Survivor: Beepy's Bookshelf

Sometimes, as I sun myself on my favorite rock, the ocean delivers up a little surprise. Most of the time it's just medical waste, but occasionally it will be something that somebody did not mean to lose. Yesterday was one such day. A crate washed up next to me and after eating all the seaweed caught among its slats, I decided to open it. Oh, sure, I was hoping for more food or perhaps some fine wine, but was overjoyed to find that it contained books.


So now I turn to you, Steve's friends and my few acquaintances, to tell me which one I should read. You may base your vote on having actually read the book, or you may be completely arbitrary and play eeny meeny miny moe with the choices. You may choose the book based on the cover being your favorite color or once having been friends with someone who shares the same first name as the author. I don't care. Just tell me which I should read and give me a brief reason why.


These are the books which washed up:

1. The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers

2. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

3. The Duke's Children by Anthony Trollope

4. The Blood Doctor by Barbara Vine

5. The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman

6. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami

7. The Diviners by Margaret Lawrence

8. The Geographer's Library by Jon Fasman

9. The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist

10. Operation Shylock by Phillip Roth

11. Lord Byron's Doctor by Paul West

12. The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon