hopefully at sunset

reading oh eight

A friend turned me on to an article about the reading habits of our inglorious President George W Bush. While I disagree on a number of large issues with my distant distant cousin (yes Kim, he is our relation, whether you admit it or not), I am impressed and inspired by the breadth and volume of his literary appetite. Add to all of it that he reads the Bible cover to cover annually, something I have never accomplished in one year. Well done Mr. President.

find the article here.

hat tip to sam here.

With that in mind, I will publish what I read this year. Title, Author, Date Finished, and Genre.

Blood Meridian McCarthy 1/1 Cormac Fiction

No Country for Old Men Cormac McCarthy 1/21 Fiction

The Death of Ivan Ilych Tolstoy 2/1 Fiction

The Road Cormac McCarthy 2/8 Fiction

The Sunset Limited Cormac McCarthy 2/16 Fiction

Searching for God Knows What Donald Miller 2/25 Christian Living/Memoir

Crime & Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky 5/1 Fiction

The Shack William Young 5/11 Fiction

All the Pretty Horses Cormac McCarthy 5/18 Fiction

Crazy for God Schaeffer 6/2 Memoir

The Crossing Cormac McCarthy 6/9 Fiction

Cities of the Plain Cormac McCarthy 6/14 Fiction

Follow the Roar Bob Smiley 12/10 Sports Travelogue

Plan B Anne Lamott 12/30 Memoir

I’m not impressed with the quantity – should have done better. I did spend parts of the last six months joyously laboring through The Brothers Karamazov, and I love it – but it is thick. Happy to announce that I will finish before the end of this month! I also read a few short stories/novellas from Dostoevsky in preparation for Crime and Punishment, which was to prepare my brain to tackle The Brothers.

As for quality of what I’ve read, super stoked, best year yet. So many great books. Love Dostoevsky, love Cormac McCarthy. The Road and the Border Triology will be reread, maybe this year. Loved Searching for God Knows What the second time. Bob’s book on Tiger was a really fun read, and Anne Lamott has a lot of perspective and honesty.

All that being said, I hope to read at least twice as much, and add more theology. Am almost finished with two books now, and am staring at Crazy Love (Francis Chan), Dreams of My Father (Obama) and Midnights Children (Salman Rushdie) to begin the year.

In conclusion, please turn off your computer and start reading.