1) On Writing (5/5)
Stephen King
Fan or no fan, you've got to admit that King knows his way around the typewriter. In this memoir he lets it all hang out. Two lessons stand out:
- Describe it, don't say it;
- Adjectives are bad.
J.R.R. Tolkien
The prose, the characters, the whole set up. Brilliant. Lesson learned: Hear it in your head first, then write it down. Fluid prose every time.
3) The Pillars of the Earth (5/5)
Ken Follett
I've had a craving for stories set in medieval times ever since childhood and this novel cured me of it. Things aren't that much different then from now after all.
4) Jurassic Park (5/5)
Michael Crichton
Crichton's masterpiece. Nothing ever came close before or after this. Great prologue.
5) Slash (4/5)
Slash & Anthony Bozza
Only four stars for you, mister, simply because I expected more, more, more. My only hardback on this list.
Honourable mention:
The Grand Design (5/5)
Stephen Hawking & Leonard Mlodinow
I've got the feeling I got the universe all figured out after reading this. Essential reading.
