Monday, April 6, 2009

Ulysses and me

Remember how I said I was trying to read the top 100 fiction novels of all time? My goal for this year is to read 10 books on the list. Well, that was going great for a while, then I tried to read this book:

I'm reading the books in the order that they appear on the list. At first, I was just reading the books that piqued my interest, but then I realized that I'd only have the not-so-interest-piquing books left at the end. So, I decided just read them in order instead.

Ulysses is number 3 on the list, and I attempted it about 5 (maybe 6?) weeks ago but quickly lost interest. It's a difficult book to follow (to say the least), the language is tough, AND it's 700 pages long... not really a fabulous combo.

After returning the book to the library, I sure didn't want to check it out again. Forcing myself to read a book that bores me isn't really my idea of a good time. On the other hand, I didn't want to skip over it on the list because I had already decided I was reading the books in order. For a while, I considered abandoning this whole idea, but I've since thought better of it. I'm not going to let one intimidating book persuade me to walk away from this.

So guess what?

I'm attempting it again, and it's actually going better than what I thought it would. I'm trying to read at least 25 pages a day, so that I can finish the book by the end of April. I'm determined to do this!

I still struggle with why I'm forcing myself to do this. I don't even know why it is important to me.

What do you think, blog-world? Should I read the books in order, not necessarily enjoying each one? OR, should I just read the ones that I think I'll like and call it a day?

4 comments:

Angie said...

Well I know why you are doing this...because you are a determined ambitious person that perseveres (perseverance is our word of the week! hehe) and knows how to keep on keeping on!!! I think you should do what you want to do. Don't torture yourself if it is going to make you hate reading. But if it is just a challenge to you them I say DO IT! Me personally, I would probably read the ones I really like and then read the not so great ones in between other books (not on the list) that I do like that way it softens the blow of the boring books a little.

Joy Lin said...

Stamina. I'm reminded of a project I started one day. I thought it would be a fun, easy craft, but it turned out to be more complicated than that. As I began to get more involved in the project, I found that there were more pieces than I had planned on, and the instructions were obscure. But you know what? I stuck it out, and today I finished that project. And it felt good. Real good. If you need a reminder that perseverance pays off, just come look at cube-friend-hillcat. He's sitting on my shelf waiting.

Adam Goode said...

I think you should read them all in order and find a way to enjoy them for what they are. :)

Deidra said...

I've attempted the same task you are at at least twice. probably not the same list though.=0) These days I read a few books at the same time. That way if I'm getting burned on my 'lesson book' like my current one "The mind is a battlefield" by Joyce Meyers as well as a German language book; I just take a break and read a 'pleasure book' like one of the Stephanie Plum novels. That way you can break up your frustations and mental fatigue with some laughs and feel goods. Seems to work for me.

Oh, and by the way, just a shot in the dark, buy maybe you're doing it because intelligent, bright people such as yourself are always looking for ways to improve and broaden themselves. ;0)