Again, a relatively short list and the library is serving as my source for three of them. One good thing about the holidays, it seems to provide more time to read, especially when you see it as a way to insulate yourself from some of the holiday rush and tumult.
The Hangman’s Daughter, Oliver Pötzsch — I certainly couldn’t let the year end without having at least one work of translated literature on the list. In addition to the novel being set in 17th century Germany, I am intrigued because this is the second release by Amazon’s new translated literature imprint.
I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas, Lewis Black — I’m a big fan of Lewis Black because much of his humor and curmudgeonliness mirrors my thoughts. Thus, I can’t resist reading his latest to get me in that “Christmas spirit.”
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Walter Mosley — Some quite favorable reviews and the subject — the travails of old age and dementia — brought this to my attention. As I’ve never read any of Mosley’s books and he’s primarily known for crime fiction, the fact the library has this gets it on the list.
Spiritual Envy: An Agnostic’s Quest, Michael Krasny — Given the proliferation and attention paid to the so-called “new atheists,” I’m intrigued by a self-proclaimed agnostic’s take on religion in the 21st century.
Third Class Superhero, Charles Yu — I recently read Yu’s How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe and loved his touch of humor and his writing. Thus, I now want to read his previous collection of short stories.
Report Card:
- Year-to-date (January-November)
- Total Bibliolust books: 59
- Number read: 41 (69.5%)
- Started but did not finish: 4 (6.8%)
- Number read: 41 (69.5%)
- Cumulative (September 2008-November 2010)
- Total Bibliolust books: 145
- Number read: 102 (70%)
- Started but did not finish: 8 (5.5%)
- Number read: 102 (70%)
There is a great deal of difference between an eager man who wants to read a book and the tired man who wants a book to read.
G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens: A Critical Study
