201 Books!

198. Dubliners by James Joyce

My new reading strategy is making me very happy.

I’m choosing to read books recommended by two or more persons or groups. Dubliners, as you might guess, is on numerous great books lists. But it was because it was on the list of an online friend that pushed me into reading it last week.

Each story feels like the author wrote a complete book and then savagely cut a hunk out of the middle and threw it into this collection of short stories. The endings never felt like real endings, just stopping points. The people all seemed to suffer deeply, but tragically, almost as if they destroyed their own lives, yet could not stop themselves. Like other great books I have read, I could have happily started the book all over again just as soon as I finished it. It was the kind of book you can see would be an even richer read had you had an experienced guide to take you through it or a group of other readers to talk about it with.

With books like this in the world, it feels sad to think of people reading their lives away in silly romance novels or stilted mystery books.

199. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

A leisurely reread of an old favorite on my new Kindle. Good advice for writers; good advice for life.

200. Judy Moody Goes to College by Megan McDonald

I am raving to every kid I see about how good this book is. Judy gets a little distracted at school and gets sent to a tutor for math help. Judy is elated to learn that her tutor is a college student; thus, Judy Moody Goes to College. And is college ever a wonderful place! Judy learns a whole new vocabulary, gets to do all the really cool college things (like eating at a salad bar—not just for teachers), and even acquires a little helpful math knowledge.

201. Yoga for People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Do It by Geoff Dyer

Dyer is a brilliant fellow and a fantastic writer who is an awful failure at life. He’s always trying drugs or new experiences or travel to help him make it to the next day and, at forty, these things are no longer working for him. Yet he can’t seem to find anything else that does work. This book is a compilation of Dyer’s struggles.