Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Becoming a Reader

I couldn't fall asleep the other night because I was stressing myself out over the fact that I really haven't read many of the "classic novels".  I have never considered myself a reader.  In elementary school I skimmed every book assigned.  I rarely found books that I enjoyed.  I would come across a series every now and then that I couldn't get my nose out of, but that was never a common occurrence.

Now I can't stop beating myself up over the fact that my booklist is seriously lacking.  At this point the only real classics I've read are The Great Gatsby, which I loved (which proves the fact that I can enjoy books), Wuthering Heights, which was dull but interesting, and...nothing else comes to mind.  I mean I've read a good deal of interesting novels and even economic books (Friedman, Hayek, Galbraith), but I have yet to experience the classics. 

So...I'm going to start reading as many as I can.  I've begun with Jane Eyre, which is keeping my attention thus far.  I'm a little worried, however, for A Tale of Two Cities, which is next, and The Scarlet Letter (which I stopped after reading the first quarter). I will push through these because I need to in order to become a truly well educated person.  I'm sure, though, that along the way I will encounter novels that are a great struggle to complete but also those that I can't put down.  I'm looking forward to this new adventure and I hope that it opens up a new world of interest for me.

Here is the beginning of my list:
  • A Tale of Two Cities
  • The Scarlet Letter
  • Of Mice and Men
  • Grapes of Wrath
  • Pride and Prejudice
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

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