November Bibliolust

This month’s list is quite short, largely because my lust diminishes when I have books stacked up to review and plenty of other books that I really, really want to read. I guess that is one of the things about being an adult — common sense can put a damper on lust and distinguish between it and love. That said, it isn’t like there was no lust this month:

1Q84, Haruki Murakami — To be honest, I have a bit of trepidation about putting this on the list. It isn’t often I lust after 1,000 page novels, particularly when I am so far behind the way it is. But 1Q84 I’ve been reading about the unabashed anticipation for this book appearing in the U.S. for well more than a year. I am on the reserve list at the library but fear it may be a two-week loaner.

Lost Memory of Skin, Russell Banks — I’ve never read any of Banks’ work and I think it’s the relatively unique concept of this book that attracts me. It is a novel about a young man who must register as a sex offender, wear an electronic ankle bracelet and cannot live within 2,500 feet of anywhere children might gather. This means the only place he can live is under a causeway in his hometown.

Report Card:

Year to Date (January-October 2011)

Total Bibliolust books: 46

Number read: 34 (73.9%)

Started but did not finish: 5 (10.9%)

Cumulative (September 2008-October 2011)

Total Bibliolust books: 195

Number read: 152 (77.6%)

Started but did not finish: 14 (7%)

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I have come to believe that living your well-read life is measured not by the number of books read at the end of your life but by whether you are in book love today, tomorrow, and next week.

Steve Leveen, The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life