Usually I make a list of 3 things I would do in a year. This year (in April), I made only one resolution. Read more books.
I decided to read 18 books, and even wrote down the books I am going to read. Two things happened,
a. Some of the books I listed were very boring, and I dropped them from my list after reading couple of pages.
b.Once I shared my reading list with friends, I got a lot of suggestions on other books I should read.
So here I am in Nov 2011.
1. World on Fire – Amy Chua, loved the first two sections, didn’t enjoy
2. Saving Fish from Drowning – Amy Tan, loved the tone, and finished 2/3rds, and would go back to finish it.
3. Busy Monsters – William Giraldi, the highlight of the year, couldn’t put it down, and read parts of aloud for friends
4. Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot, loved the book, and it changed how I look at research ethics
5. The Man who loved China – Simon Winchester, fun book, the ending drags, but never boring.
6. Me – Ricky Martin, I picked it up because it was free, had more depth than I expected, but a little pollyanna for me
7. The Professor and the Mad Man – Simon Winchester, nice book, but the second Winchester book I had to put down after the Map that changed the World. Might sound weird, but it’s too British
8. The Man Who Invented History – Justin Marozzi, good travel writing, I’m now inspired to read Herodotus’ complete works
9. 1Q84 – Haruki Murakami, weird and intriguing, still reading it
10. What I’d Say to the Martians – Jack Handey, I’m spoiled by David Sedaris, somehow couldn’t connect
11. The Enchantress of Florence – Salman Rushdie, hated at the beginning, but loved it otherwise
12. Beatrice and Virgil – Yann Martel, gave up after 1/3rd, still not sure what it’s about
13. Monsoon – Robert Kaplan, the worst book I read in last 10-15 years, he is arrogant and an idiot in world politics, I’m surprised the book is published at all.
I still have four months to catch up on other books.
Books I’m still reading:
1. On Identity – Aamin Malouf
2. Zanzibar Chest –supposed to be inspiring, but I found the narrative too esoteric
3.
