Burgerchamp's Best of the Rest: The First 100

BY BURGERCHAMP

THIS WAS SUBMITTED THROUGH THE POLYMEDIA WRITER’S GUILD.

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If you wanted some summer reading recommendations, Burgerchamp has you covered. Voracious, prolific, and insane aren't strong enough words to describe the magnitude of reader Burgerchamp is, so understand these are the finest recommendations out of the last 100 books he has read THIS YEAR.

Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

In addition to being a wonderful actor (and costar of one of the greatest food movies ever, Big Night) Stanley Tucci is a lifelong lover of food and this is the history of his love affair with it. His vibrant and loving descriptions almost make you taste the food. This book really made me think about my own experiences with food paired with the highs and lows of my own life.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

One part science fiction, one part fantasy, one part dystopian contest, and one part murder mystery; this book is hard to define. I wouldn’t want to give too much away, but I will say that Gideon is one of my favorite protagonists in a very long time. She’s witty and exhausting and honest and frustrating in all the best ways. I couldn’t put this one down!

City on Fire by Don Winslow

I love a good mob yarn and, in my opinion, Winslow is the absolute best crime fiction writer in the business today. Who knew there was a Rhode Island mafia? Imagine a 1980’s New England Sopranos. Full of Winslow’s signature flawed cast, each winding their way from rock to hard place, this one is a must for fans of crime books. It makes Rhode Island seem dangerous.

The Puzzler: One Man’s Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, From Crosswords to Jigsaws to The Meaning of Life by A.J. Jacobs

A.J. Jacob’s non fiction is one of those rare day one buys for me. This book is full of his normal humorous yet informative style of essay punctuated by whatever cruel stunt he’s decided to play on himself and his family. This time he’s obsessed with puzzles of all types. It’s half fascinating history of classics such as crossword, sudoku, jigsaw, and the like and half failed quests to become the foremost something on something. This one had some laugh out loud moments and some interesting insight on a favorite pastime.

The Comic Book Story of Baseball: The Heroes, Hustlers, and History-making Swings (and Misses) of America’s National Pastime by Alexander C. Irvine, Tom Coker, and C.P. Smith

I do not enjoy, watching, playing, hearing about, talking about, or thinking about baseball. It’s never been fun for me. So many stats and dead spots. But I’m here to tell you the history of baseball, that’s where it’s at. Beautiful illustrations highlight well crafted and engaging writing about all of the backstabbing, intrigue, sexism, racism, triumph, failure, and downright dirty details of (some of) America’s favorite pastime. Every single page has some fascinating and mind blowing tidbit. One of the best books I’ve read this year. And I don’t even like baseball!

Running Man by Charlie Engle

It’s no secret I like books about running. Throw in some overcoming of adversity and you’ve got me. Got me good. Charlie Engle is a man adrift that finds solace and healing in the art of running. Filled with ups and downs in extremes, this book will help you realize that with a little support and something to focus on, you can overcome what feels insurmountable.

I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend by Martin Short

Martin Short is one of my favorite people of all time and certainly one of the funniest. This book is a brief history of his life in comedy. It’s also your usual celebrity bio with lots of name dropping and takes of witty interactions with said names. I listened to the audiobook performed by the man himself and I cannot recommend it enough. He’s performing the entire time and it never gets dull for one second. I listened to this one almost entirely in a single sitting.

From Scratch: Inside the Food Network by Allen Salkin

Admission: I’m a Food Network junkie. You put someone making food, eating food, reviewing food, competing in making food, eating food, or reviewing food in front of me, I’m in. Put some frosted tips and wraparound shades on it and kick it up a notch, I’m hooked. I first read this years ago and thought it was time to revisit. This book is a history of Food Network, but is also an interesting look at the early day and evolution of cable television and food culture in America and how television and national tragedy changed it. A great read for Food Network fans.

Well, that’s it for now. Sorry this took so long (I just hit 120 today), but it’s been a real couple of weeks. As always, make it your goal to read one more book than last year.