My Five BFFs.

During the sorting process of Conner's book drive, I started noticing several of the novels coming through the assembly line were ones that I'd read before. Many of those novels were ones I had enjoyed reading so much, they instantly became my friends. Others became my good buddies. And I liked a select few of them so much, that they became my BFFs.

And as we all know, BFFs are not things to be trifled with or taken lightly. No! That last "F" stands for "FOREVER" and bub, you don't mess around with the perpetuity of eternity, if you know what's good for you. So, with humble heart, I respectfully present to you...a list. A list of my special BFFs. These may not be your special BFFs. We can't all have the same BFFs, now can we?

And now, without further adieu, I present to you...my five BFFs.
Mark Twain is a wordsmith genius and he's in tip-top form in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." I found myself laughing out loud at several of the exchanges between Huck and Jim. Mr. Twain can spin a set of random words into a humorous story unlike anyone else I've ever read. He can make watching paint dry sound entertaining. This book was so good I couldn't even allow myself to fold down a page corner as a makeshift bookmark...even when I was really, really tired and my standard book mark was way over on the nightstand. That's love. And so, I salute you with a hearty chest bump, my BFF #1.
Alexandre Dumas wrote several books including "The Three Musketeers" and "The Man In The Iron Mask." But the first one of his novels that I cracked open was "The Count of Monte Cristo." No small undertaking, for sure. This book is 1500+ pages about a man bent on revenge. But it's such an adventure, that you nearly forget how lengthy it is. Everything from Dantes prison stay to his eventual transformation into the Count and reintroduction to society is a roller coaster ride. Dumas has a great way of presenting the pitfalls of human nature. After reading "The Count" I've read nearly everything that Dumas has written. It's all good. And so it is with great pleasure, Mr. Count (and we're friends, so I know you don't mind me calling you that) that I dub thee my BFF #2.
Harper Lee wrote "To Kill A Mockingbird" in 1960 and hasn't published anything since. But boy did she hit the ball out of the park on the first pitch with "Mockingbird." She was awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel—well deserved recognition. The book deals with racial injustice during the Great Depression. It is an amazing book and has one of the best fictional moral characters of all time: Atticus Finch. Being the only arrow in Ms. Lee's quiver, this book is an only child. So I'm happy to give you some much needed company and friendship, my BFF #3.
"Kon-Tiki" is the name of the raft used by Norwegian explorer, Thor Heyerdahl on his quest to find out if his theory about how the Polynesian Islands were populated, was a viable one. And the book (also called "Kon-Tiki") is one of the most entertaining, true-life sea voyages ever. Thor Heyerdahl is a bit crazy. But with that nuttiness, he's accomplished some amazing things. He's written several books about his quest to find the truth about the mysteries of history (Aku Aku and Fatu Hiva are great, as well). "Kon Tiki" was my introductory voyage into the world of Thor Heyerdahl and after reading it, I was hooked. Did you see that? Did you see how I just used TWO puns relating to the sea in that last sentence? Highly inappropriate, I know. But I'm sure my good friend Kon Tiki will forgive me. And so to you Kon Tiki, I offer you a brotherly high five. And then one on the side. And then a low five. And I won't even pull my hand away at the last second and say, "too slow." That's the kind of BFF you are to me, my BFF #4.
"Mutiny on the Bounty" is based on the true story of a crew of men sailing the Pacific under the leadership of Captain Bligh. Bligh was an extremely talented seaman, but not a very nice captain. So his crew mutinied and a wonderful story of the sea was born. Mutiny is the first of three books about the voyage. The second and third are: "Men Against The Sea" and "Pitcairn's Island." In my opinion, it's obligatory to read all three books. Like "The Count of Monte Cristo" this book (as well as the other two in the series) explores the blurry line between right and wrong. I was sad to see the series come to an end when I put the third book down. And so to you, my first mate Mutiny, I offer you a sip of my root beer without even wiping off the bottle top. Cheers, my BFF #5.