I thought I'd chat up some books I read in 2010, since I offered up a movie and some music. Perhaps I'll compose a post on my audio books, too, since I heard so many on my long commute.
FICTION
Traditionally, I dig Stephen King. From my first foray into his short stories when I was a nerdy junior high school student, and my subsequent readings of his novellas, novels, and non-fiction, I've most often enjoyed the experience.
However, two-fifths of the way through Under the Dome, I'm was done with it. Moved on, as ol' Steve himself might say. A not-so-Constant Reader.
It's not the first time this has happened with one of Uncle Stevie's books. When I was reading Needless Things, at one point I just yawned so hard, I think I forget where I set the book down. Sometimes, his tale gets a bit much sprawl to it for my tastes. It becomes so broad and unfocused, that I completely lose interest.
And I don't like to lose interest.
I realize there are those who like a generous helping of meandering in their storytelling, a little tangential exploration. And there's a place for that. But, it's sometimes a place I don't like being.
When a book is really working for me, I like to regret setting it down to do things like eat or sleep. Or, if I'm listening to the audio book version, I enjoy that frustration of reaching my destination, because I wanna keep listening. I like that gnawing need to get back to it as soon as possible to find out what happens next. If I start detecting a dreary regret about returning to the book, if it seems a chore, I've learned to take that as a sign, cash in my chips, and get the heck out of the casino.
Now, I know what you are thinking. My mental capacity must be too pedestrian to wrap itself around the plot of a thick tome. But, I rocked my way through large offerings like Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, or Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth -- or even King's own unabridged edition of The Stand (the reading of which was a veritable 'event' for me).
I'm an adherent of what Anna Quindlen calls the mere brute pleasure of reading. And I don't like the notion that I have to strike a bargain with a book.
"You may not enjoy me now, Paul. But, if you read all the way to the end of me, I promise there's a not-disappointing denouement. In fact, there's even catharsis ahead. Of sorts. Eventually."
"No thanks, book."
NONFICTION
This all crossed my mind while reading the collection of essays in The New Kings of Nonfiction, edited and introduced by Ira Glass (of This American Life fame). With an almost perfect record, each time I read one of the essays, it became my favorite. I was engrossed in its subject and convinced it was the most compelling of the lot. Until, of course, I read the next one, and it became my favorite.
I started with the Michael Lewis essay that opens the collection. And I figured it was so riveting in its glimpse at the events of its topic that I ought to simply put the book down and walk away. How could I not be let down by subsequent selections?
But, oh.
Lee Sandlin's essay on World War II was awe-inspiring in its ability to encapsulate the roiling events and sequences of decisions and happenstance that conspired to make up The Great War -- illuminating aspects of the conflict and its consequences I'd never considered or read before.
Michael Pollan's essay ("Power Steer") provided a very intimate peek behind the curtain of the industry that puts a steak on your plate. I'm a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy. I regard it as the quintessential meal, which may be viewed as brutish and simple-minded. But, my simple mind would happily eat a juicy sirloin and loaded baked potato at every brutish meal. (Until, that is, I collapsed from having eaten meat and potatoes at every meal.)
Malcolm Gladwell and Chuck Klosterman have always had my respect. And their respective reports on social power and eccentricities of celebrity are such satisfying reads, you need not read anything else for a while. You'll be reflecting on what they had to say and how they said it.
And the list goes on.
Each one a towering achievement of the written word. Each essay in succession providing the reader new insight and food for thought. After reading each one, you wanna run find somebody to tell them about it.
Well, perhaps not run, but certainly e-mail or text.
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