Reading List

 I never got a summer reading list whilst I was in school.  I never needed one.  I was the type to be told to go play outside instead of reading my books.  I would then go outside, move the lawn chairs around a bit, then sit and read in the middle of the yard. 

Because I've never truly had a reading list, I've made up my own.  Some books on there are classics, some are just fun, and all of them hold and interest for me for whatever reason.  The titles are from all over the world.  The United States is most prevalent, but I've got a title from India, some from France, and some from Russia.  England is the next most prevalent behind the United States.   And as I type I can think of at least three more titles I should add to the list:
Don Quixote by Cervantes
Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
Nervous Conditions by Tsi Tsi Dangarembga

The problem, if you can call it that, is that I just added 18 more titles to my reading list.  At this rate I'll never get through it.  That's the glory of a list though: You can add or subtract titles (which I've never done) at your whim.  It shows a number of titles you've read throughout the years.  This list is not comprehensive by any means.  Usually I'll read a book from the list and then that turns into many offshoots from that one book.  Once I get done with the offshoots (or tired of them, as the case may be), I go back to the list and try another book.

Currently I'm attempting to get through some Russian literature by reading "The Karamazov Brothers" by Fyoder Doestevsky.  Now that I'm finally into it a ways, it's easier reading.  At first I was just trying to get all the characters figured out.  The only book I've not been able to figure out so far is "The Silmarillion" by Tolkien.  That is one book that requires a flow chart and frequent stops to consult it. After the Russian Lit I may try some English Lit again, or maybe I'll pick up one of the books I listed above.  Who knows?  That's also the wonderful thing about a list: If you have it written down you can consult the list instead of asking yourself, "What was that book again?"

All hail the book lists!