Two Recommended Books

I have two great book recommendations that I just HAVE to share with you.

First, Instapundit blogger Glenn Reynolds has a book coming out in March 2006 titled An Army of Davids. For those of you who don't know, Glenn is one of the premier (and best in my opinion) bloggers out there and has been around for a long time. I have no idea what the book is about (other than the subtitle that reads: How Markets and Technology Empower Ordinary People to Beat Big Media, Big Government, and Other Goliaths), but I know I will be buying one. If you're serious about blogging or just want to hear from an expert on the subject, this will be a must read.

Second, I just finished a fiction book titled Millions. Here's how Amazon describes it:

When fourth-grader Damian finds a bag full of cash by the train tracks, he and his brother try to spend it fast. The bills are all pounds, and England is just a few weeks away from converting to the euro, so anything they don't use will, in their minds, soon be worthless. This happy predicament sets up some excellent comic situations, including rampant inflation at the school yard and some suspiciously materialistic Mormons. But a lot more is going on than money-related antics. Damian, obsessed with the lives of the saints and a bit muddled about the real world, narrates with endearing naïveté and unintended deadpan humor. Fifth-grader Anthony has an endless supply of schemes, contrasting with his brother's more charitable sensibilities. Though their mother's recent death is not described until later, the boys' sense of loss permeates the story, and their instant fortune subtly leads them to a point where they can finally face their grief. Damian's encyclopedic knowledge of saints is hilarious at times, but also reveals his touching need for faith and reassurance. Supporting characters, including their dad and a shrewd female fund-raiser, have distinct personalities. The imagined 1998 monetary changeover may be confusing to American kids, who might assume the event really occurred, but readers should grasp the resulting need to act with dispatch. There's plenty of excitement as the deadline approaches and the brothers' secret becomes known, but the humor, the strong family story, and Damian's narrative voice make this satisfying novel succeed on several levels.

I won't ruin it for you other than to say it was funny, entertaining, and had a very good message about what money does to people. If you're interested in personal finances but want a bit of "light" reading, this is for you.

Comments

[Eric]

You are aware that "Millions" had a well-regarded movie adaptation by Danny Boyle, no doubt:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366777/

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