AntonyTS's List of Books (That have been put-off for too long)

I'm Antony, a student of Bennington College, and my friend and I are supporting one another in reading (at least) 75 books this year. I am not sure what my final list will be, but I hope to update it as I go. My true goal is to make up for last year, when I only read about thirty books. My list this year will include literature for classes, things I have always wanted to read, and things I may find along the way.

1) The Hobbit by Tolkien

I picked up The Hobbit at the beginning of the month as as post-holiday, easy (but enjoyable) read. Although I had already read the Hobbit, I love revisiting it to explore Middle-Earth, and to remember that I still have not completed the trilogy. It also served as a nice reminder of the story before watching the newest film.

2) A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Eggers

Before I left college last term, I visited the library to borrow a handful of books to read over break. While I was glancing over the shelves, this memoir peeked out from among the others, calling to me to add it to my list. A.H.W.S.G. was a book that I has originally picked up sometime in high school, but had never gotten around to finishing. Thus, I took it off the shelf, and finally finished a goal that had been years in the making.

Overall, I was not thoroughly impressed. The memoir recounts Eggers' years after the losing both of his parents to stomach cancer. After their death, Eggers was left as his younger brother's guardian. In the span of the book, the brothers move to California and live life as young bachelors-- one being in his early-twenties, the other being only eleven. The story is complemented well by Eggers' ability to convey in written words his disjointed, sporadic thought processes, but leaves the reader wishing for something more in the prose.

3) The Alchemist by Coelho

Prior to reading the Alchemist, I had heard of neither it nor Paulo Coelho. A friend read it, and suggested that it was something I should read because it inspired them to seek their own "Personal Legend". Without truly knowing what this meant, I began the book.

Incidentally, the Alchemist is the story of a shepherd seeking his "Personal Legend"- a journey that every person is destined to make, but one that many fail to do. In the beginning of the book, the shepherd is is told by a dream that it is his destiny to journey from the lands of Andulasia, cross the Great Sahara, and see the Pyramids of Giza. It is under the pyramids, the boy is told, that a treasure awaits him.

The Alchemist was a delightful and quick read. Although one may be dismayed early on by the simplicity of the prose, one will find that it is perfect for Coelho's message. The Alchemist only takes a few hours to read, but leaves the reader full of inspiration to complete their "Personal Journey"

I am currently working through Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by Berendt, The Book of the Dun Cow by Wangerin Jr., and Rising Up and Rising Down by Vollmann. I hope to finish the first two before the end of January, but I foresee the last being more of a long-term commitment.

The next on my list are Worse Than War by Goldhagen and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Hurston.

Tony! A well-written beginning to LibraryThing. Onward, ever onward, to 75 we go!

Welcome! You've got a great start and some good ones lined up! Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is such a good book. :)

Wow, great start to the challenge - welcome to the group!

4) The Book of the Dun Cow by Wangerin Jr.

The Book of the Dun Cow begins as as seemingly innocent novel about a land of anthropomorphic animals living togeth in harmony under the rule of Lord Rooster Chauntecleer. However, as one progresses through the novel, learning of the turmoil in Chauntecleer's land, the begins to take a very mature, thought provoking turn.

For future reference, I would probably read the first part of the book to children; it's innocent, funny, and enjoyable. However, I would leave the rest of the book to myself (at least until they were older). That being said, it is something that I could easily read again and again.

Thank you all for your warm welcomes into the group.

Drneutron-- I have read about the first half of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and I love it! I am half surprised that I didn't stay up all night finishing it the day I started it!

5) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by Berendt

I almost have no words to convey how much I appreciated this book. It is a truly wonderful experience when one can open up a piece of nonfiction, and approach it as a fully realized story. What I mean to say is that, although Berendt's novel is the account of his time in Savannah, Georgia during the time of a controversial murder trial, his ability to string together vignettes of people's lives gives the book a fantastical heir. From start to finish, Berendt has you entrenched in the world old, Southern money, voodoo magic, and corruption-- and he makes it a place you don't quite want to leave.

I am a bit disappointed in myself for only making it to five in January, but I still have eleven months ahead of me. I am currently reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Hurston, and I already love it.

Happy February!

>6 AntonyTS:: I've had that one on my TBR pile for a very long time. I really need to get round to it soon. Glad to see that you enjoyed it!

6) Their Eyes Were Watching God by Hurston

Never before have I been moved by twenty pages of a book. Although one may read the beginning of the work and have complete ambivalence towards Janie Crawford's life (as Janie certainly did), Hurston manages to capture in the reader as soon as Janie finds hope again-- after meeting Mr. "Tea Cake".

I am currently reading The Invisible Man by Wells, Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Howard, Madeleine is Sleeping by Bynum, and Worse than War by Goldhagen.

You will have to take one of those tours of Savannah (such as Grey Line) sometime. If you have a good driver, s/he will point out all the places in the book (Midnight in the Garden of a Good and Evil). If your driver isn't doing that, hop off and get a different driver since it is one of those types of tours.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have always wanted to visit Savannah, but I never thought to take a tour. I will definitely keep that in mind!

7) Madeleine is Sleeping by Bynum

I am late to posting this, as I finished the book about a week ago, but better late than never?

Madeleine is Sleeping is one of the most beautiful collections of prose that I have ever read. Bynum puts the reader in a world teetering on reality and fantasy, and escorts them there by through the use of wonderful descriptions.

On top of my other list of 'currently reading', I have added John Dies at the End by Wong

How is John Dies at the End so far? Is it meeting expectations? Also The Shipping News is still dominating. By the way, I was reminded today that you should read The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips. Have you read it already? If not, then you should definitely put it on your list!

John Dies at the End is... Interesting, to say the least. It is very bizarre and the writing is not phenomenal, but it is not bad. I definitely enjoy the idea of the plot. I have yet to finish it, but I am nearly there.

I am glad that The Shipping News picked up, but I am surprised you haven't finished it yet. I never read the Egyptologist... But you have been telling me that I ought to for years. I will make it part of the 75!

Also, as school has started picking up, I have also started reading A Problem from Hell by Power, which is a collection of thoughts on the US response to genocide and mass violence. It is very factual, but is also written very well and therefore reads like a story.

8) John Dies at the End by Wong

This was an interesting novel. It is certainly not something I would have picked up on my own accord, but it is not something I regretted reading.

I am only on number eight? How is this possible?? Now that I am back at school, I have been only been reading, but I suppose essays and short-stories do not novels make...

Look at you moving along! Don't let the school work get you down! Besides 8 is still a very respectable start, particularly when I consider that reading 10 or so books outside of class per semester used to be a big deal.

Oh my, I have not updated my list in quite awhile...

9) The Dead Father by Barthelme

Post-modernism at its finest. Barthelme's book should be approached with an open mind, and an appreciation for linguistics.

10) Sixty Stories by Barthelme

I will admit that I prefer Barthelme's writing still when it is encased in a series of smaller stories as opposed to one novel.

11) This is Not a Novel by Markson

Is it a novel? I suppose this is for "reader" to decide.

12) Varieties of Disturbance by Davis

A very intriguing collection of short stories. I was never displeased with a story, although some were far better than others. Overall, I appreciated it most for Davis' ability to intermingle independent anecdotes with overarching themes of loss, attachment, etc.

13) The Specter of Genocide by Gellately and Kiernan

At this rate, I am at an average of a little over four books a month, which is not bad, but not enough to get me to seventy five. I assure you, however, that if I could claim all of the essays/supplementary readings that I am doing for class as novels, I would be on the right track.

In the small amounts of downtime that I have, I have been making my way through Gone With the Wind, which has not been something I have been regretting.

14, 15, 16) The New York Trilogy (City of Glass, Ghosts, and The Locked Room) by Auster

The New York Trilogy was easily the best trilogy of postmodernist/ existentialist detective novels that I have ever read... Even if they are the only postmodernist/ existentialist detective novels that I have ever read.

I walked away from City of Glass feeling as though I had discovered a new favorite author. Auster reinvents the classic detective novel, making the crime nonexistent, and turning the chase into a search for identity. The heightening sense of paranoia and the metafictive qualities of the book always kept me turning the pages until the end.

Ghosts left a bad taste in my mouth, mostly due to the fact that it succeeded City of Glass. Ghosts had the same sense of paranoia and the search for identity, but lacked certain aspects of character development and plot intrigue. I felt as though Auster was employing the same techniques used in City of Glass, but in a poorer fashion.

Finally, The Locked Room seemed to be Auster's most 'conventional' novel of the three, but I am not sure whether this was for the better of for the worst. There search for identity was muddled in the plot, and there was a less metafictive quality to it, but still a novel that mirrored Auster's style.

Overall, I felt that City of Glass was Auster's crowning glory, so to speak, and because it was the first of three, it left the latter two feeling rather flat.

17) Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland by Jan T. Gross

A superficial account of how "neighbors" play a role in genocide, relying specifically on an incidence in which 'normal' citizens of a town take it upon themselves to eradicate the Jewish minority. I use the term superficial because it was (relatively) brief novel, and was written with the intent of exposing the role Poles played the Holocaust. Thus, it does not fully encompass the complete role of Soviet/ German influence, nor does it extrapolate upon theories as to why violence occurs in these communities.

18) A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

I would be lying if I said that I have not become obsessed. I stumbled across this novel uncompleted where I left it. For some reason, I gave its television counterpart a chance, loved it, and realized that I had to finish the books. In truth, the television series holds true to the book, but the books hold more character development and subtler plot intrigue (as one would expect).

Oh no! You're reading Game of Thrones!? Bummer. I guess that means I should finish that book, huh? Anyway, that New York trilogy sounds really good! Was that one of the ones for class or something you just stumbled onto? Regardless, I'm jealous. It seems like you're reading a lot of interesting stuff this semester and I just keep getting caught in the Roman loop on accident...

19) Distant Star by Bolaño

Over the weekend, I was craving a break from reading-- by reading. Thus, I picked up Bolaño's novel and read it in nearly one sitting.

Distant Star in essence, is about a revolutionary poet during Pinochet's regime in Chile. However, it is difficult to summarize the book based on the plot because, in actuality, it is a dreamy and satirically macabre collection of character vignettes weaved together to tell of the effects the poet had on the country and the world.

20) In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien

In the Lake of the Woods is centered around two different events: the disappearance of a politician's wife, and the politician's involvement in the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War. The story is mostly told through a series of flashbacks and 'witness testimonies.' In the end, the reader knows that the politician's career was ruined by the publicity of his role in the massacre, but the reader is left to interpret what became of his wife.

I found myself feeling a little tired of the book, but still a good novel.

I did get back into Game of Thrones... I would suggest *not* picking up on the series until after finals. I guarantee you will want to have a marathon and then read the books as soon as possible.

Also, you should read the New York Trilogy. It's good, and each book is relatively short. It is one of the ones that I had to read for class. Overall, I am pretty content with all that I have been reading, but there is nothing wrong with getting caught up on Rome!

21) Jazz by Morrison

Overall, this was a wonderful. Morrison's non-conventional approach to the narrative occasionally left me confused, but, in the end, I fully appreciated her technique.

22) The Mezzanine by Baker

In contrast to Jazz, this was potentially one of the worst books that I have ever read. I appreciated Baker's ideas, but his writing style was poor, and his attempts to capture stream of consciousness were much too forced.

This list is not complete, but I currently cannot remember all that I have read....

In one of the short stories in Proulx's Bad Dirt it was mentioned that two of the characters met at Bennington College... I miss you!!!

23) Brief Interviews With Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace

Wonderful. Absolutely brilliant.

24) Clash of Kings by Martin

Great choice for a Summer series.

25, 26, 27) Storm of Swords, Feast for Crows, and Dance with Dragons by Martin

I suppose I will have to take a hiatus until Winds of Winter, whenever that may be...

28) Fight Club by Palahniuk

Not a particularly memorable book, but certainly quick to finish.

29) The Goldfinch by Tartt

As a noteworthy alum from my school, I felt compelled to read her book. It was absolutely wonderful, and not a choice I regret. I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of the Secret History.

30) Slaughterhouse-Five by Vonegut

31) L'Amant by Duras

32) Nazi Literature in the Americas by Bolaño

33) Meditations on First Philosophy by Descartes

Descartes? You are such a good person! I haven't even tried to read Descartes. Incidently, I approve of the Vonegut very very much. Annnnnnd, I'm behind in my reading...

You are behind on your reading? I will be lucky if I make it to sixty, let alone seventy-five...
Also, yes, I read Descartes, but it was for a class, so I didn't really take the initiative...

34) Year of Magical Thinking by Didion

35) Three Dialogues by Berkley

36) Une Femme by Ernaux

37) They Came Like Swallows by Maxwell

Meh, it ain't the numbers - it's how much you enjoyed the journey... :)

It's true! Just look at all of the awesome books that you are reading! I think that's what I like about this. It's not so much the numbers, but the ability to look back at all of the cool stuff you forced yourself to read! ... At least that's how I'm feeling about it at the moment...

Also, Year of Magical Thinking? Was it good? I feel like that's been on my list for a while now...

That is very true, I just wish there was time to read all that I would like. Ah well, another year will be upon us soon, and a new list of books to accompany it.

Year of Magical Thinking was disappointing in comparison to her other work. The content was very emotionally charged (for obvious reasons), but her writing was lacking something that her former works have. I cannot say exactly what the difference was, but it was noticeable. I would suggest her collection of essays, Slouching Towards Bethlehem. You won't regret it.

38) Time Will Darken It by Maxwell

It would be unfair for me to say anything other than 'beautiful.'

39) So Long, See You Tomorrow by Maxwell
40) Aspects of the Novel by Forster