Wednesday, November 14, 2007

My 2007 Reading List

My goal is to read three fiction books a year. I started late this year but I'm half done with my three books.

Books I've read or started in 2007

Fiction:

This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff - Done.
Old School by Tobias Wolff - Half Done.
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham - On my nightstand...I read the jacket blurb.

Non-Fiction:

Creeds of the Churches Third Edition, Edited by John H. Leith - I've read most or all of the 730 pages.

The Law by Frederic Bastiat- Done.

For 2008 I'm flirting with the idea of tackling Atlas Shrugged. It's kind of too long for me and I'm not sure I can tolerate Rand's nonsensical objectivist bull crap for that many pages but I may take a stab at it. Maybe The Fountainhead is shorter.

Anyone have any other suggestions? Keep in mind that I read fiction as a discipline rather than pure enjoyment because I have a considerable reading disability. The shorter the book is the greater chance I have of completing it. Anything over 350 pages will probably require you reading it to me. Please post suggestions if you have any.

6 comments:

kiki said...

i've only read one book this year. that's kind of sad, huh? well, wait, i've read 1.5 books. the first i started was the magus which was recommended to me by pete prior to my trip to greece. i read it some on the way there, but i never really got into it. i should probably finish it someday, but i'm too busy playing guitar hero 3. you're welcome to borrow it if you thought you might like it, pete says it's fantastical. (well, he didn't use 'fantastical' that's in my own words.)

the second book i've read, for the second time, was ultramarathon man. the first time i read this, i just thought it was humorous and interesting. it's a very quick read. there's no way in hell i was interested in running. though it got some wheels turning to run a marathon. the second time i read it, i used it as inspiration, to remind myself "it's supposed to hurt like hell." (by the way, that didn't help much during the marathon even so. ;) ) but even if you're not interested in running, this is a fun quick read. it made me laugh out loud.

wow, i just remembered another book i really enjoyed this year. (yay, i've read more than i thought.) marley and me for dog lovers. another quick humorous read :)

lastly, i have not read this book, but thumbed through it at a bookstore and i should have bought it right then. in fact, i might go out and get it this week, but this looks very entertaining. it is the alphabet of manliness. i think you might enjoy it tracy. ;)

Tracy said...

Oh wow...I'm dumb.

I have the Alphabet of Manliness and I finished it in January...I forgot all about that. In fact I have it on my shelf right now.

Anonymous said...

It seems obvious to me. My religion is reading. Reading is a useful way of filling in gaps in your education. And with that in mind, Tracy needs to read:

It Takes a Village, by Hillary Clinton

Giving: How Each of Us Can Change The World, by Bill Clinton

Ending Poverty in America: How to Restore the American Dream, by John Edwards

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, by Barack Obama

I know these are all non-fiction, so here's one that is pure fiction for your entertainment:

We Will Prevail: President George W. Bush on War, Terrorism and Freedom, by George W. Bush

Of course, you can also cure ignorance by reading the Seattle P.I. every day.

Gino said...

as nonfiction, i would counter grump with "a personal odessy" by thomas sowell.
its easy to put down, and pick up a few days later without feeling like you missed a beat.
damn good memoir, and a good read.
at times funny, thought provoking, and/or poignant.
i even have a personally signed copy.
(no, you may not touch it)

but you really want fiction, so i recommend 'the call of the wild' by jack london. not too long. and london is my only real favorite writer.

Anonymous said...

I was going to suggest some Jack London also. Good choice

tully said...

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"
I'm still working on it as I myself am a frustratingly slow reader, but however far you read it you will probably be rewarded. It's a philosophy book with a seamless fictional framework. One of its famous lines is that the Laws of Logic are only ghosts that we create. This book is true education- a rounding of one's way of thinking which includes rebelling rationally against even reason. Most books that pretend to be educational do not educate so much as they "train,"