Friday, March 05, 2010

Books

It may just be Jungian selective attention, but it seems like everyone is talking or blogging about how this is the year they're finally going to tackle that big stack of books they've been meaning to read.

This is actually every year with me, but maybe this is the year that it really will get done. Also, at least half the pile is actually rather light reading, so I don't know what my problem is, besides being lazy and easily distracted.

To read:
Tunnels - Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams (actually started this already, read about 1/4 before putting it down. will try again.)
A Single Man - Christopher Isherwood
Operation Red Jericho - Joshua Mowll
The Shroud of the Thwacker - Chris Elliot (yes, that Chris Elliot)
The Game of Their Lives - Geoffrey Douglas (another one that I started and put down.)
Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer
Who Can Save Us Now? - ed. Owen King and John McNally (short story collection, I've read about half of it.)
Zodiac - Robert Graysmith
Rocket Boys - Homer H. Hickam, Jr.
Derby Girl - Shauna Cross

Sadly, I keep adding to the pile as I am reminded about things, or run across things in the donation pile at the volunteer gig. What to do? I feel the need for several dozen long-ass plane rides.

But, all hope is not list. Here's what I've read and finished this year so far:

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You - Peter Cameron. Ehh...
The Recruit - Robert Muchamore. The first of the CHERUB series, which I liked rather more than Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series. Speaking of which...
Crocodile Tears - Anthony Horowitz. I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than the last two or three of the Alex Rider books, for whatever reason.

And just an hour or two away from finishing American Nerd by Benjamin Nugent. More effective as a history of "nerd culture" - how it began, where it came from, etc. - than as a useful breakdown/examination of current nerd societies. Other than what I found to be a strange fixation on racial issues (seriously, it's like a thing with this guy) I'm finding the book a good, entertaining read.

2 comments:

Michael said...

Ooh, "A Single Man" next! You'll read it in two days. It's fantastic and you're stack will be smaller that much quicker.

Greg said...

Yeah, I'm one of the guilty ones who keeps attempting to tackle my stack of books every year. I'm getting better, have only bought 3 new books to add to the pile and have finished at least 10 (I think) so far.

But there's so much out there I want to read.... Like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter....