General Complaint

There is the saying, "So many books, so little time". Well, as any reader knows, it's true. I am trying to prioritize my reading list, which grows every day. There are books which I read of political or educational necessity, books which I read because I missed them the first time around (having not been born in time to catch the first release of most 18th century literature), and books which Look Darned Nifty.

They pile up. I have a grand plan involving shelving everything in such a way as to have what needs reading isolated from what's been read. Or something. I have one involving a calendar and an actual plan- X in January, Y in February. Yah, sure. I have also agreed to co-chair a reading group for romance novels. (I know. I know- really, I do. We'll see what happens.)

This past year I read more non-work/politics-related stuff than I had in about a decade. I also read more politics stuff than the year before. I also decided that if I do not like a book, or if I do not properly hate a book (also valuable), then I do not have to continue.

For example- I hated the Christmas Box. A lot. But I lost my place and didn't want to re-infect my brain by accidentally re-reading any of it, so I let it slide. (It was horrible in every way I expected; bad plot, poor writing, and overwrought tugs at the heartstrings. Plus it brought back memories of Salt Lake in wintertime, which is a definite strike against it as far as I am concerned.)

I also did not totally read Blackwater- though it was informative in many parts. It just was not really anything new, since I'd been paying attention to the situation beforehand. I might still pick it up, but maybe not.

In any event, I look forward to finding some good books in the new year, and to finishing the good ones or really really bad ones I already have laying around.

I am hoping to discover a new hated author in the same way I look forward to discovering a new favourite. If I could find the opposite equivalent of Max Brooks next year, I will be happy to spend time underlining the especially egregious parts. I have not had a good underlining since Stan Rice died. Well, Harris came close.

The thing is, in order to really find such things, I have to go into it cold, or expecting the best. I need to keep an open mind in order to be either pleased or dismayed. I went into The Christmas Box expecting to hate it, and I did, but not gleefully.

Anyhoo. I am working on a plan. Or two. To organize my reading. Or I might just continue at it willy-nilly.