In spite of being acutely inundated with a flurry of inescapable work and duties, catching up on reading is one of my few resolutions this year. Alas, 2010 did not provide much time to be completely immersed in enjoyable literature, but I believe it is a matter of prioritization. Realistically, I can make time to devour twenty-six non-school related books parallel to required reading.
Candidly, 2010 was such a destructive year, both metaphorically and literally. I suppose the missing ingredient was reading. Having read, since the beginning of 2011, novels by Salinger and Camus – I feel a lot more vital, happy and inspired. It is as though I have thoroughly forgotten that reading is the most amazing form of meditation. I must never forget that reading also equals gaining courage to face every aspect of life, whether it is misery or malady.
Nonetheless, a lot of marvelous novels are waiting for my perusal. I also want to re-read some of my favorite novels. Franny and Zooey by Salinger, for instance.
I'm not sure if those are the books you've read or haven't, but I like Sartre much better than Camus and I think you'll like Tropic of Cancer immensely if you haven't already read it.
Amanda: These are books I want to read this year. I was meaning to read 'Tropic of Cancer' a few years back, but postponed it all the time.
looks very interresting..xx http://www.jnsoo.blogspot.com/
Nice list! I love Camus (especially La Peste – perhaps because I am in medical school?) – his work is forever in touch with the profound angst and struggles we still face today as individuals, living in a somewhat isolated and dystopian reality. It offers me some kind of strange comfort when I read his narratives, knowing that I am not alone in such disquietude.By the way I really like how you use the f in forte in your new header. Ingenious! :)
K: I just finished La Peste and I LOVED it (haha, perhaps because I want to study medicine). And wow, I didn't think anyone would notice the f in my new header. I'm a musician by the way!
A guide to elegance is the book that changed my life and really taught me to appreciate the simply luxurious life that you preach. If you read it you'll know what I mean. Although some of the colour combination advice must be taken with a grain of salt. It was written in the 1960's after all. The count of monte cristo is a heart wrenching and yet very sweet novel. The sheer courage and will that the count demonstrates in his imprisoned days is an inspiration for anyone. Enjoy your reading. There is nothing in the world that I enjoy more than a really good book, not even clothes. Tashrin
I'm also determined to read more this year, and to that end start making use of the library system(s) here. It can be hard to get the books I want when there are so many people here all competing for the the limited supply–but that just means I have to be extra vigilant heh! So far this year I've read two books, "All I Need is Love" by Klaus Kinski and "A Movable Feast" by Hemingway. The Kinski book was not especially well written, but I mostly read it out of morbid curiosity. I LOVE Hemingway, and I'm always surprised by how many people don't! To me, his style is almost perfect, at least in his earlier works. "A Movable Feast" is now easily among my very favorite books. I'm determined to read more Hemingway (and maybe find out what it is that people don't like about him) as well as finishing "East of Eden" by Steinbeck, and branching out, giving the Americans a break and reading more classic novels especially by European authors. Hemingway speaks so highly of several Russian authors in "Feast" and I'd like to read them too–the only Russian I've read is Nabakov!
I mean "Moveable" not "Movable", damn you auto spell check!
The Bell Jar is such a good book, you have great taste in literature.Reading is probably the number one thing I do for enjoyment (both my parents are english teachers so I didn't have much of a choice in that), but I agree its so hard to find time when you are studying.
Jeg blir så fascinert over måten du ordlegger deg på.
Tashrin: I believe you, I can't wait to read it. Ringo: I'm so happy you mentioned 'A moveable feast' – it happens to be one of my favorite books. I adore Hemingway's style of writing and 'A moveable feast' is merely a beautifully written book. Are you a member of goodreads? You should add me, I go by dead fleurette (obviously!). This year I want to read Anna Karenina by Tolstoy and Notes from the underground by Dostoevsky, both Russian authors + other works by Nabokov.Alex: Thank you. I grew up with good literature. I'm so grateful for having well read parents, relatives and sisters. Haha!Lina: How come..? Tusen takk!
I re-organized the desk/keyboard table in my bedroom at the start of this year to reflect the exact same resolution: there's now a big visible pile of to-reads on top of the desk and a smaller, growing have-read pile beside the desk! (Finding bookshelfs is a whole other project.)Great taste as usual Fleurette! The Bell Jar is one of my all time favourites, as is the Camus & anything by Anais Nin.
I love To Kill a Mockingbird – it was required text when I was in secondary school and one of the few books I was forced to read that I loved. I reread The Great Gatsby last week, and I'm always amazed how it always offers up something new – it's deserving of it's classic status. This year I hope to read more classics, but there are so many interesting contemporary titles waiting to be picked up (Great House by Nicole Krauss, Freedom by Jonathan Franzen). If you want to read something a little lighter, I highly recommend "let The Right One In" by John Ajvide Lindqvist. I hadn't seen the movies (Swedish and English) before I read the book, and I must say that while both were fine movies, the book trumps them both. I'm not much of a thriller or horror person but I couldn't put this down.
Fantastic! L'Étranger blew me away when I read it a few weeks ago. I've been reading some stories by Chekhov lately ("About Love" and "The Grasshopper"), and I'm starting another book by Henry Miller soon. If I like it I'll be sure to read Tropic of Cancer so we can discuss it! xx
Oh, have fun with the Russians. I've read Anna K. three times — it goes quick, despite the monster length. ;-)And Pnin by Nabokov is Zadie Smith's favorite novel and one of mine too. It's an extraordinary book — as is his memoir, Speak, Memory.
I love Salinger too – and couldn't agree more with your thoughts on reading. Love To Kill a Mockingbird as well.Read Lolita when you get a chance – it's beautifully written.
Ja, hva var egentlig livet uten bøker? Jeg elsker å lese og er med i en lesesirkel, da får jeg lest èn ny bok pr måned. Skjems litt over å innrømme at jeg faktisk ikke har lest en eneste en av disse klassikerne du nevner, men det er jo aldri for sent!?
- leilani.e: Oh, I used to have piles like yours before. It's such a good idea, I approve. Thanks, you have great taste too. – lin: I want to read The Great Gatsby, I tried once, but I think the language is too old-fashioned for my taste. I agree with you on the interesting contemporary titles – I want to read 'A heartbreaking work of staggering genius'. Have you read it? I have "Let the right one in" but I've never gotten around to read it.- Stephanie: Great taste! What are you going to read by Miller? I'm always open to discussion.- Caille: Three times!! Oh my.. that's a lot for such a lengthy book! Thank you for the recommendation, I will surely check out Pnin – I adore Nabokov and yearn to read more of his novels.- Ammu: Lolita is one of my favorite novels. The language and the way he conveys the relationship between Humbert Humbert and Dolores is acutely beautiful, although I feel terrible being in team Humbert Humbert. – Nanne: Haha, men du har jo sikkert lest mange andre klassikere. :) Og det er smak og behag – noen kan ikke fordra klassikere i det hele tatt.
I, too, want to read more this year. I already made a 'summer reading' list. First I need to get through the (dull) books which I have to read for school.To Kill a Mockingbird and The Bell Jar are two of my favourite novels! I actually bought The Bell Jar a couple of days ago, I might reread it this summer;)
Oh, I just read one of your comments about wanting Nabokov, I adore his work. As soon as I have the time I want to read The Real Life of Sebastian Knight, Pale Fire and maybe some other titels.;)I always get so excited when talking about books, haha! Too bad I hardly know a single person in real life who enjoys a conversation about books as well…
- heart in a cage: Ah, you're not the only one who gets so excited when talking about books. One of my best friends has exceptional taste in books, so we always discuss literature and borrow books from each other. From that moment we walked into a book store and talked about the same book without revealing the name, I knew we would become good friends, haha. I just gave her a copy of Franny and Zooey and Bonjour Tristesse.. I hope she'll love the first one as it means a lot to me! Good idea with the summer reading-list, you've inspired me to make one too! Thanks! By the way, I follow you on good reads and I love your picks! You have such a mature taste :)
You have to read Joan Didion! "The year of magical thinking" and "Play it as it lays" are both marvelous books (also Didion adores Hemingway, which is pretty obvious… In a good way, that is). And if you google miss Didion it is pretty damn obvious that she always have been a pretty stylish, minimalistic and chic lady too… Anyway, you def have to read her :)
On my blog, I try and constantly update what I'm reading, am also open to suggestions! Two years ago I made a resolutiion to constantly have a classic novel on the go alongside with whatever else I was reading. I've manged to stick to it!xhttp://millyfellintothewardrobe.blogspot.com/
I know what you mean about Lolita – couldn't have said it better. I am reading Nabokov's short stories right now.
Skjønner hva du mener med meditasjon! Som med deg, har det blitt lite (eller ingen) bøker det siste halvåret, kanskje fordi skolen går til over hodet på meg til tider…Men nå har jeg begynt å lese igjen, "Ladies Of Grace Adieu," en samling noveller fra "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell," en favoritt :)
Very nice list! The Count of Monte Cristo and To Kill a Mockingbird are among my favorite books. It's great that you are making an effort to read more despite a packed academic schedule. I have to admit I've been reading a lot of low brow fiction in the past few years, but this list has inspired me to round out my reading a bit! Personally, I'm going through a bit of a Jane Austen binge at the moment. You should post book reviews!If you're interested in Russian literature, I highly recommend Crime and Punishment, though it's probably already on your to read or read list!
quite an ambitious reading list! i read To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school or high school (can't remember), and it is still one of my favorite american novels. so much power and emotion and eloquence packed into a compact novel.might i make a suggestion? check out Eileen Chang (or Zhang Ailing)'s essays and fiction – she was a beautiful Shanghainese writer who wrote much of her best work in wartime 1940s Shanghai and Hong Kong. she wrote wonderfully evocative essays of city life, fashion, and 'Love in a Fallen City' is one of my favorites – it's a powerful novella and beautifully written, even in translation (by Karen Kingsbury).
- Fanny: Thank you for the recommendations!- Milly: Smart! I used to go by that rule but always ended up watching television after too much required reading.- Maria: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell! Jeg har alltid hatt lyst til å lese den boka, men jeg tror den blir for fiction for min del.. prøvde å lese et par kapitler, men det funket ikke. haha.- Sarah: Haha, what you say about the low brow fiction is what I feel about the movies I've been watching lately.. Crime and Punishment is definitely on my list. I also want to read 'Notes from the underground'. – miss sophie: I just started reading 'To kill a mockingbird' today so I am pretty excited! Thank you, I will put Zhang Ailing on my to read list!
Your reading list is very ambitious! I like your eclectic choice of books. I personally love To Kill a Mockingbird (what American doesn't?) and have The Count of Monte Cristo and The Bell Jar on my "to read" list, as well. Happy reading!
Du burde melde deg inn i bokelskere.no ;-)
Thank you so much!I hope that'll happen to me someday, meeting someone in a bookstore or whatever and end up being best friends(or lovers, haha). Only old guys seem to approach me in bookshops, recordshops or libraris lol.Will you post your list as soon as it's finished on your blog and/or on goodreads? I'd love to read your list!;)
The Bell Jar is great. I'm reading the unabridged journals of Sylvia Plath now, and it's amazing.
to kill a mockingbird is great! i'm in the midst of reading the bell jar!