Old Man and the Sea

Dad...thought you'd appreciate this story since you put the book on my list!

quote worth a smirk

a chuckle knowing there are days I hide or flaunt the book cover....

"Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it." P.J. O'Rourke

thanks for the advice

I know I've twisted arms, begged, and whined.

Just wanted to say...Thank you.

Getting the opinions about books from people that I know has meant a lot to me. Waking up to new suggestions from you has brought many grins. I still welcome ideas from anyone that happens by here.

I thought about why I didn't just set up my own classics reading program. The books are there. The popularity can be looked up in lists all over. I wanted an element of the unexpected, I think. Instead of choosing my own reading, it has been exciting to be given 'homework.' This weekend I started To Kill a Mockingbird because it has been the overwhelming choice (I'm not sure if that's because it really is the favorite, or because it's triggered after being mentioned, but....) I know I read this book in high school. Somehow, I seem to have forgotten the story...it's feeling all new. These moments of discovery, of talking to people I love about books they love, of talking to strangers in bookstores explaining this crazy quest and getting their input.....has been a blast.

THANK YOU.

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Rob....got the new suggestions. I've already read the Salinger choices. Frannie and Zooey is probably just about my favorite book (as far as things I've read a zillion times, anyway.) F451 was wonderful, any booklover has to go for that one. The rest will have to go on my list for future ref, tho! Picked up Kav/Clay this weekend...when i can get to it...
B...added Scarlet to the list. Thanks for taking the time to stop by. Hope you heal as quickly/painlessly as possible!!!!

he's a muddle-headed fool, with frequent lucid intervals. cervantes

happy 400th birthday, Don Quixote!
In my year of classics, worthy of a grin and respectful bow.

Slightly less than 400 years ago, I wrote my high school senior thesis on D.Q. and the musical 'Man of La Mancha.' Still have the battered copy that spent a year haunting and inspiring me from Japan to the midwest.

And the world will be better for this
That one man scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star. the Impossible Dream, Man of La Mancha

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still need more booklist suggestions!

a quick chuckle (and hug a book)

for those (like me) that quirk a baffled eyebrow over readers' obsession with Da Vinci Code....this made me chuckle. An interesting post all around. I agree...it's good to know books are being toted about and loved...whatever the book may be.

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If you haven't already...please read Book Club post and add your choices!

Book Club for 1 (and "camaraderie" doesn't have an O.)

This year's reading goal is slowly coming together.

It sort of started with Atlas Shrugged. The book was a running joke with my mom. I tried to read it back in college days, and kept abandoning it after getting bogged down in the early pages. By the time I'd pick it up again, the story was forgotten and I'd have to start over. It became the symbol of my (many) unfinished projects.

In 2000, I decided to shrug Atlas. I stayed up half the night of December 30th..and the book was done. (I had loved it, too.) Though the next few years drifted through authors/styles, the idea of the reading goal was in place.

2003 belonged to Tolkien. I won't see a movie without reading the book it's based on, so the Hobbit that I avoided in grade school became my companion. Christmas day brought the LOTR trilogy to a close, and I got to have my movie marathon.

I decided to go for quantity in 2004. I've kept track of my reading for 7 years, and noticed each year had a longer list. Deciding to add 26 titles (1 every 2 weeks) to the Completed list was a fun way to push myself to pull the book from the purse at lunch, to stay up an extra 1/2 hour at bedtime. Yelled "finished!!" on 12/26/04.

I started 2005 knowing I had to set a reading goal. Non-fiction? (my weakest area.) Higher quantities? Particular authors/series? A discussion at work caused War and Peace to be mentioned. I admitted I'd never opened it...or any other Russian epics, for that matter. When I look at recommended reading lists (classics, English classes, etc.,) I'm surprised by how many classics I've skipped (so far.)

So.

2005.

The goal is going to involve classics. Hopefully you, yes YOU (collective readers,) will help me decide details. I either want to finish 3 of the "biggies" (War, Crime/Pun., Anna K., Les Miz, Hunchback, etc.) or 10 'general' classics.

I know most of those that come here by choice, not chance, are READERS. We talk about books. Anyone else that comes along is quite welcome to jump in as well. Even though I know getting feedback is a Longshot...I'm using that FAITH that you'll play along...
Here's my idea:
I'd be really really really (really.) excited if every visitor would leave me a comment with 2 titles.

• One - list the classic you'd most recommend (if you've read any yourself. If not...hey...you should be joining me on this project!)


• Two - tell me what your favorite (or most recommended right
  now) book is.

If this works....if I actually get some suggestions...
I promise to make selections of the classics by the end of January

AND

I'll try to read all of the personal favorites.

(unless...unless...this proves unprecedentedly comment-worthy, and I have too many choices to handle in a year.....) (did i really just type a 6 syllable word?!?!) (IS that a word!??!)

The extension of my fantasy life here is that after I get suggestions and compile a list....my book club might have more than 1 member (me.) I've told pals before that I've never joined a club because I can't see saying much more than "yup. liked that." or "eww. that sucked." Perhaps knowing others are reading the same books, tho, would help me come up with better descriptors. If not, even the camaraderie of a mutual Yup or Eww would be festive.

Mull it for a second.
Pick two books and hit the comment button!
Make my year of reading have a purpose!!!
:-)

p.s. If you Anonymous comment, that's fine..just leave a nickname or such for me to reference in booklist. thanks!

Finding Neverland

Even the men were crying.

In the words of Peter, "it was magical."

I sat in the last row of the theater watching genius create a fantasy that celebrates reality. There were fairies and broken hearts, laughing children and rainy days. The audience giggled its way to Neverland and left wiping a tear. A wonderful cast, a wonderful story, a wonderful way to spend a gray afternoon.

Finding Neverland.
"The story of J.M. Barrie's friendship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan."