If you have followed my blog for any stretch of time, you probably know that I like books. No? I'm sure I mentioned it at least a couple of times.
Anyway, I keep abreast (for some reason I like saying that) of many of the latest releases and book reviews, even though I understand there is realistically little chance that I will read any of those offerings. I just enjoy reading about them. I do eventually see some of these books at neighborhood yard sales or at our local used book store, and can't resist scoring them at a fraction of their original price. This is all well and good, except for one small detail.
I'm not a very fast reader. And I have a toddler who occupies much of my free time.
What results is shelves, drawers, and boxes of unread books sitting around with my name on them, waiting to be read. It seems I am accumulating books at an exponentially faster rate than I am reading them. But miraculously, after scores of 1 and 2 page reading days, I am actually close to finishing my current book - Bernard Cornwell's Agincourt - and need to decide which out of my accumulated piles of books I will read next. You can help me here.
On the right navigation bar I have created a poll asking which book I should read next. There are 5 books that I have wanted to read for some time. If you have a couple seconds to spare, please choose one of them and then leave a comment indicating why you chose the book you did. I would consider you an alright person in my book.
The choices are:
If this experiment bombs and there are few or *gasp* no votes, I might just give up reading altogether.
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Ok, not really but I would probably post something else up quickly enough and hope you forget about this one. Happy reading to all.
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20 comments:
Personally, I'd go with 'The Once and Future King' because I always liked the tragedies when I had to study literature in school. I don't get to read much these days either, unless their books with lots of pictures :)
'The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy' might be an easier read than the others. Sometimes I need to read, just to read so I'll choose a book I know will entertain me, but not overwhelm my psyche of the moment.
I voted for the Hitchhiker's Guide. I haven't read it (I don't think I've read a book for a year. Oh the shame.) but it's on my bookshelf and I've been wanting to read it for a while.
I vote for Hitchhiker's Guide - funny, irreverant, and a quick read. You'd like it! (plus, I think it presages Google)
Hitchhiker's Guide is canon, like Shakespeare or Homer so you must read it at some point in your life. That said, I'd for Yiddish Policemen's Union. I really enjoyed it. Being from the PNW you'll recognize a lot of the place names. And the similes Chabon uses are priceless. Seriously, read this one.
Life of Pi...!
"King" and Guide" are both excellent reads. Haven't read any of the others. I voted for "Guide" ultimately because that's the one I have tattoo'd upon my arm.
I am in the same boat you - I've been reading the same book since April and am only about 3/4 of the way done. And that's going at a fast pace! That last book I read took me a year.
I haven't read any of them but have listened to the first radio adaption of The Hitchhiker's Guide and then the BBC TV adaptation and loved them both. But that was as a teenager.
My better half has read The Pillars of the Earth and often raved to me about it, so I'm voting for that.
I love books, too - I'm particularly intrigued by the Yiddish Policemen's Union especially since the Captain says it references familiar places in the PNW. Since I'm originally a Washitonian, I would appreciate it if you could read it for me and let me know if it's a good read... ;)
I just finished Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and thought it was one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. Highly recommend.
Hitchhikers all the way. saying that, I haven't read any of the others. But hitchhikers is a classic and everyone needs to have read it if they are going to claim geek credentials.
@PJ - I read a lot of those now too. Thanks for the vote. My wife says it is a terrific book.
@Really - Thanks for weighing in. That is a good philosophy and it might lead me to HHG.
@Lady Mama - It gets tough to read after the little ones come along. Thanks for the vote.
@Mrs. LIAYF - And, since you bought it for me, that must count for two votes.
@Captain - It really intrigues me. I finished Summerland by Chabon a couple of months ago, and loved his writing style even though I found it to be a bit 'young' for me. Mrs. LIAYF like it too.
@Xbox - Another great choice. Again Mrs. LIAYF read and loved this one. Plus, it got so much attention that it has to be a good read.
@Daniel - Tatooed on the arm? Now that is an endorsement. Seems to be the way the crowd is leaning.
@Steve - Plus, it's my kind of book. I like the Medieval settings. Thanks for the vote.
@Stacy - Thanks for the vote. It is always fun to read about local places in nationaly recognized book.
@Scifi - Not on my list, but that is a strong endorsment and I am not againt write-ins. I will have to check it out.
@Dan - Then I guess I need to read it. Thanks for the vote.
I like Hitchhiker's guide.
My medical journals just pile up. I try to keep up, but by the time I get the time to do so I'll likely have retired.
I have not read any of those. I just finished City of Thieves and The Road. I too am a slow reader, but my wife burns through books like wildfire.
We should start a Dad's book club for slow readers.
So which ever one you read, I will too.
New to your blog, but voted as if I were an old friend for Hitchiker's just coz it's a great read! Enjoy it as it looks like it's winning by a landslide!
Hey, Dan told me about your blog cos he liked the name ;D I've only read Life of Pi and Hitchhikers and I was going to vote for the former cos it'd make me look more intelligent.... but then I realised that if I had the choice of either to read again I'd go for Hitchhikers, it's funny, it's an easy read but thought-prvoking too. More entertaining that Pi but no less intelligent really.
*That* was an unneccesarily long-winded comment...
@Grumpy - Thanks for the vote. Perhaps Medical Journals will be on my next list.
@DC - Yeah, my wife has read all of these except Pillars. She can finish a book in a day, me a month or two. And the book club idea is a good one. 'This years selection is...'
@Karen - Landslide indeed. Barring a comeback, that will be my book. Thanks for stopping by.
@Catherine - Thanks for the comment. I like them long. Nice point about which book you would read again. That makes sense.
Hitchhikers guide Definately!! Much easier read and much more entertaining. After that I would possibly read some sort of self help book you know to balance off the insanity.
@Krystal - Thanks for the vote. I read more than my share of self help books in my earlier years so I guess I'm good.
Okay, I know I'm late to the party, but I have to know: Did you read Hitchhikers?
It's one of my favorite books, ever. :)
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