A Year of Reading

If you could see a summary of the food you digested in 2014, you might find some surprises:  17 pounds of chocolate, 47 of bottles of wine, 5.7 servings of red meat a week, 1.3 fast food visits per week, the venial sin in this quarter is fried chicken or Five Guys burgers.  My bank sends a roll up of credit expenses grouped by category and it’s a useful tool. The report is a bit surprising and more candid than I might wish, but honest as a mirror or computer.

Americans consume 11.2 lbs/year; Germans consume 25.1 lbs/year

Americans consume 11.2 lbs/year and Germans consume 25.1 lbs/year, source International Cocoa Organization

In 2007, I started a book journal and have noted my reads now for eight years. This past year I’ve been diligent since publishing this letter involves writing book reviews. It’s worth annotating what you read; if you are what you eat, then certainly you are what you read, or at least many would agree to some degree, leave the specifics to the neurologists and psychologists and priests.

What is more insightful than an annual summary of your reading in this Age of Information and content-on-demand-24/7?

Typical American read 5 books last year, source

The typical American read 5 books last year, source Decline of the American Book Lover, The Atlantic

My diet consisted of 13 works of literature, 6 non-fiction books, 12 contemporary books, and 3 collections.  I gave each a rating and many I’ve reviewed in this letter over the past year.  By far, the genre with the best reward for my time was literature, classic literature that is, with six 5 star ratings for works like Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse and Turgenev’s masterpiece Father and Sons.

The only 5 star in non-fiction is C.S.Lewis’s Abolition of Man which contains three lectures I read every year.  It’s that good.  There aren’t many books I read more than once, but this one is worth your time.  I read Jane Austen every year as well. Pride and Prejudice may well be my fifth reading, Mark Twain be damned.  He didn’t care for Austen, though Churchill loved her.

I’ll focus on classic literature this year and perhaps more non-fiction.  I didn’t list all my non-fiction.  I often read the first chapters or the last and like bad food, sometimes you only need to taste it to know.  Or in other cases, you need only so much of a thing.  Some non-fiction I consult like references.

Numerous anthologies, collections, children’s works, especially picture books and fairy tales I did not include though I highlight those worthy on occasion.

You may ask why read a book when you’ve an endless stream of  digital content, print media, magazines? Books, literature specifically, offer substance, depth, emotion and the infinite examination of the human condition regardless of time period and culture. Hang out with the greats. Explore what it means to be human in different periods in history, in different countries, in different languages, translated of course.

So, if you’re looking for a book worth reading or wish to consider life’s ponderables and explore unanswered questions on our humanity, here’s a year of reading feedback for you.

*I highlighted the five star selections in red.  Many I’ve reviewed with links below if you want to learn more.

 

 

LITERATURE

 Rating out of 5 stars Click on titles for review or analysis
Sweet ThursdayJohn Steinbeck

3

Prince and the PauperMark Twain

4

Well written, quote worthy (sentence analysis in review)
In Our TimeHemingway

3

His first collection of stories
Old Man and the SeaHemingway

5

Incredible read as an adult
To the LighthouseVirginia Woolf

5

Not easy to read, a sentence master
The SibylPar Lagerkvist

4

A fable, read my summary & review
Fathers and SonsIvan Turgenev

5

Turgenev’s masterpiece, read review
The Ice PalaceTarjei Vesaas

3.5

Pride and PrejudiceJane Austen

5+

Read Austen every year, always learn something, Read Austen link
My AntoniaWilla Cather

5

Gorgeous writing, read my review
Invisible CitiesItalo Calvino

4

Plays with words, “Constructs of the mind”
Don QuixoteMiguel de Cervantes

5++

Laugh out loud, master of wit and humor; Read my links
BelovedToni Morrison

4

Banned, “Should books be rated?”

NON-FICTION

Hemingway on WritingLarry Phillips

4

Excellent insight on writing and his life
The Talent CodeDaniel Coyle

3

Steering the CraftUrsula LeGuin

4.5

Exercises & Discussions on Writing
Bodhisattva of CompassionJohn Blofeld4Wow. Insights into mysticism, meditation, Buddhism; review
One NationBen Carson3Good ideas, inspiring life
Abolition of ManC.S. Lewis5+I read these 3 lectures each year

CONTEMPORARY

Ocean at the End of the LaneNeil Gaiman3.5Adult fairy tale, haunting and fun
Fault in Our StarsJohn Green4.5Death & cancer, cried and laughed, review
Looking for AlaskaJohn Green3
Heart of the SeaPhilbrick3.5Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, review
SelectionKeira Cass trilogy3Fun, young adult, page turner
EliteKeira Cass3
OneKeira Cass3
Dark WitchNora Roberts2.5Attempt at fantasy, falls short
The Name of the WorldDenis Johnson4Gorgeous writing, lyrical, powerful
Gold FinchDonna Tartt2Weak protagonist, study in victimhood, link to review, “Spew-litzer Prize”
Orphan TrainChristina Baker Kline3Historical fiction – informative
Train DreamsDenis Johnson5Simple, potent, historical – link to my review; “Why I steal Books”

COLLECTIONS

Trouble With PoetryBilly Collins4Good stuff for everyone – link to review
Legends of the IroquoisRay Fadden2.5Picked this up at museum – link to review
Dear Life StoriesAlice Munro3.5A storyteller who makes you think

Jan 23, 2015

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About the Author

Mylinh Shattan is a writer who has lived on three continents, served in the Army, worked in corporate America, and taught in college. She loves adventures, in the world and in the mind. Literature is relevant and learning is a lifelong pursuit, so you might as well have a bit of fun along the way.

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