One of the advantages to owning your own home is finally having enough space to spread out your accumulated junk. Whether it’s five bicycles, three (or four?) computers, two rocking chairs, or boxes and boxes of books, we (I) accumulate too much stuff.
In this new home, I now have more than enough space for those boxes of books. With the recent purchase of another bookshelf, the empty shelves are taunting me with their space and I need your to help fill it. To get started, I created a quick list of some of the books I’ve already read, and then a second list of those on the wishlist.
Already read: http://tinyurl.com/y7dmanj
Amazon wishlist: http://tinyurl.com/y4z5tv7
Should I buy any already on the list? What’s missing from this list? On first glance, I think there’s definitely a lack of fiction on the ‘already read’ list. To remedy this, I’m thinking of something with a tragic ending (think the ending on Revolutionary Road), or maybe some Hemingway?
1) Why am I not on your blogroll. I find that offensive.
2) Drink, Play, Fuck is great. So is They Always Serve Beer in Hell.
By: Maxie on April 19, 2010
at 3:46 am
I need to do a link update one of these days. Although, I don’t see my site on your blog either…
By: coffeeonwheels on April 20, 2010
at 4:04 pm
soulreaching.wordpress.com
love you
By: Lauren on April 19, 2010
at 10:07 am
Woohoo, Glad you found this LEL!
By: coffeeonwheels on April 20, 2010
at 4:04 pm
Lost City of Z was great, so was Professor & the Madman. Why so little fiction, though? Do you like mysteries, sci-fi?
Mystery – The Girl w/ the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Sci-Fi – The Man in the High Castle by Phillip Dick
True Crime – Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets by David Simon
By: Malnurtured Snay on April 20, 2010
at 7:04 am
Thanks for the suggestions! I forgot to mention my “already read” list is not comprehensive. I do have a some other reads on the shelf, including a by few Phillip Dick. I’ll check those other two out this evening.
By: coffeeonwheels on April 20, 2010
at 4:02 pm
I, too, was going to recommend “Lost City of Z.” Maybe one of the best books I read last year.
Have you read “Loneome Dove”? I thought I hated Westerns until I got this for a book club. Very exciting and a quick read.
My other favorite books of all time are less adventurous than I think you like, but they include: A Confederacy of Dunces, The World According to Garp, Love in the Time of Cholera, The Mysteries of Pittsburg and most of Cormac McCarthy.
I’m not finished…
By: Anna on April 24, 2010
at 8:24 am
I’ve been holding out for ‘Lost City…’ to drop in price on Amazon’s used list (I almost never buy new). It’s definitely #1 on the list right now.
I’m not sure about ‘Lonesome Dove’. This almost reminds me of a sappy Western romance, with guns. Unless, however, it’s on par with 3:10 to Yuma. Then we’re in business!
You’re the 2nd person in as many days to recommend ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’ so I guess this should bump its priority up a bit. I’ve been teasing with checking out Cormac McCarthy, even had it in the shopping cart at one point. Can you recommend a good starting point here? Or would anything be worth jumping in for?
When (younger) Robin Williams remakes a novel into a movie, there’s a pretty good chance it’s based on a spectacular read. ‘The World According to Garp’ is now in the cart.
Lastly, I like the Don Quixote-esque story in ‘A Confederacy of Dunces’. Almost a tragic comedy? Added.
Keep these coming!
By: coffeeonwheels on April 25, 2010
at 9:15 am
Mmm, definitely Hemingway. Your list makes me feel like reading. The Wild Trees was GREAT. Grow More Vegetables is basically our Bible. Old Patagonian Express was disappointing for Theroux. Off the top of my head, if you haven’t, you should also read –
The God of Small Things – Arundhati Roy
The Rainy Season – Amy Wilentz
The Shock Doctrine – Naomi Klein
The Omnivore’s Dilemma – Michael Pollan
A History of God – Karen Armstrong
2666- Roberto Balano
King Leopold’s Ghost – Adam Hochschild
What is the What – Dave Eggers
any Wendall Berry, any Edwidge Danticat…
and that’s enough nerdiness from me for the day.
By: Lexi on April 24, 2010
at 5:24 pm
Hemingway has always been a goal of mine, but I’ve been distracted by lesser reads. Any pointers on a good starting place?
I’ve heard mixed reviews of ‘Wild Trees’, but after growing up in the towering rainforests of South America, I don’t think I will be disappointed.
Ben actually recommended ‘Grow More Vegetables’ a few months ago. Not sure why I haven’t picked it up yet (looks like it’s getting harder to find) but after planting my first garden this Spring, I think I should bump this up in priority if I want anything to sprout.
Theroux, while one of my top authors, seems a bit hit or miss. I really liked ‘Dark Star Safari’ and ‘The Great Railway Bazaar’, but ‘Pillars of Hercules’ and ‘The Happy Isles of Oceania’ were a bit “meh”. I was hoping for ‘Patagonian Express’ as a good one, especially since he travels through sections of Latin America where I’ve lived, but I’m worried it will be a bit dated at this point. Maybe he can do a return trip and update the travels?
I’m checking out the rest of your list now, but thanks for the suggestions. Now it’s time to go riding in the woods.
By: coffeeonwheels on April 25, 2010
at 9:23 am