During the super-downsizing process prior to becoming a full-timer, there was no greater anguish than slimming down my library: my current reads, my collection of keepers and recommended reads, as well as major books/authors I am embarrassed I’ve never read.
I had decided to allow myself only 36 books.
Then I realized I had ten books of scenic drives and historical areas of he country, and ten more travel guides, directories, operator manuals, and log books, and fifteen more books for my hobbies and pastimes.
Somehow, I must make space in my coach for books to be read for pleasure. It will be necessary to carry fewer canned goods, fewer changes of socks, I will be giving up fresh vegetables in order to devote the drawer in the fridge to books. Life is about choices, eh?
I decided to allow myself only 36 more books for my personal enjoyment. Here is my list
Books I couldn’t part with.
The poetry of Merritt Malloy
Off to Sea, Richard Stine
Moxie, Philip Weld
The Yachts and Ships of Jack Hargrave
Books I want to read because the author is a personal friend.
A Page From a Tennessee Journal, Francine Howard
East of Indus, Gurnam Brard
Pastiche, Lucille Belluci
Books recommended by people I respect
Last American Man, Elizabeth Gilbert
The Stones of Summer, Dow Mossman
The Little Book, Selden Edwards
Books I want to read again
Round heeled woman, Jane Juska
Fooling With Words, Bill Moyers
Patron Saint of Liars, Ann Patchett
Inner Work, Robert Johnson
Books or authors I should have read (or finished) by now
Novels,
The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan
The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
Bel Canto, Ann Patchett
Kill Two Birds and Get Stoned, Kinky Friedman
Paint it Black, Janet Fitch
White Oleander, Janet Fitch
The Gathering, Anne Enright
A Widow for One Year, John Irving
Flush, Carl Hiaasen
The Book of Ruth, Jane Hamilton
Long Lost, Harlan Coben
PrairieErth, William Least Heat Moon
Holmes on the Range, Steve Hockensmith
The Novel, James Michener
Danse Macabre, Stephen King
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Tom Robbins
My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult
Books of Stories
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float, Farley Mowat
Creek Walk, Molly Giles
For the Relief of Unbearable urges
Down to a Soundless Sea, Thomas Steinbeck
Tampa Review #35
Tampa Review #36
Black Erotica
Memoir and personal narrative
Hurry Down Sunshine, Michael Greenberg
Revenge, Laura Blumenfeld
Rogue River Journal, John Daniel
Non-fiction
Woman In Charge, Carl Bernstein
The Silk Road, Frances Wood
America on Trial, Alan Dershowitz
This is Burning Man, Brian Doherty
So this is the Bookacholic’s Bucket List. All 51 of them. I will be giving up any frozen food that is not labeled Ben and Jerry’s.
What is on your Bucket List of Books? What are you reaching for to curl up with when your first choice is already snoring?
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Hey Al, I think this would be the time in life when I’d “invest” in a kindle
M
I did it again, not using this instead of replying as for ordinary e-mail. Great list, the kind that needs the leisure to enjoy and digest. NRN
Love the last two lines. Your road story is going to be fun to read, you keep up with humor like that. =) Thank you!
Al – If you have a chance to pick up the three Stieg Larson books, one at a time as they are thick, do it. I’ve read all three and they are all excellent reading. The translation from Swedish loses none of the suspense and sensitive prose. First book – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
Did my book find a good home? Hope so. It would have liked best to be curled up with a woman, as it essentially appeals to women. Sept 21 isn’t too far off. Bon Voyage!
Good choices to take with, the first grouping.
S’true. Acquiring a Kindle in your odyssey planning would have been a good idea. But then, you probably already had those books in your bucket. Ever read “The Cruel Sea” by Nicholas Monserrat? British naval escort during WWII. I read it as a child, and it stunted my growth.
As an old back packer – and of the few times I thought I would start on a really long hike – I planned ahead for the stashes I could establish at a friend’s house and sent my personally selected ‘care’ package to them. There are probably some still in existence as I never completed ‘that’ hike.
A few books here, a few books there. Gives you an excuse and a reason to reconnect with old friends.
Good bucket list. A lot more challenging than mine would be. But that’s what I would expect from you!
Lew …
Hi Al, Thanks for your list. Just finished “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen. Everyone I know who has read it loved it. Elderly man flashes back on his early adult life in the circus; a heart warning romance story. I know you would enjoy it, Al. Happy travels!
On your books to read list, I recommend The Book of Ruth–much better than Hamilton’s later and more famous Map of the World. Happy reading!
I am impressed with your list, your courage, and your determination to read all the books everyone says you should. Not sure I should offer any suggestions, so my list is a Short List: The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber; anything by Raymond Chandler,
Dashiell Hammett, Graham Greene and Summerset Maugham. But, don’t forget:
West with the Night by Beryl Markham; Trial by Terror by Paul Gallico; Love Scenes by Dirk Wales; For the Time Being by Annie Dillard; Salvation by Valarie Martin…
just to name a few.
Happy Travels, you are a Lucky Dog, Dirk
An extensive list!
Two suggestions:
City of Thieves by David Benioff
In the Shadow of the Cypress Thomas Steinbeck
You might consider leaving your books as you finish with them, kind of like bread crumbs along the road – only in used bookstores en route. You need some Kingsolver – Prodigal Summer or Poisonwood Bible – Julia Alvarez. and poetry – Machado, Rilke – and before you hit NM, Anaya – Heart of Aztlan, Bless Me Ultima – and Arundhati Roy – Field notes on democracy.
Would that it were so simple. Books that can be read and parted with like a one-night stand. Some are keepers. Some get another visit from time to time. Some need to be passed along to some who will appreciate. I sorted through hundreds of books, audiobooks, DVDs before I left. After letting friends sort through them, I gave them to libraries for their fundraising sales. What remains will be with me for a while then passed on one by one.
The one I read was by Michener, The Novel. That and the travel one on Spain were snoOoOoOre.
Oh wait Michener, they were all that way, 40 pages to discribe a savanah! Oy.
1001 pages on Alaska, it took longer to read than it took to see the place!!