Originally Posted by Sunny Day

Greatest book I ever read was Death Ship by B. Traven, who also wrote The Treasure of Sierra Madre. Puts life in a new perspective. The meaning doesn't become clear until the final few chapters.
I have read at least 10,000 books in my life. No book has left the lasting impression this one did.

Greatest book in school, I had read the Red Badge of Courage. No big thing. But as a teacher's aid, our class was in the library one day. This was the class of losers. I picked up this book and started to explain the book to a guy, that I doubt had ever read a novel. I knew the day he left high school he'd be on his way to the war in Viet Nam. Thought knowing at some point, we all get scared this book might help him. Just about had him to take the book and some library aid came up and said, "you can't talk in the library." Ruined the moment.
Irony is the draft board never got him. He drowned swimming. All these years later it still bugs me, had he read that book, would his life been different.

I have read "In Cold Blood" several times and seen the movie multiple times. Just before Smith & Hitchcock were hanged, they hung "The Nicest Boy In Kansas." Took over 30 minutes pulling on his legs to finally kill him, he was so fat. Lowell Andrews was hung for killing his parents, sister and a grandparent. Week before, in his eagle scout uniform, boosted me on his shoulders to watch a parade. I was 6. First murderer I ever met.