Friday Finds #1

I was going to do a Friday Focus for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, but I want to read it through again completely before I do that. So instead, I bring to you "Friday Finds", in which I get to brag about what I picked up on on my latest shopping spree. If you've been keeping up with my twitter updates in the sidebar, then you'll know that I've been working on selling my Sony Reader for about a week now. Since it finally sold, I decided to replace it with a few books for my beloved real book library. So here's what I decided to buy and why:

1. THE ULTIMATE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY BY DOUGLAS ADAMS

Of all the books I bought yesterday, this is the only one I've read before. (Also, this is why I no longer lend out my books, friends, because I have no idea who 'borrowed' this one last from me.) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is by far the funniest series I've ever read. C'mon, guys, it's a "trilogy" of 5 books, how amazing is that? I quote from it more frequently than sane people realize. (Such as: The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything = 42 and "Don't panic" and "mostly harmless" and...you get the picture, I'm sure). In short, if you haven't read this book, you must. It's just packed full of all sorts of fabulousness.

2. ALAS, BABYLON BY PAT FRANK

Yes, I am very interested in books that involve the end of society or the world. I've been meaning to get my hands on this "classic" book. Written in 1959, Frank writes about the Cold War threat of nuclear obliteration as a reality. Definitely a very high book on my to-read list.

3. THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO BY JUNOT DÍAZ

Reason #1 for reading this book is the Pulitzer. I do attempt to keep up with the Pulitzer winners (though I am, erm, behind at the moment). However, this particular title was pretty low on my list until I read a review by my friend, Jawa, which converted me--and created reason #2.

4. THE HUMAN STAIN BY PHILIP ROTH

Quite honestly, I did not want to pick this title up at all. Despite the fact that the title will undoubtedly be vying for status as a classic eventually, nothing about the book grabs at me. However, in my interest as a good student, I'll be reading the title before Fall quarter so that I have common ground to speak upon with a particular professor. And who knows? Maybe I'll enjoy it despite myself.

5. BLUE DIABLO BY ANNE AGUIRRE

And because no book binge would be complete without some light reading and fantasy fun: Blue Diablo. I've been hearing good things about Ann Aguirre all around, so I'm hoping not to be disappointed!

Have you read any of these titles? Did you like/dislike them? Also, did you do any book binging of your own recently? What did you find?