying to write a description of the book makes me realize again how incredible the book is, for the beauty in the book comes in the reading, so if you really want to know what it's all about, you'll just have to take my advice and let the words wash over you.

3. Light in August by William Faulkner

This novel begins with a young woman chasing down the man who got her pregnant. She ends up in a town that is about to be shocked by a horrible murder covered up by a house fire (the lightof the title). Of course, being by Faulkner, the novel has many more intricately interwoven stories: The story of the murderer's past, his relationship with the victim, and the story of the man who falls in love with the pregnant woman-to name a few.

I read both of these novels for the same class: Period Studies: Realism and Modernism. Both of these novels are modernist novels. (Is that a good enough connection for me to get away with the cheating?) One of the reasons I put these two novels together is because of the class. I have taken a lot of Literature classes, but this is the first one that I really "got" it in terms of the movements behind the writing. Most of the other classes, the works were chosen because they met the time period culturally or historically. These books do that, but they also are great examples of the goals set by modernists. Because they're such great examples, I couldn't really find a reason to have one and not the other. Although, if I were to say which one I will read again first: To the Lighthouse.

To the Lighthouse features one of the best female characters ever written in Mrs. Ramsay, and she gets that qualification even though she's only in half the book. Light in August features a very complex character in Joe Christmas, the possibly white black-guy who murders his lover because she felt bad for him. While the characters in these novels are enough to put them on my list, the best reason I can find for their appearance would be movement. (Yes, the literary movement like stated above, but also the way the stories are told through movement.) Both stories have a definite sense of movement in their telling. To the Lighthouse moves the focus from character to character in a lighthouse like manner. Imagine the light scanning across the land as it completes it's circle, going from one character to the next. That's how this story unfolds. Light in August has a very interesting juxtapostion between the movement of Joe Christmas, who is trapped in a cycle; and Lena Grove, the pregnant girl, who is moving from east to west, never going where she's been.

For shedding some light on this whole academic reading thing, To the Lighthouse, and Light in August illuminate the number 3 spot on my list.

Top Ten Books I Read in College: Numbers 4

It's cheating time. I've read a lot of really great books during my college career. Narrowing down to a top 10 is quite difficult, so I didn't. When all is said and done, there will be 12 books on this list. But here's the thing, this isn't a tie. The way I look at it: this is the number four reason for a book to be on my top ten list.

As I was trying to narrow my choices I was trying to decide which of these two books to cut. I love them both, but I couldn't justify both of them being on my list. That's when it struck me: it doesn't matter which one I choose, the reason will be the same, so why not put both books on the list as perfect examples. So, again this isn't a tie, it's a cheat.

In descending order, my favorite books (and by books I mean fiction-novels) from four years of study at Dixie State College:

4. Nightwatch by Sergei Vasilievich Lukyanenko

The Nightwatch is a group of "light others" who monitor the activities of the "dark others." Apparently, there are all kinds of supernatural beings out there in the world, but we don't get to see what they do because they do it in the "twilight," a layer of reality that you need magical ability to participate in. When a person discovers that they have supernatural abilities, whether it be something simple like vampyrism, or something a little more complex like shape-shifting, they must choose whether they are light or dark. Lukyanenko does an impressive job of showing the good and bad qualities of both sides, and through that he manages to create a large ensemble of very likable characters. He also barely veils the comparisons between "light" and "dark" and capitalism and communism.

4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen is an ordinary teenage girl: She likes to spend her time alone; she can't figure out her feelings for her best friend; she hunts for animals to trade on the black market in order to provide for her family in a post-apocalyptic world. You know, usual stuff. Kat's lives in District 12, one of the feeder colonies for the Capital. The people in the Capital control every aspect of her life and the lives of every one else in the 12 districts. To show their control, each year the Capital requires the colonies to send two teenagers to participate in the Hunger Games. A fight-to-the-death challenge wherein the winner gets fame and fortune while losing their sanity. Of course, Kat goes to the games, and while there, she changes the rules and finds a way to maintain her dignity.

The reason both of these books are on my list is because if I had read them before I started college, they would be among my favorite books of all time. These are the books that I loved in my youth and my early adulthood. These books represent pop-fiction at it's very best. During four years of intense literary study, it was a very nice relief to make new friends that reminded me so much of "the good old days." I was also very pleased to learn that sometimes "fun" books can have very "academic" purposes. (This is more true of Nightwatch, and I recognize that canonical books can be fun, and fun books are usually more fun when they're academic.)

For reminding me of a simpler time while still teaching me valuable things Nightwatch sinks its teeth into the list, and The Hunger Games forces me to find a way for two winners, at number 4.

Top Ten Books I Read in College: Number 5

Here we are: The top 5. I'm so nervous. What if my readers don't like my choices? I don't think either of you has read number 1, how's that for a teaser? You'll have to wait for that one. Right now, we'll focus on number 5.

In descending order, my favorite books (and by books I mean fiction-novels) from four years of study at Dixie State College:

5. The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier

Sadly, this is Cormier's final novel, it was published a year after he died. In this novel, Jason is accused of murdering a girl in his neighborhood. The local police bring in a crack-interrogator to get Jason's confession. This novel reads a little younger than most of Cormier's work, but true to his style, the real surprise isn't whether or not Jason is guilty, it's what happens next.

Throughout high school and most of my early adulthood, Cormier was my favorite author. I discovered him when I was in junior high school. I think part of the appeal back then was that I was shocked that people thought I was reading YA Lit. While Cormier's characters are young adults, his themes certainly are a bit older. But that's the great thing about this great author, he never questions what his audience can handle; he simply tells his story. The Rag and Bone Shop continues in that tradition. As you begin reading this novel, you get the feeling it was written for twelve year olds, but by the time you're done reading, like a twelve year old, you're trying really hard to be grown up but you're secretly wishing you could go sleep in mommy and daddy's bed that night.

For being written by one of my favorite authors, for treating me like a grown-up even when I don't want to be one, and for a simply shocking ending, The Rag and Bone Shop enters the line-up at number 5.

Top Ten Books I Read in College: Number 6

I think it would have been easier for me to publish my list all at once. Posting a new one each day gives me the opportunity--each day--to second guess myself, my choices, and my order. So far, I haven't changed anything from the day I created the list, but I have decided that this is a mood-oriented process. So, hopefully the mood I was in the day I made the list is the best representation of my college experience.

In descending order, my favorite books (and by books I mean fiction-novels) from four years of study at Dixie State College:

6. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

The story of the Macons Dead. Morrison's novel follows the Dead family for three generations--from the beginning to the end of the Dead family name. This novel vividly, and at times graphically, follows Milkman's search for his own identity. There is a great motif on flight in this novel; if you can, read the introduction by the author before reading the book, for she can explain it a lot better than I.

This was one of the last novels I had a chance to read in college. I don't know if it took me four years to develop the skill, or if Morrison does a better job of doing it, but I love this book because of all of the little details that travel through the novel that are always so significant. I was bewildered at Morrison's ability to intertwine such small details. It is obvious that she was aware on page one of exactly what she wanted to accomplish on the last page. I liked that Things Fall Apart did such a good job of making Okonkwo's experience feel universal. Song of Solomon seems do the opposite of that, yet still maintains its appeal. The story of Milkman Dead is very unique--and certainly different from anything in my own life. While we all spend copious amounts of time searching for ourselves, it is the uniqueness of Milkman's life and quest that kept me turning the pages.

For making me drop my jaw over and over again--whether it be the story itself or the way it's told--Song of Solomon flies on to the list at number 6.

Top Ten Books I Read in College: Number 7

So is this going to come down to a battle between YA lit and more conventional literature? If so, have fun with this one. I read it in YA Lit and World Lit. (In fairness, I was only required to read the cliffs-notes version for YA Lit.)

In descending order, my favorite books (and by books I mean fiction-novels) from four years of study at Dixie State College:

7. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

A heart-breaking tale of post-colonial Africa about a respected tribesman who finds adjusting to life under the rule of the British to be unbearable. Okonkwo accidentally kills a boy in his village and is forced to spend 7 years exiled to the village of his mother's family. When he is finally able to return home, he finds that the British have arrived in order to civilize everyone. Okonkwo is disgusted at how his fellow tribesmen could allow such a thing to happen and tries to return his tribe to their traditional roots. His futile efforts come to a very tragic, and poignant, end.

As I thought about it, I realized this was the first novel I was assigned to read in college. I was in my first literature class, and I was terrified. When I chose to become an English major it was because I wanted to help future generations of kids be more effective writers; I had no idea reading was involved. Luckily, as annoying as it was having a professor telling me what to read, I was enthralled by this story. I'd never really connected to literature that was outside my own culture before. Achebe's novel is amazing at connecting the tiny world of an African tribesman with my own.

For opening my eyes to a world beyond my own, Things Fall Apart captures the number 7 spot on my list.

Top Ten Books I Read in College: Number 8

So far I'm having fun with my list, but the pressure is on. I'm polarizing my readers. One of you is expecting great things ahead, while the other is a bit bored with my choices; probably even wondering if I read anything legit while in college.

Well, welcome to the canon:

In descending order, my favorite books (and by books I mean fiction-novels) from four years of study at Dixie State College:

8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Who hasn't read Gatsby? Beautiful story about lost love and the pursuit of money. Nick arrives in New York and befriends Gatsby. Gatsby is in love with Daisy who is married to some jerk. The jerk is sleeping with a girl who is married to a gas station attendant (the only nice guy in the book, hence the reason his wife is cheating on him.) One thing leads to another and (spoiler alert) Gatsby ends up dead. And practically no one goes to his funeral. Meanwhile, the reader learns so much about class-systems, money, love, and good writing.

Until college, I hadn't read this novel; otherwise, it wouldn't be on the list. I ended up reading it three times in college. That may seem like overkill, but when you learn about American literature, how do you skip this book? I like the book because it really is classic American story-telling. I like the unreliable narrator, I like the unattainable-love story, and I like the passion.

For being the only book I read 3 times in college, yet still would read again, The Great Gatsby makes an entrance at number 8 on my list.

Top Ten Books I Read in College: Number 9

In descending order, my favorite books (and by books I mean fiction-novels) from four years of study at Dixie State College:

9. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.

An award winning graphic-novel about a young man learning to live in two cultures. The novel tells three seemingly separate stories that ultimately blend together for a surprising and touching twist. This novel not only entertains, it sheds light on a difficult situation that many Americans face, and it does it in a way that appeals to many would-be non-readers.

While I liked the graphic-novel format of this book, the story is what puts it on the list. I really like the attitude of the novel. Yang really does a great job of using ugly-stereotypes to convey his message without glamorizing them.

For being a really fun book that smacks you in the face with some really important stuff, American Born Chinese arrives at number 9.

Top Ten Books I Read in College: Number 10

It's finally here. My last year of college. I'm very excited to be so close to the end. However, I've already started missing my favorite classes. I'm an English major with an emphasis on secondary education. Fortunately/unfortunately I've finished all of my English classes. That's a good thing because I can now focus on learning to be a good teacher, but it's a bad thing because I like those classes the best.

However, since I don't have anymore English classes, I can now officially say what books I most enjoyed reading in college. It's funny. When I was in high school, I hated being "forced" to read a book, so I don't consider myself to have "read" anything during those years; while in college, I consider the books I've been required to read to be the among the best parts of the last four years.

I was going to try to do this in two posts, but after typing up the first entry I've decided one post per book per day will make things a lot easier. Who knows I might even get some homework done. I'm also thinking that the more posts I do, the more discussion (comments) I'm liable to generate. So, here goes:

In descending order, my favorite books (and by books I mean fiction-novels) from four years of study at Dixie State College:

10. The Big Heat by William P. McGivern.

A classic hard-boiled crime story: Policeman dumps his badge in search of justice/vengeance for his murdered wife. The novel features everything you would expect from the genre: Tough bad-guys, tougher good-guys, and even the hooker with a heart of gold.

The novel itself probably wouldn't be on my top ten list, but the novel is representing one of my favorite classes: Crime Fiction and Film Noir. I loved the class. I had so much fun reading books like this and then watching the movies that they inspired, including one of my favorite films of all time: Double Indemnity. Yes, we learned stuff in the class, too. Officially the class was "Period Studies," and in class we studied how literature was affected by the post-war/post-depression culture.

For reminding me of how fun college classes can be, The Big Heat busts the door down at number 10.

Phoning It In

Elisha and Harrison have left me alone for the weekend again. Sad.

However, one bright spot in my lonliness: I won't have to wake up at 3 in the morning if Harrison has a bad night. Or so I thought.

In Harrison's defense, he has always been a great baby when it comes to sleeping through the night. Lately, about once a week he'll wake up around 3 a.m. Fortunately, he's very easy to console and usually is asleep again within minutes, oftentimes without us going to get him.

So, not that it's a big deal, but last night I was guaranteed not to get a 3 a.m. wake up call. I guess I underestimated my son.

At 3:02 in the morning I received a call from Elisha's phone. When I answered, I could hear some clicking noises, but no one talked to me. I thought it was strange, but after 30 seconds I hung up. Less than a minute later, my phone was ringing again, and again no one was talking to me. I couldn't figure out any reason Elisha would be pocket dialing me in the middle of the night, but I wrote it off as that, hung up, and tried to go back to sleep. Five minutes later, I got another call. This time after about 10 seconds I heard a very familiar giggle. Harrison was calling me.

I tried to talk to him and get him to talk some more, but all I heard was what I assume was the clicking of his teeth against the phone. Eventually, I hung up, but when he called again eight minutes later, I decided I had to do something about this or I wouldn't get any sleep.

After I hung up the last time, I called back hoping to wake Elisha. Harrison answered, and too quickly for Elisha to hear. So I tried one more time. This time I connected with a very annoyed Elisha. I assumed she had to take the phone from Harrison so she would figure out the reason for my call. Never assume anyone knows what's going on at 3 in the morning.

After trying to explain myself, I finally just asked her put the phone where Harrison couldn't get it and told her I would explain when she was awake.

I really appreciate that my son was missing me, but why do babies always think we want to talk with them at 3 a.m.?

Meeting Me

I have a common name. Very common. Google it, you'll get over 6 million hits. Add in the middle name, you're still over 2 million. Being so common, you'd figure I would have had the chance to run into plenty of other Jasons Jones by now, yet I haven't.

My first close encounter happened in 3rd grade. I transferred to a new school and apparently there was another Jason Jones in the same grade but with a different teacher. It was almost mystical how I never saw the guy. Every time someone would mention him it was right after he left the room. I really started to believe this kid was some sort of myth. "Oh, he was just here, you didn't see him?" or "Oh, oh, there he is:"

All I ever saw was a whisp of hair, and then he was gone.

I didn't have any sort of encounter with myself again for quite awhile. In my early twenties I overheard myself checking in at the registration table when I was already in the voting booth.

I ended up voting next to myself.

The most annoying encounter with myself came one day when I went to pay a parking ticket at the courthouse. I told the lady my last name, she obviously needed my first name to narrow her choices, then my middle to narrow them further, then finally my birthdate to finally find me. "So you need to pay for your DUI?", she asks. What!! No. I've never done that. But apparently another one of me has. The only difference between us? Well, besides the obvious lack of judgment, his middle name is Aaron, mine is Allen, and we were born ten days apart.

I'm pretty sure this same me got a job at the Chili's restaurant where I worked. I never saw him, for he was only there a day. It was quite tempting to take his paycheck when he hadn't claimed it after 2 months. It's not like I would have had trouble cashing it.



I'm a bit surprised that there aren't more famous mes. The first time I saw my name on the big screen I was quite excited. The movie was Bait, starring Jamie Foxx. I was reading the credits and there I was: Guard played by Jason Jones. Needless to say, I was the best reason to rewatch that particular film.

I was really excited when this me also got a recurring role for about 3 episodes on one of my favorite shows: How I Met Your Mother. I played the ex-husband of one of Ted's serious girlfriends. I hated myself a bit when she dumped Ted for me.

A different me has made quite a name for myself as a correspondent for The Daily Show. I've never watched it, but I hear I'm pretty funny.

According to Wikipedia, I am also two major league baseball players, a NFL football player, the lead singer of a band called Drowning Pool, and I'm a security contractor who may have been associated with someone's murder.

The most disturbing encounter I have had with myself was when I Googled my full name recently. I was thirty one years old when I did this. Using my middle name and quotes, I found that Jason Allen Jones, 31, had been murdered in Texas. That was a bit chilling.

All this has led me to January of this year. My first real hand-shaking meeting of myself.

I was called in the church to help with the score-keeping for basketball. When I showed up, there I was. I think they only meant to call one Jason Jones, but then didn't pay attention when someone actually called both of us. Although the name is super-common, I was still surprised to be introduced to myself. I hate to admit it, but I wasn't all that impressed. I hope that isn't how most people feel when they meet me.

I think the thing that bothered me the most was he didn't seem to think that it was pretty cool that we shared the same name. Who knows, maybe he's met me before.

Last Day of Poetry Month

I didn't really post too many poems this month, but I do have one I'm quite proud of to close out the month. Hopefully it speaks for itself:


Revenge

Then:

Me,
the rookie,
first class,
lost.

Them:
Amanda, Kate, Ken,
seniors,
smart.

"Machiavellian"
What's that?
They know, I don't

The book isn't about super-heroes?

Now:

Me,
the senior,
last class,
smart-enough.

Them,
sophomores,
integrated studies,
lost.

"Machiavellian"
I still don't know,
but they don't know that.

This book isn't about super-heroes.

Poems and Holiday Dinners

My friend, Myri, is posting a poem a day in honor of National Poetry Month. I'm not as cool as her, but I've decided I can handle one original and one favorite a week. Although, this will actually be my second original this week.

I was inspired to write this poem after spending hours writing a poem, and then getting the standard "That's nice dear." I was crushed. I spent hours on it. So much work, and it was consumed so quickly. On Easter, I thought the same thing as I saw how quickly dinner was devoured after my mother-in-law, Dawn, spent all day working so hard.

So this poem is for her and for all the poets who work so hard for our enjoyment: (Forgive the annoying underscoring; without it I can't keep the format the way I want it.)

Poems and Holiday Dinners

Poets,
__________________chefs.
_________Work
hours
__________________hours.
Prepare,
__________________baste.
Revise,
__________________prepare.
Ruminate,
__________________marinate.
_________Work.
_________Blood.
_________Sweat.
_________Tears.
_________Fears.
Poems,
__________________dinners:
_________Devoured
_________instantly.
_________Great
_________ones:
Poems,
__________________dinners,
Enrich,
__________________nourish,
_________last
_________forever.

Madames Vice-President

In honor of National Poetry Month, and those who will actually read this:

Madames Vice-President

The one I served;
the one that serves me.

This experience:
nothing,
without you both.

This organization:
nothing,
without you both.

Without either,
I would have been lost.

Beyond the call of the office,
one of you cares enough to read;
the other calls on me to write.

Beyond the call of the office,
I know you're there for me.

Both of you.

Madames Vice-President:
Thank you.

What I Want

It's been a couple of months, so I figure I should post something. How about some poetry? I've never been a fan, but recently a friend has turned me on to how helpful it can be. This is a spew, as I like to call it, that I thought of while at work:

What I want

I want to be done.
I want time.
I want to know the future.
Do I have time for that?

I want answers.
I want my motorcycle to not be broken,
especially since what I want most is to go for a ride;
clear my mind.
I don't want more questions.

I want money
and love.
I want to forget the past.
Can I afford that?

I want to be better.
A better husband.
A better friend.
A better father.

I want to be a father,
not just
a babysitter.

I want to begin.
And,
I want to begin,
again.

I Still Wanna Win!

So Lowe is doing a giveaway and I really want to win it. For those of you who don't know, Lowe is a really famous blogger who is going to be on the Ellen Show someday.

She's giving away a hand-made baby book. I have a baby, and I want to win. Check it out. They're made by Wee Babai.

I guess if you go to her blog, you could win too, but don't; I don't want the competition.

Harrison's Revenge!

Way back when Harrison was about 6-weeks old, I caught his arm in a buckle on his chair.


It was the first time I ever heard him scream in pain. Of course, it broke my heart. He got over it pretty quick, and it wasn't too bad of an injury; he didn't even bleed.

Apparently, he forgives, but he doesn't forget. He took his time but over the Christmas holiday he exacted his revenge. Oh, and he doesn't get even, he gets more! He drew blood.

This is how he did it:

He laughs a lot when I gnaw on his ribs. It must tickle a lot because as he laughs he tries to push my face away.



While doing this he jammed his thumb so far up my nose it began to bleed.

I guess we're even now.