Reading on the Road

Everyone wants to read more. At least, I've never heard of anyone who wants to read less. I think deciding to read more has to be the second most popular New Year's resolution—right after trying to lose weight, joining a gym and making sure I have to wait 10 minutes to get on any machine for the first 21 days of every year.

As you know, I don't really like making New Year's Resolutions, but I always do try to make a conscious effort to read more. Lately (and by "lately," I mean the last three years), I haven't been reading as much as I want. Earning a MFA actually kept me from burying my nose in books. I worked, I went to class, came home, pretended to do work, went to bed and then repeated the process. There wasn't room for much extra-curricular activity there. And when there was, I didn't read anything.

But, lately, I've been doing my best to crank through some books. I'm just finishing the Lord of the Rings trilogy for the first time (spending a lot of time in Mordor). I fell in love with "The Alchemist," Paulo Coelho's classic. In fact, I liked that one so much, I not only learned his name, but I also subscribed to his fantastic blog. I've joined a nerdy reading group, where we're going through Thucydides' and Aristotle's original works and discussing them on a monthly conference call (in between Dungeons and Dragon sessions and smoking pipes).

But most of the "reading" I've done lately has taken place in my car. Those of you that know me, probably aren't that surprised—you know how much emailing/texting/Twittering I do from the highway's fast lane. But I'm not talking about actual reading, I'm talking about audiobooks.

Three days a week, I spend anywhere from 3-4 hours on the road. I have a 75-mile commute, about 20 of which take place in busy, rush-hour traffic. It's a good way for a man to go insane. So I had to find some way to occupy myself and provide distraction from ramming my Camry head-on into some jerk's BMW. So, I visited my local library and started picking up audiobooks.

Being a visual person, I didn't know how I'd do. But it's turned out to be a great success. After just a minute or two, I find myself completely engrossed in listening to the book. I still pay attention to driving, of course, but my brain doesn't really wander otherwise. And it makes those 75 miles just whip by, even when I'm just doing 4.5 miles an hour and drifting leaves are making more progress. Thus far, I've "read" Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea" (every word counts), David Sedaris' "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" (classic Sedaris, and always funny), Augusten Burrough's "Running with Scissors" (delightfully depressing), and the Ken Burns' audiobook companion for the Mark Twain documentary (surprisingly good). Considering the lengths of the books, I've made pretty good progress over the past two months or so. Right now, I'm halfway through Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," which has given me an opportunity to get through a book that I probably wouldn't have otherwise read.

So, while this has been a boring blog post for you to read, I did want you to know that I'm enjoying myself. And, perhaps, encourage you to find a way to read a bit more... even if it has to be an inventive way. Just, for the love of all that's good, don't become the girl in front of me at the gym, reading Cosmo while she barely pedals the stationary bike.

One list, ten books - your help required...

Okay, so even though I really enjoy reading and fancy myself a writer, I don't talk about books much. I think it's probably because I don't read much of what's hip or current. That's mostly because I read based on suggestion from friends and, for some reason, my friends don't recommend many books to me. I haven't a clue why that is, possibly because I don't talk about books much. It's a vicious cycle...

Anyways, I'm going to post about books here. But before I do, I need you to help me out.

First, I know there are a lot more readers of my blog than there are commentators (I stalk all of you with a page counter). Help me out here and leave some comments, okay? Here's what I'm looking for - suggest one book for me to read. You don't even have to write a review of it... just put in a title.

Thanks. I heart you. And you. And you... most of the time.

1. A book that changed your life: Killing Pablo by Mark Bowden
I won't say it was the story of how the authorities hunted down Pablo Escobar impacted me enough to change the way I see the world. After all, how much can one drug lord affect a kid thousands of miles away who doesn't speak Spanish or do blow (during the week)? However, the way Bowden wrote the book carried a deep impact for me; it was completely true and extensively researched, journalism at its finest, yet it was also written as if it were a page-turning novel. Sure, Bowden wasn't the first to write the "non-fiction novel," but it was the first one I read. Definitely worthwhile...

2. A book you read more than once: Lots and lots...
Many times, I'll revisit an old book. It's sort of like catching up with a friend you haven't seen in a while, forgotten what they looked like, but did remember that you always enjoyed the time you spent together. I do try to re-readZorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis every couple years, though, as a nice reminder to stop burying my nose in books and try living life for a change. Ironic, isn't it?

3. A book you would take to a desert island: Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook
Dumb category... why would you take your favorite novel? Well, unless it tells you how to spot poisonous mushrooms...

4. A book that made you laugh: Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About by Mil Millington
I stumbled upon the pre-cursor to the book, the author's fantastic website, and immediately lost all productivity at work for a full two weeks. It was awesome. He's since written three other novels, none of which I've read, but I liked the first one quite a bit. Get the British version if you can (or I'll loan you mine).

5. A book that made you cry: The Incredible Journey by Sheila Every Burnford
I don't cry easily and I've never teared up while reading a book. But I did tear up at the move version of this one. I was ten.

6. A book you wished you had written: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
I resisted the urge to answer, "Anything!" here.
C'mon, though, who wouldn't want to create the perfect protagonist to speak to hundreds of thousands depressed teenagers, earn lots of cash doing it and canonizing yourself among the greatest names in literary history before retiring to a mysterious life of solitude? I know I would.

7. A book you wish had not been written: How to Make Love Like a Porn Star by Jenna Jameson's ghost writer
Really? That was necessary?

8. Two books that you are at present reading: Istanbul by Orhan Pamuk and Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
I don't really read multiple books at a time-I have too much of a one-track mind. But I've been in the middle of both of these for a couple months now and have no motivation to finish. They're both great, so far, but I've also read about six or seven other books in the meantime without re-cracking their spines. I'll get around to it sometime or other.

9. A book you are going to read: Macbeth by William Shakespeare
It's not really a book, but whatever. I love Shakespeare and I've read over half of the 37 plays (it's 37, right?), most of those multiple times. Yet I've never read Macbeth, which is probably akin to never having seen Star Wars, ate a hot dog or worn pants.

10. A book you read and never figured out: Ulysses by James Joyce
I am NOT alone on this. In fact, I'd bet that Joyce snapped out of an absinthe-induced trance as he finished typing it, read what he wrote and went, "Wha-uhh?!" Then, he just shrugged and sent it off to his publisher since he was already over deadline. Thanks, Jim. Thanks a lot.