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2014 Reading List

Looking back on 2014, I read a couple great books (Germinal, Waiting for the Barbarians, Do Androids Dream...), but many more were tiresome (Possession, Emma, The Bell Jar, Notes from a Small Island).

The realization has led me to change my perspective towards reading. A change that mirrors my new approach to travel: check the boxes and finish the lists, then be more spontaneous and discerning in the experiences I sign up for.

I'm glad I've paid my dues by visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Egyptian Pyramids, the Coliseum, and the Parthenon. But, like books, my most memorable travel experiences have little to do with these well-known destinations. These places are over-photographed and analyzed to the point of abstraction while a more vibrant reality surrounds. I'm glad I've read as many classics as I have, but it's time to move on.

Like the chauffeur realizes in Ishiguro's Remains of the Day, sometimes a dedication to structure and
lists keeps us from something better. On to the list...



 My 2014 in books (with links to posted excerpts):

1.EmmaAusten, Jane
2.The Wasp FactoryBanks, Lian
3.Hawaii's Keiki Christmas Collection Brown, Zola
4.Notes from a Small IslandBryson, Bill
5.PossessionByatt, A.S.
6.Waiting for the BarbariansCoetzee, JM
7.America AgainColbert, Stephen
8.Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep V.1Dick, Philip K
9.Do Androids Dream of Electric SheepDick, Philip K
10.Cold Comfort FarmGibbons, Stella
11.The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Haddon, Mike
12.The Remains of the DayIshiguro, Kazuo
13.Who Owns the Future?Lanier, Jaron
14.Child of GodMcCarthy, Cormac
15.SuttreeMcCarthy, Cormac
16.AmsterdamMcEwan, Ian
17.The InnocentMcEwan, Ian
18.Comptia a+ Study GuideMeyers, Michael
19.SuperiorMillar, Mark
20.A Fine BalanceMistry, Rohinton
21.Arkham AsylumMorrison, Grant
22.30 Second TheoriesParsons, Paul
23.John Cage: Composed in AmericaPerloff, Marjorie
24.The Bell JarPlath, Sylvia
25.Swallows and AmazonsRansome, Arthur
26.The Fortunate EraSmith, Arthur
27.There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a FlyTaback, Simms
28.A Confederacy of DuncesToole, John Kennedy
29.The Color PurpleWalker, Alice
30.Brideshead RevisitedWaugh, Evelyn
31.GerminalZola, Emile


2013 in Books:

1.Corelli's MandolinBernieres, Louis De
2.SilenceCage, John
3.Elk's RunFialkov, Josh
4.Bridget Jones DiaryFielding, Helen
5.Madam BovaryFlaubert, Gustave
6.The CorrectionsFranzen, Jonathan
7.Far From the Madding CrowdHardy, Thomas
8.Jude the ObscureHardy, Thomas
9.Tess of the D'UrbervillesHardy, Thomas
10.TemptationHavel, Václav
11.Think and Grow RichHill, Napoleon
12.Best of Robert IngersollIngersoll, Robert G.
13.WickedMaguire, Gregory
14.Daredevil:Miller, Frank
15.Soul of SexMoore, Thomas
16.30 Lessons for LivingPillemer, Karl
17.Eulogy on Independence DaySmith, Arthur
18.Daredevil: Visionaries Vol 1Smith, Kevin
19.Of Mice and MenSteinbeck, John
20.The Simple Feelings of BeingWilber, Ken
21.Shadow of the WindZafon, Carlos Ruiz

2012 Reading List