There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry--
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll--
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human Soul--

-Emily Dickinson


November, 2010. This is when I had an epiphany that I knew nothing about literature. What exactly prompted this revelation, I don't remember. But what I did after that was print off "BBC's Top 100 Books" list in order to expand my horizons. (Although I'm aware that there are plenty of books omitted from the list, as well as new books constantly being published, this is intended simply to help me be acquainted with literature.) I challenged myself to read all of the books on the list. One year later, I've realized it will take much longer than expected. With only 7 of the 100 books read, this task seems daunting and unrealistic. While some may think it's somewhat masochistic, some may think it's an admirable goal. I guess it depends on the book I'm reading. Frequently I'll read a book that is not on this long list. I used to apologize for it, but I'm assuming hardly anyone reads it anyways.

I started by critiquing the books and authors, but the purpose for writing has changed over the years. The purpose of this blog isn't necessarily to write reviews for the benefit of high school procrastinators or for eagerly researching book-readers or for really anyone besides me. It's a documentation of my own progress as a learner and a reader, as well as being wonderfully cathartic. Books elicit an emotional response, which allows me to explore my own beliefs about life and spirituality.

As of Sunday, June 21st, 2015, I have read twenty-six books on the list. This is hopefully subject to change, and will be updated regularly...or more accurately, as regularly as I finish a book, which isn't always regular.


Saturday, February 6, 2016

Modern Romance - Aziz Ansari

Read February on 6th, 2016.

It's interesting to get this kind of perspective on such a complex issue. This book is more of a collection of sociological observations than anything else. It definitely has plenty of comedic elements since it was written by a famous comedian, but there are so many interesting findings about the people that we share this moment in time with.

The book is more informational than anything I've read for funsies. I usually write about insights that come to me as I read, but I can't reproduce the same response after reading Modern Romance. And it is not that it isn't a wonderful book; it's well-written, very intriguing, and quite educational. 

I guess the thing that interested me most is how our search for "the best" has affected our society in general. We are on the hunt for better music, better TV and movies, better phones, better computers, better everything. Even, as is shown in the book, better partners. We live in a very accessible age were resources are within reach. Technology is advancing rapidly and we are always ogling over the newest phones. We are never satisfied with what we have because there is something better out there. Our application of this attitude to our romantic lives can be alarming. Sure, we all want the perfect person to be with. But the result it that often people feel unsatisfied when problems arise. "This can't be right," you might think. "There must be something better for me." While we all have the right to look for happiness, there is a flaw in this throwing away something that is good for the pursuit of better. In other generations, when people didn't have the chance to meet so many people in such a short amount of time, it sounds like they must have just settled for what was available to them. But how can argue with so many people who make those marriages work? Couples who have been married for decades remain happy with their choices, even though they didn't have much choices to begin with.

So it seems that I do have an insight to share. Often enough we waste energy searching for the best in life instead of making the best out of what we are given. 
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