So on a whim I decided to see how many Netflix movies I rented over the last 52 months. The answer? 749! This made me try to figure out how many movies I have watched over the last few years. I had to add the 10 movies I have borrowed from the library every 2 weeks for the last 2 years, the 40 movies I have watched Netflix's streaming services since it began and the fact that I have averaged a movie a week in the theater over the last 2 years. This is a 52 month average of 29 movies a month, or a movie a day. It may seem that I sound proud of this, but it is more like I am impressed the way you might be impressed watching that little Chinese dude eat 57 hotdogs by dipping them in water. It is a little sickening... I don't even dare add up the hours. I'm sure I could have build a pyramid or saved the whales by now had I applied the hours to a more worthy cause, but, whatever. Anyway, I have made a vow to myself to read more. About 3 years ago I got interested in Graphic Novels (comic books) and systematically read the highest rated series I was interested in. When I walk into a book store or library, I have read most of the graphic novels on the shelf. I have read every Stephen King book, every John Sanford, every Clive Barker (except Imajica), every Neil Gaiman, every Grisham (except the Bleachers), every Crighton, every Peter Mayle, and many others.
Recently, I found a Time Magazine article that listed the 100 best modern novels. I went through and took out the ones I really couldn't read like Pride and Prejudice and checked off the ones I have already read. I now have a goal to pick at this list over the next 5 years. I feel this is a worthy cause and hope to be successful. I picked up Dicken's Bleak House and Joseph Conrad's Nostromo to start. I know I won't stop watching movies cold turkey... I will keep my 2 at a time Netflix. I also have to get a guilty pleasure book every few weeks from the library or I may lose my mind (gots to have my Stephen King now and then.) Wish me luck in this venture. If you would like to participate with me, let me know. I'm not organized enough for a book club, but I would be glad to start a separate blog to discuss the books as we go.
Here is my starting list. I plan on adding or subtracting as I get deeper into it:
Got to go read!
You should have invited me to follow you sooner. I have a lot to catch up on. You are such a good writer. I've had fun tonight reading some of your blogs. It's fun to see your perspective. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteI'll read w/ you. But where are all the James Patterson book?
ReplyDeleteI'm in. Halfway through American Gods, almost through with Dark Tower 7 (boo hoo hoooooo . . .)and I've just received Time Traveler's Wife & a Dave Eggars one --something like the Unspeakable Work of Unbearable Genius" or something. Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns were fantastic to listen to --something about hearing all of those proper nouns with the correct pronunciation. I've also "meant" to read many of these . . . but don't hope to do so even half as quickly as I know you will.
ReplyDeleteJake... Good luck with this endeavor. I will be looking forward to reading some reviews.
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