Don't Get Too Comfortable

I gave up on reading The Worm Ouroboros. I tried and tried, but the Jacobean-style writing was simply too bizarre and foreign for me. I would read passages carefully and end up focusing on the words more than the story they were meant to tell! That's not enjoyable reading. 

I raided Johnny's bookshelf and turned up Don't Get Too Comfortable by David Rakoff. 

From the Amazon description: 

"The belly laughs start on page 7 and occur regularly throughout Rakoff's frequently impertinent, occasionally irascible, yet always inimitable take on contemporary American society. A newly minted U.S. citizen, a process he reveals in all its maddeningly hypocritical inconsistency, Rakoff embarks on a series of journalistic assignments as peculiar in their phantasmagoric diversity as, well, America itself. From the pretentious preoccupation with gourmet dining to the rigor of fasting, Rakoff contemplates the extremes to which we will go in pursuit of our particular, often downright peculiar pleasures. A trip on the Concorde is followed by a jaunt on Hooters Air, and visits to Beverly Hills plastic surgeons segue seamlessly into a tour of a cryogenics storage facility in Arizona. Whether interpreting popular culture or investigating political calumny, Rakoff's cogent observations are delivered with a comforting mixture of appropriate moral outrage and unabashed mocking wonder, as he unfailingly elicits the inherent truths behind our most cherished and churlish institutions"

I almost always enjoy an examination of first-world 'problems' (see Stuff White People Like) and this seems like it will be a fun and quick read. 

My friend very good, real-life friend Moto at The Adventures of a Journeyman Archivist suggested The Passage by Justin Cronin for my next read. Looks like it's time for a library card! 

Books

I've decided to add another goal to the 2011 list: read at least 10 books this year. I love reading, but I've read less and less as the years go on. I'm not sure why- I feel like I have plenty of free time, I still enjoy the act of reading books, and I find plenty of subjects appealing. I really believe I haven't read much lately because I have the internet. There's so much online to read and discover that sometimes, it's all I want to do! I still think I'd like to get back to reading literature, whether it's on the Nook app on my phone or an actual book.

I'm starting the year with a book I discovered at work. We have a giant pile of books that have been left here by guests, some intentionally, some accidentally. Most are cheesy romance novels or generic mysteries. I found a crazy looking book a few days ago and couldn't resist picking it up. It's The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison, and it's apparently some sort of fantasy classic.

How could I resist?

I generally like sci-fi/fantasy novels anyway, so I figured this book was as good a place as any to start. It's been slow going so far, though. The whole thing is written in Jacobean-style prose (think 'thee' and 'thou') and has been sort of a snooze-fest. Hopefully the action will pick up and I'll be able to get past the tone- I'd really like to finish it by the end of the month!

Book List

A while ago, I downloaded Barnes & Noble's nook application for my Android phone; I would rather read than play games or constantly check Twitter while lounging or waiting in line! I downloaded a few free books (mostly classics, like Pride & Prejudice, The Three Musketeers, and Dracula) but they've gone unread for the most part. I have been reading John Muir's Travels In Alaska for the last few weeks (wonderful evening reading!) but always forget to take books with me to work. (I have lots of time to read when work is very slow- ah, exciting hotel life!) I downloaded a nook app to my work computer and have been putting it to good use lately. I just breezed through True Prep today (such a fun read!!), so more books are in order. I've been scouring bargains at B&N's website, and here's what I'm adding to my reading list:

• The Mountains of California by John Muir- love John Muir's writing on nature, and this is a steal at $.99!
• The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume I by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle- I enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes books as a teenager and I feel like now is a great time to revisit them, especially for only $1.99.
• Age Of Innocence by Edith Wharton- a class I've been meaning to read for a while. I'm going to start on this tonight! (Another $1.99 find!)

What are you reading these days? Any recommendations?