Scott Freeman

Best Fiction Books of 2007

Yesterday, we looked at Non-Fiction reads.
Tomorrow we will look back at some great Christian/Theology writings.

Again, these were not necessarily released this year but were books I read for the first time this year.

10. Boomsday by Christopher Buckley
Buckley is the master at political satire. His books always seem to straddle the fine line of absurdity and possibility. He tends to overly caricaturize everyone but his protagonist but that always leads to some delicious reading. If you are looking for a good laugh then you can never go wrong with Buckley and this take on the Social Security situation. It is set in 2011 and Boomsday is the day that the Baby Boomers begin to retire. The problem is that the government has passed a series of laws that passes the buck on to the next generation. Until one fed-up 29 year old has a novel idea.

9. Rollback by Robert J. Sawyer–What happens when the only person who knows how to communicate with the inhabitants of Sigma Draconis is 87 years old and would not possibly be alive to receive the return message? You roll her back to the age of 25 of course. And what happens if her husband’s rollback is successful while hers is not? This is the story of technology and medical advances set against a science fiction story line. But, more importantly it is about love and the ethical dilemmas our progress presents.

8. The Woods by Harlan Coben
I don’t read mystery novels like I once did but I will not pass up a Coben novel. While not his best work it is still a suspenseful tale where nothing is ever as it seems. If you like stories that turn back upon themselves and continually defy expectations than Coben is your man, and this story of a tragic incident at a summer camp is no exception.

7. Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Dexter is a serial killer who only kills other serial killers. The book, mostly told from Dexter’s perspective, never portrays Dexter as a good guy. Instead, it delves into the psyche of a man driven to do unspeakable things while operating under the delusion that it can be justified if it is done on the “deserving.” A riveting read.

6. Intuition by Allegra Goodman
Goodman does a great job of fully fleshing out her characters. A breakthrough in a lab leads to the discovery of shrinking tumors in lab mice. But things may not be completely as positive as they seem. This is a great look on the meaning of truth, honesty and integrity.

5. Falling Man by Don Delillo
I remember a few years back reading a piece in Esquire magazine about the “falling man,” the heartbreaking, yet graceful, picture of the lone falling figure out of the World Trade Center. Delillo uses that picture as a metaphor for a survivor of the attacks and the aftermath. This book is somber but meaningful. It shows the ripples of grief that transpire after disaster.

4. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
This is no Kite Runner and upon my initial reading I was a little disappointed. However, I acknowledge that was more my own projections into the book rather than any failure of Hosseini’s. This book is another moving portrayal of family, deception, love and heartbreak in a world that few of us could ever imagine.

3. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamed
This is written in the form of a monologue and will grab you by the throat from the very beginning. I can’t say too much without spoiling the direction of the narrative. Pick this short story up and read it. It will stick with you for days.

2. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
This epic story of genetic abnormalities, regret and consequences is a staggering read. You will be swept up in a story that spans 80+ years and deals with the repercussions of actions that ripple throughout time. This book will hook you from the first sentence.

1. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Stunning. Beautiful. Heart-rending. Theologically and emotionally gripping. If you have never read this arresting tale of empowerment and belonging then drop everything now and go pick it up.

What are your top fiction reads of the year?

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