Uncharted Waters

“You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.”- Aristotle

As time drags on we often find ourselves wrapped up so tightly in our own endeavors that we forget there are people in this world eager to know what we are up to. I for one am guilty of this more often than not. That being said, you must have realized by now I’m referring to how long it has taken me to post my book list. Without further ado I will bestow what you’ve wondering about for weeks.

1.    Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy- Douglas Adams

2.   A Passage to India- Richard Lacayo

3.   The Garden of Last Days- Andre Debus III

4.   To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee

5.-18.Wheels of Time Series- Robert Jordan

1. The Eye of the World

2. The Great Hunt

3. The Dragon Reborn

4. The Shadow Rising

5. The Fires of Heaven

6. Lord of Chaos

7. A Crown of Swords

8. The Path of Daggers

9. Winter’s Heart

10. Crossroads of Twilight

11. Knife of Dreams

12. The Gathering Storm

13. The Towers of Midnight

0.  New Spring (A prequel to the series)

   19. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory- Roald Dahl

   20. A Wrinkle in Time- Madeline L’Engle

   21. Crime and Punishment-Fyodor Dostoevsky

   22. Great Expectations- Charles Dickens

   23. The Stranger- Albert Camus

   24. Anna Karenina- Leo Tolstoy

   25. Resurrection- Leo Tolstoy

   26. As I Lay Dying- William Faulkner

   27. Jane Eyre- Charlotte Bronte

   28. Passion- Lauren Kate (3^rd book in Fallen Series)

   29.-38 The Sookie Stackhouse Series- Charlaine Harris

1. Dead until Dark

2. Living Dead in Dallas

3. Club Dead

4. Dead to the World

5. Dead as a Doornail

6. Definitely Dead

7. All Together Dead.

8. From Dead to Worse

9. Dead and Gone

10. Dead in the Family

   39. Adventures of Alice in Wonderland-  Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson)

  40. The Darkslayer- Craig Halloran

  41.-42. The Mortal Instrument Series- Cassandra Clare

                 1. ***City of Bones- Previously Read

                 2. ***City of Ashes- Previously Read

                 3. City of Glass

                 4. City of Fallen Angels

   43.- 44. The Infernal Devices Series- Cassandra Clare (Prequel Series to Mortal Instruments)

                 1. The Clockwork Angel

                 2. The Clockwork Prince

    45.-49 The Fever Series- Karen Marie Moning

                 1. Darkfever

                 2. Bloodfever

                 3. Faefever

                 4. Dreamfever

                 5. Shadowfever

   50. The Scarlet Letter- Nathaniel Hawthorn

   51. Tales of the Beatle and the Bard- J. K. Rowling

   52.-56. The Percy Jackson Series- Rick Riordan

                 1. The Lightning Thief

                 2. The Sea of Monsters

                 3. The Titans Curse

                 4. The Battle of the Labyrinth

                 5. The Last Olympian  

   57. What Dreams May Come- Richard Matheson

   58. The Silmarillion- J. R. R. Tolkien

   59.  A Lesson Before Dying- Ernest J. Gaines

   60.  East of Eden- John Steinbeck

   61. The Witch of Portobello- Paulo Coelho

   62. Black Order- James Rollins

   63. The Other Boleyn Girl- Phillipa Gregory

   64. Dead Souls- Nikolai Gogol

   65. A Clockwork Orange- Anthony Burgess

   66.  

   67.

   68.

   69.

   70.

   71.

   72.

   73

   74.

   75.

         These works were not chosen at random. Great effort was administered to select every single one of them, and they each have a purpose. They will be read in random order, as I feel inclined. There are many great works missing from this list, it is likely I have read them before thus the reason they are missing. You will have noticed 66-75 are blank. Part of my adoration for reading includes frequent visits to the bookstore. The crisp smell of new paper and coffee beans wafting over from the café captivate my soul. I have a profound need to be there, and generally I prefer to go without a defined purpose. For this reason, I have allowed myself 10 bookstore choices reserved for days I simply must visit there. It may be edifying to know how I choose books from a store, and it strikes me as an experience which I want to share. I might be persuaded to read a book suggested by anyone who comments in place of one of my book store purchases. Yet, I make no promises. Embarking on this voyage is for in all intents and purposes egocentric.  

Thanks to those of you dear friends out there already supporting me, without the framework of friendship we share my life would surely be void.

Always,

A

To learn more of Aristotle visit:

http://www.iep.utm.edu/aristotl/

Literary Conquest

“Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for.” – Socrates

I do not claim to be an expert in literary matters; however I am an avid reader who finds solitude in the experience of reading. The last 7 years of my life have been devoted to my education which often overshadowed my passion for devouring a good novel in one sitting.  I am embarking on a new era of life as the year 2010 comes to a close, one which I intend to fill with more emphasis on personal satisfaction. January 24^th 2011 is my official last day of class as a college student. As graduation approaches I’ve had many people ask, what I will do with my life. What is my next step? Those of you who know me personally will understand best that I have intertwined my education to fit caring for my family. Because of this, my life is settled in career and comfort unlike a typical college graduate. For this reason, I have decided to take one year of my life and focus as much energy possible on personal gain. I’ve always wanted to spend a year engaging in my most treasured pastime.

I’ve decided read 75 books in one year, and I plan to document each experience. I wavered back and forth on the number before I decided 75 was most reasonable for my lifestyle. It’s not intended to be an impressive feat, or to attract attention for the likelihood of failure. Please know this upfront before you choose to follow this voyage, I am not reviewing these books so you can decide if you yourself want to read them. Of course, a review of my opinion will be completely necessary. Understand though, this is more a documentation of the experience of reading which I am very passionate about. Reading for me is not simple entertainment, it is feelings, emotions, and often lessons learned through the process of experiencing a story.  

Lastly, in the next few weeks I will determine the selection process for the 75 books. Though I have some in mind already, in fact I could name 75 easily, I want to let the year determine at least some of my selections.  Regardless, this is the first step for me to follow through with my desire to spend the year doing exactly what I love to do most. That said I look forward to January 25, when I intend to begin documenting my first book as a college graduate. To 2011, the year of ME.

Always,

A

To learn more of Socrates visit:

http://www.2020site.org/socrates/socrates-teachings.html