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Author	Topic: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List - NUMBER ONE
Rogue1-and-a-half Title: Manager: Amphitheatre Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 7/25/07 11:54am Subject: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List - NUMBER ONE - Date Edited: 8/20/07 10:33am (18 edits total) Edited By: Rogue1-and-a-half
	Well, let me just say this has been a blast; all in all, we ended up with almost 400 books nominated by almost 60 voters. And I was afraid no one would vote. Just goes to show you. The list has some surprises on it, at least for me and it isn’t at all specific to any one genre or style. . . just when you think you’ve got it figured out, here’s a book you never would have expected to make the list. The top ten was a constant joy to watch every day, changing radically at the drop of a hat. But, at last we’re done and so without further ado: NUMBERS 100 - 91 100. Staying Up (1986) Author: Robert Swindells Synopsis: Janet was 12. Her mum used to warn her against accepting lifts from strangers, so she accepted one from somebody she knew. For Debbie's parents, it's another reason to worry about their daughter. For Debbie and her boyfriend Brian, staying alive in Barfax is becoming very difficult. What You Said: The only book to ever make me cry . . . - Forever_Padawan 99. Slaughterhouse-Five (1969) Author: Kurt Vonnegut Synopsis: (From Wiki) A disoriented and ill-trained American soldier named Billy Pilgrim is captured by soldiers and is forced to live in a makeshift prison, the deep cellars of a disused slaughterhouse in the city of Dresden. Billy has become "unstuck in time" for unexplained reasons (though it's hinted towards the end that his surviving a plane crash left him with mild ) so he randomly and repeatedly visits different parts of his life, including his death. 98. Poison Study (2005) Author: Maria Snyder Synopsis: (From Amazon) Through a stroke of luck, Yelena escapes execution in exchange for becoming the food taster for the Commander, ruler of Ixia. Though confined to a dank prison cell and doomed to a painful death, Yelena slowly blooms again, caught up in castle politics. But some people are too impatient to wait for poison to finish off Yelena. What You Said: This is another one I re-read over and over. Ylenna, the narrator, lives a hard life as a poison taster for the dictator of her county while tring to hide her growing magical abilities before she is discovered and killed. I also love the budding romance between her and the Commander's spy-master and second-in-command, Valek. - NYCGurl 97. Neverwhere (1996) Author: Neil Gaiman Synopsis: (From Wiki) Neverwhere is the story of an ordinary London man named Richard Mayhew, and his bizarre journeys through the dangerous London "underworld". At the start of the story, he is a young businessman, with a dull job and a girlfriend, Jessica, who seems to view him as a fashion accessory more than as a person. All this changes, however, when he stops to help a mysterious young girl who appears before him, bleeding and weakened, as he walks with his fiancée to a dinner with her influential boss. This one action sets his life on an unstoppable path of danger, mystery, betrayal, and learning. What You Said: Gaiman is a freaking genius and this book just screams his awesomeness. - JediYvette 96. The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (1994) Author: Roger Lewis Synopsis: The life and death of British actor, Peter Sellers. What We Say: I really loathed "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers"--it's horribly bad. It is not really a biography; it is a rough draft of one. There are great chunks of undigested research; biographical details on other people--Alec Guinness, for example--that seem to go on for pages; biographical details on the author; his editorial comments on quotes from his sources; footnotes on his sources' responses to his inquiry letters; even his snide comments and jokes about their responses. He repeats material endlessly. After about five chapters, we take the point that Sellers was a **** in real life, but have to wade through many more chapters on the same subject. At the end of all this, Mr. Lewis decides that Sellers is really e-vil. Actually, it is quite obvious that Sellers had some form of clinical mental illness-possibly schizophrenia but more likely manic depression--from the descriptions of his behaviour in the book. The most valuable part of this book is the research on Sellers' work. Granted, the Goon show means little or nothing to a North American audience, and to judge from the excerpts the book provides, perhaps rightly. British humour does not always travel, as anyone who has seen "On the Buses", "Mr. Bean" or the unspeakable Barrie Humphries--to whom this book is dedicated--can attest. But Sellers made many a movie, and Lewis has seen them all. Perhaps no other international star made so many obscure films. "Ghost in the Noonday Sun"; "The Optimists of Nine Elms"; "Soft Beds, Hard Battles"--whoever thought up these awful titles and who thought that they would draw flies at the box office? Lewis has a lot of fun with Sellers and the movie moguls--who are very willing to tolerate his quite obvious looniness if he will just draw at the box office. - Zaz 95. Les Miserables (1886) Author: Victor Hugo Synopsis: (From Wiki) Les Misérables contains a multitude of plots, but the thread that binds them together is the story of the ex-convict Jean Valjean, known in prison only by his prisoner number, 24601, who becomes a force for good in the world, but cannot escape his past. What We Say: I remember the plot of Les Miserables and not much else. - Zaz This one is on my top ten list for sure. I consider it the greatest novel ever written; it’s the story of all of us and our journey to find some measure of redemption in this world by leaving our past behind and doing something good with our life. It is the story of true self-sacrifice and in Valjean and his dogged pursuer, Inspector Javert, the story is about the dueling impulses toward mercy and justice. I read this one every year and I cry every time. Not a day goes by but I don’t think about it. This book changed my life. - Rogue1-and-a-half 94. Invisible Cities (1972) Author: Italo Calvino Synopsis: (From Wiki) The book explores imagination and the imaginable through the descriptions of cities by the narrator, Marco Polo. The book is framed as a conversation between the aging and busy emperor Kublai Khan, who constantly has merchants coming to describe the state of his empire, and Polo. The majority of the book consists of Polo's descriptions (1-3 pages each) of 55 cities. Short dialogues between the two characters are interspersed every five to ten cities and are used to discuss various ideas presented by the cities on a wide range of topics. 93. If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Movie Actor (2002) Author: Bruce Campbell Synopsis: (From Wiki) If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor is an autobiography written by Bruce Campbell. It traces his career as an actor in low-budget movies and television. As Campbell is a major cult star, the book has become a gigantic hit with his fans, as well as aspiring actors trying to break into the film business. What You Said: Anyone who is a fan of movies should have this book on their night table. - Drac39 What We Say: I really enjoyed "If Chins Could Kill". Lots of funny stories and some understated wit. - Zaz 92. I, Claudius (1934) Author: Robert Graves Synopsis: (From Wiki) I, Claudius is a novel by writer Robert Graves that deals sympathetically with the life of the Roman Emperor Claudius and the history of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty and Roman Empire, from Julius Caesar's assassination in AD 44 to Calugula's assassination in AD 41. What We Say: Graves does an incredible feat: he puts himself into the head of the fourth Caesar, Claudius, a supposed half-wit who succeeds to the Imperial throne when the rest of his family kills each other off–literally. The book is full of incredible characters: The Emperor Augustus; his daughter Julia; his wife, Claudius’s grandmother, Livia, one of the most malign villainesses ever; his uncle Tiberius, the second Emperor; his brother, Germanicus; his sister, Livilla and her lover, Sejanus, Tiberius’s henchman; his nephew, Caligula, who gives new meaning to the phrase ‘barking mad’; King Herod, Claudius’s best friend; and Claudius’s four wives. There’s a sequel: “Claudius the God”, but it’s taken up mostly with Herod, and his delusion that he’s Jesus Christ. - Zaz 91. Hyperion (1989) Author: Dan Simmons Synopsis: (From Wiki) More than 700 years after the 21st century, humanity has spread across the galaxy, first aboard Hawking drive ships and then, after Earth is destroyed in a scientific accident, the Big Mistake, through what that accident was studying. Into this turbulent situation come those who will be the last seven pilgrims to make the journey to the Time Tombs and the Shrike, there to ask one wish of it. Each has their reason for seeking out the Shrike, which is bound up tightly with the coming crisis. Aboard the treeship, after their arrival years later at Hyperion, the pilgrims finally meet after being revived out of their cryogenic storage state; they decide they each will tell their tale to enliven the long trip to the Tombs and to get to know each other. -----signature----- Don't be a fool, don't be blind Heart of mine If you can't do the time, don't do the crime Heart of mine
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soitscometothis Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 7/25/07 12:46pm Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	I, Claudius is the only book I have read of this group. I read it 15 or 16 years ago, and I remember the occasional confusion over names and characters, though the story is fascinating. I never read the sequel, though I have watched the BBC mini-series several times which covers both books, IIRC, and that is a great adaptation. There is more action in the book, however. I have seen movie adaptations of both Slaughterhouse-Five and Les Miserables; both interesting, I should really check out those books. I saw the original T.V. version of Neverwhere, and while it had an interesting plot, it could have really done with some sort of budget. -----signature----- I am not an eel popsicle. Art: http://boards.theforce.net/Fan_Art/b10020/17816752/?21 Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity
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General Kenobi Title: Administrator Emeritus Registered: Dec '98	Date Posted: 7/25/07 1:01pm Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	I thought Slaughterhouse-Five would be higher ("lower" in Roguespeak) on the list.
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DarthPoppy Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 7/25/07 1:07pm Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	Invisible Cities is great! I am glad to see that made the list (and should have thought about voting for it myself). It is great as all the cities are actually Venice (and Polo's character admits this at one point)--a great, very poetic read. -----signature----- Protect Fois Grois makers!
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The_Face Title: Ex-Manager Registered: Feb '03	Date Posted: 7/25/07 1:07pm Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	I procrastinated and totally failed to send in my books. I have no one to blame but myself. I have read parts of If Chins Could Kill, but that's all from this section. -----signature----- "Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." - E.L. Doctorow
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rechedelphar Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 7/25/07 4:38pm Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	never heard of any of em -----signature----- Clemson Football: 5-3, 3-2 ACC 49-3 win over Coastal Carolina ---------- West Bromwich: 28 points, 1st in league 5-0 rout of Watford
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Zaz Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre Registered: Oct '98	Date Posted: 7/25/07 4:40pm Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	Well, get a copy of "I, Claudius", then, it is one terrific book, and the BBC TV adaptation is just as good. Sian Phillips does justice to Livia, which I would have thought impossible.
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Darth_Duck Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 7/25/07 5:27pm Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	Never read any of this batch. (Go Mockingbird, w00t). I, Claudius is on the "to read" list, though. -----signature----- I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. -Atticus Finch
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Hammurabi Registered: Jan '07	Date Posted: 7/25/07 9:33pm Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	General Kenobi posted: I thought Slaughterhouse-Five would be higher ("lower" in Roguespeak) on the list. Me too. And how many people sent in lists? I'm kinda interested in knowing. -----signature----- i never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death
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Boba_Fett_2001 Registered: Dec '00	Date Posted: 7/25/07 9:52pm Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	Rogue1-and-a-half posted: Well, let me just say this has been a blast; all in all, we ended up with almost 400 books nominated by almost 60 voters. -----signature----- Everyone is entitled to my opinion. Go Toronto sports teams! All Hail Cliegg's Blue Leg!
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solojones Registered: Sep '00	Date Posted: 7/25/07 10:35pm Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	I haven't actually read any of these books. Which is sad, because as a HUGE fan of the musical Les Mis, I know I must read the book. I also know that being an English major has made me afraid of long books. I think I broke my reader I'm sure I'll read it someday... BTW, though I voted, I hadn't posted my votes yet. For the record (wish I'd had times to send in comments but alas, I had to fly. Literally, to San Diego). 1. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller 2. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 3. Man in Black by Johnny Cash 4. Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose 5. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 7. Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne 8. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 9. Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem 10. Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross (the graphic novel, not the novel) -sj loves kevin spacey -----signature----- 6 x 9 = 42 Proud member of the Colbert Nation My short films: http://www.youtube.com/solojones1138
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KnightWriter Title: Administrator Emeritus Registered: Nov '01	Date Posted: 7/25/07 10:46pm Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	I saw "Brooklyn" and thought for a moment you had chosen my second favorite, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Alas, it was not to be . Props for Winnie the Pooh, though . -----signature----- Opposing Scrooge Economics since 2009
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darthdrago Registered: Dec '03	Date Posted: 7/26/07 12:37am Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	Zaz posted: Well, get a copy of "I, Claudius", then, it is one terrific book, and the BBC TV adaptation is just as good. Sian Phillips does justice to Livia, which I would have thought impossible. Not only does she do the role justice, I thought that Livia was turned into the single-greatest villain EVER. Forget Voldemort, Palpatine, Sauron. Livia Augusta was evil incarnate, and when you think about it, just about all of her machinations were realized within the story. I didn't bother with a top ten list, but "I, Claudius" definitely would have been in my top three.
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yankee8255 Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 7/26/07 12:59am Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!) - Date Edited: 7/26/07 1:00am (1 edits total) Edited By: yankee8255
	Rogue, could you tell us how many points each book got (and what the scoring system is, while you're at it?). Or at least how many points the cut-off was (ie how many points #100 got). Also, what did you do for series like Harry Potter, where some people (like me) nominated individual books, while others nominated the whole series? -----signature----- "While a disappointment overall, the Jerry-George conversation is a repeat of a discussion from the first episode, as if to say, "We've run out of stuff to discuss, so let's call it a day."
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darth_frared Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 7/26/07 4:34am Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	slaughterhouse is the only one i know here as well. sad it didn't get higher. lists are so geeky -----signature----- are you out of your vulcan mind?
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JediNemesis Registered: Mar '03	Date Posted: 7/26/07 5:18am Subject: RE: The Jedi Council's Favorite Books! The Top 100 List (100 - 91 Posted!)
	Of those, I've only read I, Claudius, but it's a hell of a read. History as thriller. I agree with everyone saying what a hellish piece of work Livia is, but the background characters are just as fascinating - Pollio, Livy, Germanicus, and my personal favourite, Cassius Chaerea. -----signature----- BeTS Best Author '08 NEW Bad Dreams - http://boards.theforce.net/a/b1/29893091 Eleven Summers - http://boards.theforce.net/a/b1/29657584 Into The Shining Day - http://boards.theforce.net/a/b1/29224914
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