BiblioAddict

On coming home, The Terror and cohabitation, a year of challenges, and how to become a world citizen:

Home!  Ah, BiblioAddict it seems as if it’s been ages, when it’s only been three weeks (has it really been that long? has it really been that brief?).  For some reason, going home to St. Louis always feels like going on a sabbatical to the middle of the woods – except that I get a whole lot less reading done. I do believe that I did more reading during the four hours I was laid-over in Chicago on Saturday than I did the entire two weeks I was home.

Here it is, already five days into the New Year and I’m beginning to feel as if 2009 is already leaving me behind!  What about my 2008 Year of Reading summary, in which I talk about what I read, what I liked most, what I didn’t finish, couldn’t finish, or probably won’t finish, and those authors who’ve been added to my must-read list, and of course, those authors who have been taken off (for better or for worse)?

And my review of Dan Simmons’ The Terror, which as it turned out was the last book I completed in 2008?  What about that?  Oh, and the challenges that I (incredibly, insanely, ambitiously – any and all of the above) want to join?  What about those?

And did I mention that BiblioGuy and I (incrediby, insanely, ambitiously – any and all of the above) are now living together?  And that by the end of yesterday (Day 1) I was already glowering at him?  I believe that was immediately after he suggested, oh so casually, that I box up some of my books to, you know, make room for his albeit small library.

Compromise, I’m told, is the key to success in living with a mate, so a new bookcase, anyone?  Yes, I told him.  I’ll buy it and even put it together.  Just as long as I’m not forced to put my books through the agonizing experience of facing banishment to a box in the back (or top) of the closet.

Agh! There’s so much to talk about.  Like, for instance, how New York has thus far gotten the best treatment (damnit, no fair!), a la Jonathan Franzen, in State by State, while Andrea Lee’s essay on Pennsylvania has thus far touched me the deepest – but, more on that later.

Also, because it’s just occurred to me, I should probably mention that I did, at least, manage to make a dent in my pile of magazines over my vacation.  It’s not a noticeable dent.  It’s more like a poke. With a feather.  Yesterday, as I moving and cleaning for The Move, I came across unread New Yorkers from 2007.  Oy!  I surrendered, grit my teeth, and threw them out.  Most of them.  And there’s still a big pile(s).  Jesus.

Deep breath.  One thing at a time.  Reading challenges?  Yes, I can do that.  The following is a list of all the reading challenges I’m throwing in my hat for this year (I suspect I’ll have to retrieve my hat for at least one of these challenges, but I’m going for the gusto.  What’s that saying about shooting for the stars?)

Eva’s World Citizen Challenge.  I’m going for the minor level (3 books).  The rules say I don’t have to make a list ahead of time, but since I’ve already selected my three, I may as well list them:

China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power by Rob Gifford (culture)
The Forever War by Dexter Filkins (politics)
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (culture/memoir)
or maybe Augustus by Anthony Everitt (history) if one of the above don’t qualify…

Jessi’s The Dream King Challenge.  I’m going for the neophyte level (1 book, 1 movie).  The book: Stardust.  The movie: Coraline (when it comes out later this year).

N.Vasillis’ In Their Shoes Challenge.  No set amount of books or list is required, but I have a number of books on my shelf that qualify as a memoir, biography, or autobiography so I shouldn’t have any trouble completing this one.

MizB’s TBR *Lite* Challenge.  I’m going for Option B, since I don’t do very well with unchangeable lists of books, but I really need to work on my towering TBR pile.  They make me feel nervous and all-around unhappy.  But, since I’ve gotta to start with at least something, my six books (subject to change, of course) are:

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

China Road by Rob Gifford

Augustus by Anthony Everitt

Pastoralia by George Saunders

The Forever War by David Filkins

Alphabet Juice by Roy Blount, Jr.

*To make sure this stays a real TBR challenge, I’m adding my own caveat that any book I read for this challenge will have been bought some time before Jaunuary 1, 2009.  Otherwise, I’ll never put a mild dent in my TBR.  I probably never will anyway, but I have to try…

There are a few other challenges I was thinking about joining – namely, the Graphic Novels Challenge, but I think I’ll be smart and stop there.  I was also wondering if anyone was sponsoring a short story challenge this year.  I was thinking of something along the lines of one short story each week.  That would give me a chance to get rid of the growing number of anthologies I have laying around.

Anywho, it appears as if I’ve got a number of things on my plate before I can get caught up with 2009.  Challenges?  Check.  Stay tuned for the rest of the things on my to-do list.

Postscript: Via Andi, I’ve just learned that Carrie at Books and Movies is hosting an Essay Reading Challenge, which I have no choice but to join.  I’m shooting for one essay every two weeks.

Ok, now I’m done.  I promise.