The weekly Book Savor series grew out of my passion for good books, good friends, and great discussions about what we are reading.
This week marketing expert Bobby McDaniel shares the books he savors:
1.Carmen Amato: What was the first book you read that marked the transition from reading kids’ books to grown-up fare?
Bobby McDaniel: I was always a voracious reader as a child, but the book that made the most impact for me was Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. As a young man grappling with my own sexuality and the religious/social implications that brought, this book paralleled my own journey. Not only did I find the themes of individuality and personal identity compelling, the writing itself captivated me. It was required reading in my AP class, and usually I read these books grudgingly. I read this one three times, plus read the Cliffs Notes and Monarch Notes. I really should dust that off and give it another read!
2. CA: You are shipwrecked with a crate labeled “Books.” What 3 books do you hope are in it?BMcD: This may be cheating… but, I’m going to say 3 series. First would be Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings series. It’s a fantasy classic, plus his prose takes forever to read… perfect for the stranded castaway who doesn’t know when help will arrive. The second would be Douglas Adams’ Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy (Ultimate edition). Why? You need to be able to laugh in crisis, and this sci-fi comedic series also provides practical guidance for staying alive in any part of the universe! Last, but not least, I would hope to have Michael J Sullivan’s Theft of Swords series. Full disclosure, I have known this author personally before his novels were published. That being said, this fantasy series is masterfully crafted and ,while lengthy, it reads quickly and easily. I love the world, the plot, and especially the characters.
3. CA: What book would you give as a housewarming gift and why?
BMcD: I’m cheap, so I’d probably pick up those coupons they give away at the post office… I kid, I kid! Reading is such a personal experience, I find it hard to actually buy books for someone else. I’ve had so many books bought for me that sit and collect dust. So, I would either purchase a picture book of the area/state that they live or a gift card to Barnes & Noble. Lame, I know.
4. CA: You can invite any author, living or dead, to dinner at your home. What are you serving and what will the conversation be about?
BMcD: Douglas Adams. I’m a geek and I love to laugh, so I imagine hanging out with Douglas Adams would be an amazing experience. I would serve Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters, Gin & Tonics, and steak… preferably from a talking cow, but I guess any cow would do.
5. CA: Can you leave us with a quote, a place, or a concept from a book that inspired you?
BMcD: “I may be mad,” he thought, “but I prefer the shit of this world to whatever sweet ambrosia the next might offer.” – Alobar,Tom Robbins Jitterbug Perfume
Tell us about yourself in 3 sentences or less.
Bobby McDaniel is a narcissistic, juvenile lunatic with cyclothemic tendencies. He enjoys reading and writing sci-fi and fantasy when he’s not working on building his online marketing empire at Thumbprint Strategic Media.
More about this week’s guest: Bobby is the president of Thumbprint Strategic Media, LLC, www.ThumbprintStrategic.com. He blogs occasionally at wildlyurban.com and is characteristically clever on Twitter. He and I routinely meet for work sessions at a favorite coffee shop. Over lattes and our laptop screens we talk books, social media, website design, and other critical life issues.
