Top Ten Fiction Books About Nothing
A Book List For 'Light' Reading
Old man winter is definitely upon us! I don't know about you but I know that I'll be spending the coldest months of the year curled up in front of a fire with nothing to do but to read a good book.
I don't want to tax your rest and relaxation time too much so, here you go; ten top tales to read that are about, literally, nothing. Enjoy them and have a great cold weather reading season!
The Top Ten Nothing Books
Below, in no particular order, are my top 10 picks for this "Nothing" Fiction Book List. This is a mix of works for both the young and the young at heart. I've enjoyed many of these personally. Many will give you a good way to fritter away time during those long, hot summer days. I hope you find them as enjoyable as I did!
For Nothing - by Nicholas Denmon
For Nothing is a work of mystery fiction by author Nicholas Denmon. It was his debut novel and the first in an apparent series of "Upstate New York" (Buffalo) tales. He's recently released a second book that depicts the machinations of a fictional mafia cell in Buffalo (Buffalo Soldiers).
I'm told his depictions of Buffalo are spot on. As I've only been through the city once, everything I know about it is via either the Buffalo Bills NFL Football team or the incredible winter weather reports we hear every year - nationwide - when it starts snowing there. I'll have to take it on faith that he's got the city nailed. Anyway, this book plays on the theme of undercover cop infiltrating the mob. It's very well done and it kept me turning pages. It's a great first effort and I'm very interested in reading the 2nd. I'd have done it already but it doesn't have "nothing" in the title!
This is available in paperback and for the Kindle - Get it for the Kindle now while it's only $.99!
The Egg Said Nothing from the New Bizarro Author Series - by Caris O'Malley
"The Egg Said Nothing" is another debut novel. It comes to us from Caris O'Malley. It's part of a book series published by Eraserhead Press called the "New Bizarro Author Series". It belongs there! The book is crazy. I'd love to meet O'Malley because his mind must go hundreds of miles per hour all the time.
The crux of the story is that the main character, Manny, who's a recluse who, it would seem, suffers from both paranoia and OCD, somehow lays an egg one night as he sleeps. It isn't just any egg. Bizarre things begin to happen that turn Manny's humdrum recluse existence upside down. Read it and see for yourself!
This is available in paperback and for the Amazon Kindle.
Anything for Profit 2: Nothing to Lose - by Justin Amen Floyd
"Anything for Profit 2: Nothing to Lose" is a book of tales from the street and from the hood that feel palpably real. This is the second book in a series by Justin Amen Floyd who also penned the first book, "Anything for Profit" and another titled "Guns and Roses" (and he doesn't mean the rock band).
Billed as "street lit at it's best", this book pulls no punches. It's balls out. It's best if you've read the first book but it can stand alone. You won't be lost in a confusion sense, only lost in the story!
This is typically available in paperback and for the Amazon Kindle. The paperback edition may be temporarily out of stock. It's a hot seller! Get your order in...
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - by Judy Blume
"Tales of a Forth Grade Nothing is a pre-teen fiction classic that was popular when it was first published in 1984 (when I was, ahem, a high school senior and I read it) and that's still popular today. So you're an adult...so what? If you haven't read this, you should! Your daughters all have. Your sons probably have too.
This is recommended for ages 8 and older. There's nothing to fear here. If your six year old is reading well enough to handle the prose, let him or her have at it.
This is available in many / all formats - you name it - Hardback, paperback, Kindle, library binding...
Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog... - Jerome K. Jerome
"Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog...)" is a literary classic from the Victorian Age written by the incredibly funny for his time Jerome Klapka Jerome. He meant the story to be a travelogue of a real life river trip taken in the late 1800s. It evolved into a humorous work that, though some may see the dry humor of the day as dated, has stood the test of time.
This is available in many formats including paperback reprints, audio recordings and for the Amazon Kindle.
Fizz: Nothing Is as It Seems - by Zvi Schreibe
"Fizz: Nothing is as It Seems" is what is commonly known as an "Edu Novel" meaning that it's fiction that has a strong basis in scientific or historical fact. In this case it is science turned almost science fiction. This story here centers around the history and study of physics. Fizz is actually the lead character, a young woman involved in a sect that eschews modern convenience to live a cult ike agricultural/nature loving lifestyle. She diverts from that and seeks out the story of the universe from the likes of all of the great physicists of history.
This isn't a book for kids - though it might help them enjoy history and science a bit more. It's an engrossing adult read that will not only entertain you but it might just teach you something.
This is available in paperback and for the Amazon Kindle.
Nothing Stays In Vegas - by Elena Aitken
Yet another debut novel for this list, this one, "Nothing Stays in Vegas by Elena Aitken is entirely different from the first couple. Putting a twist on the latest advertising for the city of Las Vegas, Aitken has penned a tale that takes the reader back to the scene of her lead character Lexi's transgressions. Lexi is reluctant to return to "Sin City" because she knows that she must come to terms with all that happened in Vegas before and figure out how to move on. It's an engrossing tale of personal and moral dilemmas.
This is available in paperback and for the Kindle.
We Learn Nothing: Essays and Cartoons - by Tim Kreider
"We Learn Nothing: Essays and Cartoons" is non-fiction with fiction cartoon twists. More than that, the book asks and then attempts to answer what most would term unanswerable questions with examples, wit, and flat out humor.
Tim Kreider is a satirical cartoonist by trade. He enjoys exploring what are often referred to as "dark truths". This book is filled with essays and cartoons that reflect real life examples to such questions as "What if you survive a brush with death and it doesn't change you?" and so many many more. It's a great read from a text standpoint but the cartoons seal the deal.
This is available in hardcover only.
Much Ado About Nothing (No Fear Shakespeare) - by William Shakespeare and the No Fear Editors
We all read Shakespeare in high school. This is, of course, one of his most read plays by American students. It's also the one that seems to be the most often staged. Some of us totally get Shakespeare when we "have" to read it in school. Other's, not so much. This is a book for those others. For the student, in this book, the original text of "Much Ado About Nothing" is on the left and an easy to understand translation from the No Fear Editors is on the right.
This is available in paperback only.
Robots Feel Nothing When They Hold Hands - by the Writers & Directors of the "Family Guy" Television Series
"Robots Feel Nothing When They Hold Hands" is a fast rising cartoon and joke book from the minds of 3 writers and 2 directors from the hit animated TV series "The Family Guy". Filled with Twitter length one liners and cartoons, it's an irreverent joke book with a 21st century feel.
This is available in both paperback and for the Amazon Kindle.