An American Tragedy

This book, while long, is excellent. I can't believe that I have never read it, let alone heard of it, because the third part centers around a trial. Going through law school, I thought I had at least heard of all the classics that center around court cases. Anyway... I am enjoying it. Almost done.

However, I just drew Remembrance of Things Past (or also called In Search of Lost Time) by Marcel Proust. It is between 3000 and 4000 pages depending on who you ask. I may quit. It is in seven volumes, so I may have to read it in stages. I think I am going to skip it until I am done with WWII (in six volumes).

To Kill a Mockingbird

I cheated and read To Kill a Mockingbird out of order because we are going to see the play in a couple weeks. I have read it maybe 5 times, and every time I read it, it gets better. I obviously haven't finished the list, but it is probably going to end up being my number 1 book.

Next I am reading An American Tragedy. I haven't ever heard of it, but it is long. I hope it is good because I am not really excited about a long book right now.

47. I really want to hit 50 by Christmas. After An American Tragedy, I have Pride and Prejudice and I should read Volume III of World War II.

Anna Karenina and Heart of Darkness

I finally finished Anna Karenina. It was really good, and although it was really long, I became so attached to the characters that I am sad it is over.

I also finished Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. It is a beautifully written, although very disturbing book. The main character describes his horrifying experience as a steamboat operator transporting ivory in Africa. It delves into the darkness of the wilderness in Africa and the inhuman treatment of the natives by those who were sent to colonize them. Very disturbing, but very good.

I have now finished 46 books.

Kindle

I have finished the second volume of WWII, and I am almost done with Anna Karenina. The weight of the book has convinced me to purchase a Kindle.

Finished 44 books...

I have finished "Slaughterhouse Five," "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" and "Invisible Man." Slaughterhouse Five was not at all what I expected and it was fantastic. One of my favorites so far. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was average. Or perhaps below average. It follows four different characters who are tied together by their friendship with a mute. Who doesn't really appear to care much about them anyway in the end. It was similar in style to a Light in August... which was just so much better. Invisible Man was incredible. It might be in my list of top 4 or 5 so far. Which makes sense because it is ranked 6th. It is hard to describe and at first I wasn't sure if I liked it. But in the end I thought it was incredible.

I am halfway through World War II Volume II... at the Battle of Britain. It is moving slower than the first Volume. I plan to finish that and then I am on to Anna Karenina.

The Day of the Locust

I finished "The Day of the Locust" by Nathanael West. It is an odd story about the "glamor" of Hollywood during the Great Depression as seen from desperate characters on the fringe of the movie industry. I didn't really care for it, but it was well written and the characters, as unlikeable as they were, were definitely vivid. Not a favorite.

I am currently reading "Slaughterhouse-Five" which is another book set during World War II. From what I gather from the story, it is about a Chaplain's Assistant in the American army who is a self-professed time traveler and who is captured by the Germans and survives the bombing of Dresden. So far I really like it.

World War II Volume II is coming along... Still really enjoying it, but since Volume II is the beginning of the war and the fall of France, it is a little more militarily detailed, so a little harder to read.

Catch-22 and Hamlet

Catch-22 was good. Kind of depressing, but really interesting.

I think I have read Hamlet before, but I didn't remember all of it, so I am glad I read it again.