While I admire Largehearted Boy’s voracious appetite for the written word, I don’t think that I could keep up with his 52 Weeks, 52 Books schedule. Nevertheless, I am going to read a scheduled number of books next year. For me, that number will be a safe 26. That’s one book every two weeks. Totally doable by my standards. I think.
I started thinking about it the other day, and I realized that I only have one lifetime, and I began wondering how many books I could possibly read in that lifetime. In 2005, I probably read 10 to 12 books, not counting all of my college texts. If I only maintain that rate and live another — and this is is a generous estimate — 60 years, that means I’ll only be able to read 600 to 700 more books in my lifetime. That’s not a huge number. So I decided to add a little more discipline to my reading. At 26 books a year for 60 years, I’ll be able to cram in another 1,560 books before I die. That would be awesome.
So I’m setting up the 26 Books page on my blog to both allow me to externalize my thoughts on each book as I finish it, and to provide a little impetus to keep me moving. I’ll also keep an image of my 7 of spades bookmark up there, with each new title added just like it is in real life. After I finish each book, I’ll post my thoughts on it in 500 words or less. The 26 Books page will also feature a running list of the books I’ve chosen with links to corresponding posts.
The list itself is fluid. I’ve chosen 26 books from the get go, but if I decide to substitute or even add books to the list, that’s what will happen. Not all of the books are necessarily new. Actually, most of them are at least a year old or, in some cases, very old. I chose most of them because they are the one’s that have sat unread on my bookshelf for far too long. I acquired them once because I wanted to read them. Now I’m going to follow up on that desire.
Well, wish me luck, Constant Reader. I hope this is something that I can do, and that maybe you get something out of this as well.
My first book of the year:
“The Merchant of Venice” by William Shakespeare
It’s hard to remember we’re alive for the last time.
It’s hard to remember, it’s hard to remember
To live before you die.— “Lives” by Modest Mouse
Thanks for the motivation. I hadn’t realized how little time I had left. I must say that the thought of only reading 6- or 700 more books makes me sad. Of course, I’m the girl that goes the Barnes and Noble and gets a little choked up, simply at the overwhelming beauty of being surrounded by words.
So thanks to you I’m off to read, let’s see…how about 40 books in 52 weeks? yeah… that’s it. THANKS!!!
Let’s see….
Heart of Darkness was a tough read. I thought it was disappointing.
Merchant/ 12th were great but I like all Shakespeare.
Emergence is very interesting. You should have said something while you were here. I have a copy of it.
Under the Banner of Heaven….good book but you will never go to Utah again
Red Mars was great. I have the trilogy. Very good SF.
Haunted was a mixed bag. I liked it but I am not sure I would recommend it to a lot of people.
Foundations took a while to read. It is a strange series.
Bradbury is good but I can’t remember if I ever finished the Maritian Chronicles or not. Damn old age…
Prey is like all Chrichton. All his books read like “Summer Blockbuster: The Movie”
Hell’s Angels is OUTSTANDING! I loved that book.
Overall, a very good mix of books. I would recommend adding “Hyperspace” by Michio Kaku. It is a good theoretical physics book. Also, I would recommend “Stiff” by Mary Roach. And, if you have not read any of Chuck Klosterman’s books, they are funny as hell.
I’ve heard that before about “Haunted,” but I feel like I should keep with my streak of having read all of his stuff.
Next year will be harder to choose. This year is mostly cleaning off the book shelf.