2018 Mooks™ Awards

2018 Mooks™ Awards

At last year’s Mooks™ Awards, I predicted either a feast or a famine of word count for this year considering that I was planning on taking the year to read the Bible, including the Apocrypha. The question on everyone’s mind then: which was it?! Feast? Famine? Fameast? Well, we’ll say it was a light fast (… so many Biblical terms, but can you blame me?!): I hit about one million less in 2018 than 2017 (2.3 from 3.2), but 2017 was an unusually high year for reading. At the same time, I haven’t had as low a word count since 2013. But, come on guys, I read the Bible. That’s kind of heavy reading, and it’s kind of a big book. Give me a break!

For reference, here are previous Mooks™ Awards winners: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. And here is a list of book ratings and reviews that I wrote for new books (and a couple re-reads) on Goodreads.

Statistics

Oldest-(1387) The Canterbury Tales

Newest-(1959) Goldfinger

Longest-(930,243) The Bible

Shortest-(64,223) The American Claimant

Average Words Per Book-108,351 (Fiction)

Average Year Published-1905

Original Reads = 12

Re-reads = 5

Total = 17

Most Read Author: Mark Twain (3 titles)

Best Play

Major Barbara

Shaw is a clever and fun writer. He and I might disagree at times, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy his full characters, interesting ideas, and entertaining dialogue.

Best Non-Fiction

The Bible

Well, it was the only Non-fiction I read, so that’s pretty easy pick. I mean, I would’ve read more, but the Bible is a jealous non-fiction — it doesn’t want any other non-fictions before it (also, it’s big and leaves little time for more reading!). Still though, it’s an engaging read as the cornerstone of western civilization and modern society, even if so much of it is so far removed from its original culture and theology. I could not have been more fascinated by it. And, at times, I could not have been more inspired.

Special Category Awards

Most Well Known-The Bible

Most Roundabout Recommendation-The Curious Case of Colonel Sellers

While reading a bunch of Mark Twain the last couple of years, I’ve learned a bit more about Twain’s other writing ventures. Colonel Sellers was his most successful character besides Huck Finn, and yet most of the Sellers works are now out-of-print. I searched for this play for years and then at the end of last year, finally found it!

Honorable Mentions: The American Claimant (another Colonel Sellers-Mark Twain lost gem)

Best Book Read With the Kids-The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Driving in the car to the Mississippi River and listening to the audiobook of Huck Finn, while the kids begged for a new chapter at the end of an old one … phew. This is as close to literary nirvana as I think you can get!

Honorable Mention: White Fang

Worst Surprise-Canterbury Tales

After thoroughly enjoying (if not borderline fanboying on) the epic poem stories Paradise Lost and The Færie Queene, I had high hopes for Chaucer’s classic. Sadly, the tales were more chore than joy and more indecent than decent.

Best Surprise-Goldfinger

I’m not sure why I don’t read more James Bond novels. I always end up reading them for one of my reading competitions, and they always turn out to merit more than just assignment status.

Most Satisfyingly Dissatisfying-Farewell to Arms

In spite of my natural aversion to Hemingway, I somehow manage to find his writing enjoyable, even if I don’t like or agree with his story outcomes or characters.

Most Disturbing Scene-The Sea-gull

This play is fairly low-key for most of the time. It has interesting characters having interesting conversations, but not a lot of action. That is why, at the end, there is a moment that shocked me and then made me re-read to make sure I read it correctly. *Shudder* I did.

Best Supporting Character-Lady Britomart (Major Barbara)

This thinly veiled reference to Spenser’s heroine is a worthy inheritor of Britomart’s legacy as she vaunts principles in tough situations and stands down to no one.

Coolest Setting-The Foresters

Sherwood forest is a magical place, and I loved reading Tennyson’s take on Robin and his merrie men in this enchanting maze of hermits, bandits, aristocratic villains, and royalty.

Most Eye-Opening-The Bible

I know, I know. But really. Even from a secular standpoint, there is so much to learn from this huge chunk of humanity’s history and legacy. That is reason enough alone to read and muse on its concepts.

Funniest-The American Claimant

This has some of Twain at his best. The story wanders a bit, but there is no denying Twain’s sharp wit (particularly at the beginning and in the epilogue … he’s still got it!).

Best Duo-Jeeves and Wooster

“Epic” may be the best way to describe what might possibly the best literary duo to ever find print.

Best Male Character-Colonel Filitov (The Cardinal of the Kremlin)

A military man of honor and bravery, Filitov plays the part of the cunning and emotionally profound informer for the CIA deep in the Kremlin. While I loved how he filled his role as informer, I came to love him even more as a full character with a tragic background — Filitov transcends the pages of Clancy’s novel.

Honorable Mention: Rob Roy

Best Female Character-Diana Vernon (Rob Roy)

It sure takes a long time before we get to meet the titular character in Rob Roy (no really, a long time), but fortunately Diana Vernon, the mysterious Scottish beauty, helps us to pass the time comfortably. She is smart, independent, and keeps the narrator and audience guessing as to what she knows and is a part of. Great character.

Honorable Mentions: Maid Marian (The Foresters)

Goofiest Character-Colonel Sellers (The Curious Case of Colonel Sellers)

As far as I’m concerned, Lord Emsworth and Colonel Sellers can just share this award every other year. If I’m doing my reading right, they will!

Honorable Mention: Wooster (Very Good, Jeeves)

Best Villain-Goldfinger

Bond villains in the movies tend to be over-the-top. Goldfinger in this book is over-the-top, but not completely and certainly not at first. This is when he is the most fun: a super intense (yet supposedly friendly) golf tournament, a long-distance car chase with various stops throughout Europe’s most interesting travel destinations … oh, and then an elaborate scheme to overtake Fort Knox.

(Dis)honorable Mentions-Rashleigh (Rob Roy); Gerasimov (The Cardinal of the Kremlin); Andrew Undershaft (Major Barbara)

Best Reread-Little Women

Huck Finn is a great contender for this, but since it won the same award a few years back, I’ll make the easy choice and give it to the newcomer (errr, old newcomer, that is!). I read Little Women out loud to Bonnie (and she, occasionally, to me), and I have to say that I struggled reading this without choking up on nearly every, single, blasted chapter. This is such great writing about such strong, memorable characters and moral tales, that you cannot help but be invested for the whole thing.

Honorable Mentions: White Fang; Around the World in Eighty Days

Best Novel

The Cardinal of the Kremlin

The Cardinal of the Kremlin was good. Better than I expected, particularly because of its engaging use of the character Colonel Filitov as the Cardinal himself. But it wasn’t especially great, and had this been a different year where I read my usual amount of books (mid-to-high twenties instead of 17 — thanks Bible), I feel like something else would be the winner. Still, I feel no shame with The Cardinal of the Kremlin winning a slender field … it’s kind of a fitting subterfuge move anyway!

Appendix A

List of all books and plays read in 2018 in the order read (grouped in the order completed by — respectively — plays, non-fiction, and fiction). Italics represents rereads.

The Curious Case of Colonel Sellers
The Foresters
Major Barbara
The Sea-Gull

The Bible

Goldfinger
Rob Roy
Farewell to Arms
The American Claimant
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Around the World in Eighty Days
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Cardinal of the Kremlin
Little Women
Very Good, Jeeves
White Fang
Canterbury Tales

Appendix B

Memorable Quotes

First he wrought, and afterward he taught. The Canterbury Tales

Let us be elegant or die. Little Women

Housekeeping ain’t no joke. Little Women

Can not may be a more civil phrase than will not, but the expressions are synonymous where there is no moral impossibility. Rob Roy

How nearly can what we most despise and hate approach in outward manner to that which we most venerate! Rob Roy

Learning must have come o’ free will. Rob Roy

Lovers hold
True love immortal. The Foresters

One of these days you’ll stop moving altogether and when you stop moving is when you start to die. Goldfinger

To alle hire werkes vertu is hir gyde;
Humblesse hath slayn in hire al tirannye.

She is mirour of alle curteisye;
Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse,
Hir hand, ministre of fredam for almesse.

The Canterbury Tales

When you love you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve. Farewell to Arms

I never think and yet when I begin to talk I say the things I have found out in my mind without thinking. Farewell to Arms

It’s a blessed thing to have an imagination that can always make you satisfied, no matter how you are fixed. The American Claimant

For the unknown was one of the chief elements that went into the making of fear. White Fang

Life is always happy when it is expressing itself. White Fang

It is always easier to lean upon another than to stand alone. White Fang

Only way to find out is to find out. White Fang

Nothing can bridge over moral disagreement. Major Barbara

Right is right; and wrong is wrong; and if a man cannot distinguish them properly, he is either a fool or a rascal: that’s all. Major Barbara

There are neither good men nor scoundrels: there are just children of one Father; and the sooner they stop calling one another names the better. Major Barbara

Genuine unselfishness is capable of anything. Major Barbara

He knows nothing; and he thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career. Major Barbara

Only that which is seriously meant can ever be beautiful. The Sea-gull

Love alone can bring happiness on earth. The Sea-gull

It is not the honour and glory of which I have dreamt that is important, it is the strength to endure. The Sea-gull

Now shall you understand what is the remedy against the sin of Pride; and that is humility, or meekness. That is a virtue through which a man has true knowledge of himself, and considers himself worthy of no esteem nor dignity, as in regard to his deserts, considering ever his frailty. Canterbury Tales

I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. The Bible

Then said the LORD, “Doest thou well to be angry?” The Bible

Let go from thee mortal thoughts, cast away the burdens of man, put off now the weak nature, and set aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee. The Bible

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? The Bible

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. The Bible

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be: and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. The Bible

Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. The Bible

The gift blindeth the wise. The Bible

For the very true beginning of [wisdom] is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love; and love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her laws is the assurance of incorruption; and incorruption maketh us near unto God. The Bible

Fear is nothing else but a betraying of the succours which reason offereth. The Bible

Remember thy end, and let enmity cease. The Bible

Let the counsel of thy own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it. The Bible

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you. The Bible

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. The Bible

The truth shall make you free. The Bible

Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those that are weak. The Bible

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. The Bible

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. The Bible