10. I Am America (And So Can You) (Stephen Colbert)

9. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Tom Stoppard) [dark but brilliant]

8. I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (Tucker Max) [despicable but hilarious]

7. A Confederacy of Dunces ( John Kennedy Toole)

6. Lamb (Christopher Moore)

5. Our Dumb Century (The Onion Collection)

4. The Far Side Gallery (Gary Larson)

3. Catch 22 (Joseph Heller)

2. The Princess Bride (William Goldman)

1. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)

I have heard so many great things about Christopher Moore over the years that I finally had to go check him out for myself. And where better to start than at the beginning. Practical Demonkeeping is Moore’s debut novel and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Not to use a phrase that could come back to haunt me, but I was totally sucked in.

The book has the pace and intricacy of a Carl Hiaasen mixed with a sort of sarcastic and silly demon world. Think Sick Puppy meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer except the heroes are not so attractive or nice or successful.

If you’re not drawn in by the premise, check out some of the characters – you’ve got a small time drug dealer called The Breeze, an obese police data expert called The Spider and sometimes the Nailgun, a demon named Catch who postpones his killing to enjoy the Magic Fingers of a motel room bed, Billy, a cross dressing hotel clerk who is sometimes called Roxanne and Gian Hen Gian the king of the Djinn.

And if that isn’t enough to get you reading, here’s my favorite quote from the book. When Travis, our hero, is asked what morality is, he replies, “It’s the difference between what is right and what you can rationalize.”

(If you like Christopher Moore, check back for an interview with him coming as his new release approaches in 2009!)

Hope you’re all getting cozy with your loved ones, but if you’re like me then hopefully you’re getting all cozy with a book and a cup of tea.  For the old school take on love try some Jane Austen or the (soon to be movie!) Love in the Time of Cholera (yes guys, it’s an excellent book.  Seriously).

If you’re looking for love with a twist try on the latest effort from the hilarious Christopher Moore: You Suck: A Love Story.

Do yourself a favor and read one less Hallmark card that sounds like it was written either by a 7 year old or by someone your age (but in 1950 maybe) and try on some actual literature.  You won’t be disappointed.  After all, what girl wouldn’t wilt as you leave her on the balcony and say:

“‘Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.’
Oh wait, I left my keys, can you throw those down?”    (we can’t all be perfect!)