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I've given you my favorite TV shows of all time and my favorite music (Springsteen and non-Springsteen). Now it is time I continue on with my all time favorite books!

Try to contain your excitement.

I've mentioned several times before that I like stories and the art of storytelling. There is no more time-tested format for successfully delivering a story than through a book. From The Iliad and The Odyssey all the way to 50 Shades of Grey, books have been mankind's greatest source for storytelling.

Naturally, I've got more than my fair share. This was never more apparent than while moving a couple weeks ago and I had to decide which books stayed and which came with me because there wasn't nearly enough room for them all. I have books spread across two apartments and one house in three different cities in two different states! I even have an entire closet full of old books...in my sister's bedroom! They're taking up space in someone's else bedroom (which, to be fair, used to be my room).

Today, I list a few of my favorites. Feel free to share some of your favorites or offer some recommendations in the comments section. I'm always eager to read more.

#10: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

I have plenty of favorite books, but not a lot of favorite authors, per say. John Green is an exception to this rule. The YouTube celebrity wasn't quite so famed when he wrote An Abundance of Katherines, just his second novel, but it certainly showcases the writing talent that helped make him so in both literary and Internet circles.

An Abundance of Katherines tells the story of Colin Singleton, a former child prodigy who is finding it hard to live up to expectations as a "genius" now that he is 17-years-old. Disillusioned with his life and abandoned by his girlfriend (the latest in a long list of girlfriends all named "Katherine"), Colin and his best friend, Hassan, embark on a road trip of self-discovery that takes them to some pretty unexpected places: both personally and geographically.

I personally find this to be Green's funniest book, which is what helps it make this list. It may not be as deep as his others (at least one of which is bound to make my honorable mentions list - and yes, I haven't fully figured out that list yet), but deep down inside I've always been more a fan of comedy than tragedy. This book has a little of both, but mostly it's the laughs that just keep on coming that make this book among my Top Ten favorites.

#9: The Thomas Black series by Earl Emerson

It's my list, so I'll include multiple books under one heading if I want to!

I don't read a lot of mystery novels, but I was turned onto this series of novels by a high school teacher of mine and found myself hooked ever since.

Written by a Seattle firefighter-turned-author, the novels offer a different look at a city I'm quite accustomed to already. They follow the adventures of Seattle private investigator Thomas Black, and include a varied supporting cast of crooks, victims, fellow detectives, corrupt officials, and seductive temptresses that our hero encounters.

Written in a manner typical of detective film noir, the series nonetheless stays fresh and interesting through its variety of capers. The sarcastic wit and humor Emerson instills in Black helps in that regard, yet his protagonist is also fiercely noble underneath his gruff exterior (aren't all detectives?).

To this day, there is only one novel in the 12 book series I haven't read - The Million Dollar Tattoo (hint, hint to anyone thinking about getting me a Christmas/birthday present).

(Editor's note: Just learned a 13th book was published earlier this year, but is online only! Gonna have to borrow someone's Kindle or Nook to read that.)

#8: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

You're not going to see a lot of literary classics on this list, but this one makes the list for good reasons.

The Grapes of Wrath, better than any other book I've read, describes the personal and very real struggle of working-class men and women that continues to this day. The characters are fictional, and the Great Depression and Dust Bowl things of the past, but the fight to survive never ends. Steinbeck knew that when he wrote this book, and sure enough it is still taught in English classes to this day.

Those last words of Tom Joad, whether read in the novel, spoken by Henry Fonda in the film, or put into song by The Boss in "The Ghost of Tom Joad," is maybe my favorite monologue in any medium.

#7: The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Collins, concerned by the American media's obsession with violence and reality television, penned this trilogy of books in response. And it doesn't get much more violent or real as seeing teens forced to battle to the death in a devilish arena, or the ensuing events after the "games" are all over.

A bleak look at what the future could hold, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay are three books I had a very hard time putting down. And the finale will go down as something I'll always remember (I remember just sitting in my father's living room feeling stunned. I had to go and take a walk to clear my head. Perhaps the most shocking conclusion I've ever read).

#6: The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

This is the series that molded a generation in many ways. Possibly multiple generations. It was the first chapter book I read on my own.

The wholesome good vs. evil storyline may be a bit simple, but the characters, settings, and (most of all) the magic make it worth it. The series perfectly encapsulates the importance of friendship and love in tackling life's problems - even if those problems include an all-powerful genocidal wizard and his legion of followers.

#5: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Jesus Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

At the risk of being labeled some sort of heathen, heretic, or blasphemer, I just want to say that this might be the most outrageous book I've ever read. Very rarely do I actually laugh out loud while reading something, but this book almost had me rolling on the floor with every chapter.

The title is kind of self-explanatory - it's about Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of his (probably) fictional best friend, who has been omitted from the Gospels for good reason. But now he's getting his chance to set the record straight - about Jesus of Nazareth, about his family, friends and disciples, his travels abroad, and the secret origins of the art of judo ("the way of the Jew").

A hilarious comedy (minus the last chapter - I mean, we all know how the story of Jesus Christ ends) that nonetheless keeps pretty darn close to Scripture while also reasonably presenting ideas and concepts from other religions that may have influenced Jesus. Lamb is a great read if you keep a sense of humor and an open mind about it.

#4: The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Mario Puzo scored a major hit with this novel turned film series (the first two films are my favorite movies, too), first published in 1969. Borrowing from the rich (if twisted) tradition of real life Italian-American gangsters, The Godfather introduced terms like "Cosa Nostra," "capo," and "consigliere" into the American lexicon. And, of course, gave a whole new meaning to the term "godfather." It forever changed the portrayal of mobsters in American fiction.

The Godfather is more than just a crime novel. It's a hard look at the American Dream. Not everyone has that house with the white picket fence. Not everyone is a successful entrepreneur and pillar of the community. So what happens when men become desperate to carve out a life for themselves? What lengths will a person go to in order to protect their family? The Godfather portrays an America where crime and business go hand-in-hand, and family values become an excuse for heinous acts of violence. It's capitalism run amok.

Full of character back stories that aren't entirely relevant, I could see where this book would bog down some readers. But I happen to love good characters, intriguing back stories, and old-school gangsters! That's why this books makes the list. It's a gritty, mature look at America's underworld.

#3: The Bartimaeus series by Jonathan Stroud

A series of young adult books about magic written by a British author? Sounds vaguely familiar...

My common summary of this lesser known series of books is, "It's like Harry Potter, but better!" While I realize this will sound blasphemous to many Potter fans, hear me out first. There are several similarities to the esteemed Potter books - magic is real, young British protagonists, British settings (for the most part), evil forces at work, etc. - it is the differences that make this the superior series of novels in my estimation.

For starters, the author has a much more cynical view of magic. Magicians, as they are called in these books, do not live secret from the rest of the world. Magicians run the world! Especially in Great Britain, which, through superior magical and military might, is still running it's colonial empire (the book clearly has a post-WWII setting, but otherwise it's a bit obscure what the time period is exactly).

Secondly, Stroud's magicians (unlike Rowling's wizards) are actually quite limited in their magical prowess. Their primary spell casting abilities lie in their ability to summon spirits and demons from the "Other Place" to do their bidding for them. Everything from cooking, cleaning, spying, and waging all out war - it is these enslaved beings that do all the real magic work.

Thus we are introduced to the primary character, Bartimaeus - an ancient djinni (or genie, if you prefer) whose skills are only matched by his ego and wit (perhaps even exceeded by them). Each book (The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye, and Ptolemy's Gate form the original trilogy, while The Ring of Solomon serves as a prequel) is written half in Bartimaeus' first-person perspective and half in the third-person perspective of one or two varying teenage human characters.

Furthermore, the series distances itself from Rowling's book through the plot. We are presented with a despotic Great Britain (or despotic Israel in the case of the prequel) where magicians rule through cunning and ruthlessness. The books are rife with political intrigue, elements of class warfare, sociopolitical undertones, and blurred lines of good and evil. But it is Bartimaeus' witty and sarcastic narrative, complete with historical footnotes on all the things he's seen in the last 5000 years, that really make this series.

So if you've ever imagined Great Britain's empire lasting longer than in reality, wanted to know who was responsible for the fall of ancient Mesopotamia, or wondered about King Solomon's obsession with jugglers - these are the books for you!

#2: World War Z by Max Brooks

I'm not really into the obsession with zombies these days. Zombies are dominating our movies and video games. It seems you can't go outside anymore without running into people simulating a zombie apocalypse. Humans vs. Zombies is a popular game on many college campuses and there are races and fitness apps that pretend zombies are chasing you.

With that said, I love World War Z! Written in a documentary-style format, the book is set in the future following humanity's successful survival of the zombie apocalypse. World War Z is written entirely through a series of fake interviews with various survivors from across the globe - everyone from generals and politicians to soldiers and average everyday citizens.

It's not about the "jump scare" of an undead body reaching out to grab you and eat your flesh; it's the hundreds of thousands of millions of other zombies behind him, slowly and inexorably marching toward you, that is truly terrifying. A monstrous tidal wave that cannot be stopped. An enemy that never rests, is always on the hunt, and grows stronger with every victory.

The book is a "historical," political, and sociological look at what a war against zombies might look like. That's what truly sets it apart. Zombies have always been a good way to illustrate humanity's failings (i.e. George Romero's Dawn of the Dead = critique of American consumerism), and Max Brooks uses that to great affect. You find yourself not surprised when American businessmen attempt to profit from the zombie panic, that the Chinese government tries to cover-up the infestation, or when Russia goes absolutely bat-shit insane.

Definitely give the book a read before going out to see that totally different movie.

#1: American Gods by Neil Gaman

Neil Gaman may be another exception to my rule regarding favorite authors.

American Gods takes a fairly simple premise and turns it on its head. Gaman imagines what it would be like if all the gods, monsters, folk heroes, etc. of ancient and modern mythology were real. What if they were hiding amongst us, blending in, living normal lives? Gaman creates a world where the gods and creatures of old are trapped in a world that no longer has any use for them, and where new gods of machine and technology are steadily replacing them.  

American Gods reminds us of the power of storytelling, while also telling a deeply personal story of its own. The book's protagonist is an ex-con named Shadow who suddenly finds himself in the middle of a war between past and present, and must learn things about himself and his family he never imagined possible in order to survive.

Brooding and ominous, but complete with some dark comic relief, American Gods is a fantasy fiction masterpiece. A must-read for anyone who is a fan of mythology and folktales.

Honorable mentions: The Fault in Our Stars (I told you some more John Green would be here), House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, Without Feathers by Woody Allen, a whole slew of Star Wars novels (yes, I am that nerdy), The Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix, Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy (yes, this is a real book), The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster by T.J. English, Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires by Selwyn Raab, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon by Crystal Zevon, Bruce by Peter Ames Carlin, A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series!)

Naturally, the honorable mentions list is longer than my Top Ten list.

Battle of the sexes

Living full-time with GF now has definitely illuminated the differences between us. I love her dearly, but we are definitely different people.

As she reminds me quite often, "You are such a guy!" Usually after I've watched a game or start going on and on about a team, statistics, or sports history.

We disagree on food, too. Like whether we need just a smattering of ketchup on our fries (me) or COVER IT ALL IN KETCHUP! KETCHUP EVERYWHERE!!! (GF).

I thought I'd share some of the contrasts of preferences/opinions/etc. with all you folks. I'll let you decide who is right and who is crazy.

My favorite movie: The Godfather
Her favorite movies: Love Actually and Tangled

My favorite book: American Gods
Her favorite books: Pride & Prejudice and The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins

Her music is a little bit country.
My music is a little bit rock n' roll.

My favorite Star Wars movie: The Empire Strikes Back
Her least favorite Star Wars movie: The Empire Strikes Back ("Bad guys aren't supposed to win.")

She prefers to drive cars with a manual transmission.
Without an automatic transmission, I wouldn't be able to drive.

I always complain about feeling too warm.
She always complains about being too cold.

Her dresser size: 5 drawers, 52 x 33 inches.
My dresser size: 3 drawers, 30 x 27.5 inches.

Percentage of bathroom sink/cabinet area reserved for her stuff: 70%
Percentage of bathroom sink/cabinet area reserved for my stuff: 10% (I don't even use up all of it)

What I envision when I think of a pet chameleon:

What she envisions when she thinks of a pet chameleon:

For me: "Vacuuming is no big deal. It's like the easiest part of housecleaning."
For her: "I'll do everything else except vacuum! Please do the vacuuming!"

For me (as a kid): "Disneyland was alright."
For her (as an adult): "It's the most wondrous, magical place on Earth!!"

For her: "Wrestling, football, and boxing are barbaric."
For me: "Kill 'em! Rip 'em apart! Whoooooh!!!"

Percentage of total shelf space taken up by her books, DVDs, and music: 15%
Percentage of total shelf space taken up by my books, DVDs, and music: 85% (although it would need to be 150% if I brought everything)

I'll start listening to Christmas music after Thanksgiving.
She has already started listening to Christmas music.

Her ideal meal: Salad, followed by a kale salad (smothered in ketchup. She really loves ketchup). With dark chocolate for dessert.
My ideal meal: Meat! With a side of meat! And for dessert - meat! (And maybe some mashed potatoes.)

The thing that sends her into an instant panic:

Awww...look at the cute little guy.

The thing that sends me into an instant panic:

KILL IT! KILL IT NOW! DESTROY IT WITH FIRE!!!!

The reasons I dislike Twilight: The stalker-ish and abusive relationship between Bella and Edward. The implications that a woman isn't complete and has no purpose without a man in her life.
The reason she dislikes Twilight: "The vampires sparkle. Vampires aren't supposed to sparkle."

Bet you didn't see that last one working out that way, did you?

Love & cysts

Hey, folks! You may have noticed recently that I don't blog on as regular a basis as a year ago; that I've missed a week here and there lately. I want to assure you that has nothing to do with a lack of interest in blogging, but rather a necessary shifting of priorities in order to adjust to important life changes.

What does all this fancy talk mean? It means I've been distracted lately.

First were some health concerns that turned my thoughts elsewhere. In addition to the usual worrying about the health of family members, I had a minor problem of my own. I developed a cyst on the back of my neck; the third time one has formed in the same spot in the last five years. I'll (hopefully) be undergoing a minor surgical procedure to remedy the problem permanently - if my damn surgeon ever gets around to it! It's been more than a month since it recessed and I still don't have a surgery date in place.

As a matter of fact, this will be my first surgery ever. I've never been under the knife before. Not even had a tooth pulled or my tonsils taken out. It's a little scary to think about, even though it should be a fairly minor procedure, since it is my neck he'll be working on.

Secondly, I have to admit that I've been suffering from some writer's block lately. I'm finding it harder to think of interesting things to write about. And when I do, I'm not sure how to convey them. I have plenty more stories to tell, I just need to find the right time and style to unveil them. Those of you who keep following me have these stories to eventually look forward to:

• My raucous first year at college.
• My time working at a college campus newspaper.
• More of Dylan's deep thoughts.
• An introduction to The Lord of the Dice - aka Bad Motorscooter. 
• My time spent in a Canadian jail (prison can really change a man).
• The time I was accused of being a racist/sexist pig.
• And maybe, just maybe, you'll learn about my role in the JFK assassination...

Let's see...is there anything else I should mention? What else has been going on in my life?

Oh yeah...I'm moving into a new place this weekend. I'm finally moving out of the proverbial parents' basement (we don't have one, but I've been living with them) and into my own apartment. Well, it's not just mine...

Back in August, my girlfriend told me her apartment lease expires in November and asked if I would move in with her in a new apartment by then. This represents a huge step for us - committing to live together under the same roof. No more weekend visits.

Naturally, with such huge importance resting on my answer, I thought it over for all of one second before answering, "Of course I want to live with you!"

So for the last month and a half we've been searching high and low for an affordable apartment for the two of us. It hasn't been easy. I still can't get a job as so much as a dishwasher and the area we were looking to move to can be a little high rent (damn you, Microsoft!).

Nonetheless, we found a place and have already begun the moving-in process.

I'll still be near Seattle, but in a completely different neighboring town than my current one.

This will certainly be a new experience for me. I've never had any luck with the ladies before now, so needless to say I've never been in a relationship that got to the point of, "We should move in together." I've never had a roommate I was also dating. This is the first place of my own that wasn't owned/rented by a parent or was considered college property. It's my first big step into the real world; the adult world.

This could be weird.

Is that stopping me? Hell no!

Sure, we both share concerns of finding out we can't stand each other. But to be honest, we both feel like we're ready for this.

The main thing I still worry about is finding a job. I don't want to feel like a dead-beat boyfriend, staying at home while my girlfriend (let's just say GF for short from now on. She remains anonymous from the Internet and readers know who I'm talking about) has to provide for the both of us. I'm petrified by my own inability to earn even the simplest jobs due to my lack of experience. Earning my keep was never a focus when I was a child. My parents, or at least my mother, were too busy drilling into my head the need for education. Education would lead to suitable middle-to-upper class employment down the line. My education isn't paying off too well now, is it?

Sorry, I got a little snarky and cynical there. Let's get back on topic.

Believe me when I say we've thought this over already. GF and I feel like we've gone as far as we can in this relationship while still living apart from each other. It's time to take the next step and see what happens from there. We're ready to see what the future holds.

With any luck, it will be a future that holds lots of love, less cysts, a comfortable apartment, and a good job. Oh, and don't forget the jetpacks and flying cars.