I have 3 shelves worth of books that I have bought and paid for, but haven't read. This goal recognizes how ridiculous that is. Here's my progress:
1. "The Old Man and the Sea," by Ernest Hemingway
Notes: Hemingway writes the books that I wish I had written. There is not a single extra word used in the entire book, and he is probably the best I have ever read at saying as much as possible with as little as possible. Great book dealing with Man's resistance and acceptance of hardship.
Favorite Quotes/Lines:
"Let him think I am more man than I am, and I will be so."
"...And pain does not matter to a man."
"I must hold his pain where it is, he thought. Mine does not matter. I can control mine. But his could drive him mad."
2. "In a Sunburned Country," by Bill Bryson
Notes: Witty and charming humor, like all of Bryson's books. A bit more fact-heavy than some of his stories that I liked better, which is why it sat unfinished on my shelf for so long.
3. "Cities of the Plain," by Cormac McCarthy
Notes: 3rd part of McCarthy's "The Border Trilogy," and it was the best of the 3. Understated writing, with brutality, violence and dark humor. GREAT book.
Favorite Lines/Quotes:
"What is wrong with this story is that it is not a true story. Men have in their minds a picture of how the world will be. How they will be in that world. The world may be many different things for them but there is one world that will never be and that is the world they dream of. Do you believe that?"
"You didn't answer [my question.]"
"No?"
"No."
"Ask it again."
"Let me ask you this instead."
"All right."
"He's in trouble, aint he?"
Eduardo smiled. He blew cigar smoke across the glass top of his desk. "That is not a question," he said.
4. "This Bloody Mary is the Last Thing I Own," by Jonathon Rendell
Notes: A journey to the end of boxing. Jonathon was a sports writer, enamored of boxing, and ends up managing the career of an aspiring contender. As they climb the ranks, Jonathon ends up encountering all the seedier sides of boxing's underbelly. Good story, but a bit depressing as the author finds the "bad" of boxing to eventually overwhelm any "good" in the sport.
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1 comment:
I am a hemingway fan, no doubt. I do like Old man and the sea but I really think that most exciting read he put together was Dangerous summer. Less well read than others but its awesome. It Hemingway later in life and you can really get a feel not only for the bullfighting he was obsessed with but for his character later on. It was published post humously.
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