Sunday, May 03, 2009

Dangerous reading - the attack of the more obscure classics

Since actually stepping out of the house for any extended periods of time might just be too overwhelming for my what in a week seems to have become a shut-in's psyche (Maybe I've spent too much time in the bathrobe and it has put in roots?), I've decided to create a deadline that will get me to doing something, instead of just compulsively refreshing several different sites. Hurrah for stuff to do, even if it is within the confines of this house.

Because I'm all about books now (uhm, one post?), and lists, I've decided to do this 'my year of reading dangerously' challenge. I realize that it is already May, and the year is almost halfway through, but what the heck, I'll get to reading some stuff I've been putting off - my ominous dust gathers that is.

Here they are:
  • The book of Daniel by E.L. Doctorow
  • Concerning Violence by Frantz Fanon
  • The Labyrinth of Solitude by Octavio Paz
  • Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco
  • Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
  • Den Afrikanske farm by Karen Blixen
  • A Portrait of The Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
  • Absalom, Absalom by William Faulkner
  • The Courilof Affair by Irene Nemirovsky
  • Traveller to the East by Thomas Mofolo
  • The Good Terrorist by Doris Lessing
  • The Plumed Serpent by D.H. Lawrence
  • The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
I really was going to get to them soon enough. Yup.

What do you mean vitamin-D?

11 comments:

iasa said...

Stick your feet out the window whilst you read. You'll be fine.

Good luck with that list

Optimistic Pessimist said...

You should start a reading blog club. You could do two of your favorite things - blogging and reading! Although I've been trying to read the catcher and the rye for a few weeks now and can't seem to fit it in, being busy blogging and all. Maybe I could read it at work!

My name is Erin. said...

I love The Fountainhead. I don't know anything about the other books, but soon will. Maybe. I remember when I used to read... aaahhhh. Those were good times.

Kristin said...

Sticking your feet out the window while you read is a brilliant idea! I think Iasa is on to something there. Besides They say that one only needs 10 minutes of sunshine a day to get enough Vitamin D. Your feet won't even have lost circulation by the time the 10 minutes is up.

Cyndy said...

I've read Joyce and Lawrence. Sometimes "a short story long" (a lot like my comments) but definitely worthy of reading at least once. The wine should help. Faulkner, nice, though not familiar with this story. As to Blixen's Den Afrikanske Farm, very hard for me to get through and I was so looking forward to reading it! Absolutely loved the movie "Out of Africa," probably the only movie I can say (IMHO) that was better than the book. I did pick up another book by Blixen at used book sale last year that was great. It is now in storage, but I will find it to send you the title.

julochka said...

since you're living like a hermit, you must add dostoevsky's notes from underground to your list.

and for the love of odin, read atlas shrugged instead of the fountainhead(can you tell i learned how to do the html to use italics in a comment?)

i need to get on my list as well. i think it's that i know it will mean i have to finally read tristam shandy that keeps me from it.

Extranjera said...

Iasa and Kristin - Thanks for the tip. I think i will end up having to venture out into the back yard (still haven't watered the tree) and read in one of the patio loungers, but good to know that 10 minutes is all I need. You know, since vitamins and health (obviously) is what I'm all about ;o)

Marathoner - now, now. Don't get sucked into that vortex again. You've had such a good and wine filled weekend... ;o) Plus, you have all of that blogging to do at work...

Erin - Am looking forward to The Fountainhead. Was vacillating between Atlas Shrugged and it, because they were both gathering dust on my book shelf, but went for this one on a total whim.

Cyndy - I love Light in August and sort of like The Sound and the Fury, so the one left still gathering dust was Absalom, Absalom. Being wannabe Danish makes me think I should have read Den Afrikanske Farm a long time ago, but I think the fact that it is my mother's favorite book (and I never really thought of her as cool) has kept me from it. Will appreciate the the name of the other book though.

julochka - have read Notes from the Underground (no can't figure out italics, good on you!). No Dostoyevskis gathering dust on my shelves (have been going through my 'remainder russians' Tolstoy and Pasternak in the past year)
I will eventually also get to Atlas Shrugged, since it too gathers dust in the study...
Good luck with Tristam Shandy!

Unknown said...

Well, I started the challenge back in January, but as you know you only need to read ONE book to catch up with me, sad, eh?
Everyone seems to love White Teeth so I'm really looking forward to it now. By the way, I have read On beauty and loved it! I don't know why I've been resisting White Teeth..
Vitamin D? Venture out just once, get pills, sorted! Surely coffee has vitamin D? or wine? They should.

Extranjera said...

B - Well, you're reading dangerously in that you're putting yourself against the wall and then come December you'll be shaking in your boots seeing whether you can make it (no doubt my fate as well) ;o)
Actually, I have to say that On Beauty is better than White Teeth - it's just a little more polished, and doesn't scream first novel (albeit a brilliant one at that) like White Teeth did at some points. Still, both of them are pretty awesome. Get reading!

Molly said...

Jeez, hope you've stocked up on the wine!!!
That's a heavy list you've got there.
I agree with J re Atlas Shrugged ~ much better, but also longer I think, and I would personally skip Doris Lessing. But oh boy you're in for some treats!
I'm excited for you!

Extranjera said...

Molly - I'm kinda excited too. These are all books I picked off from the shelves last night. Some of them I've owned for years. Now I'm finally getting to them.
And yes, plenty of wine in the cupboard(s).