I perpetually have long lists of things. Things to clean, recipes to try, travel to plan and, of course, books to read. And for some reason I can be a real idiot about this last one. I will sometimes put off books for ages even when it seems (or perhaps because) every person I know has read and loved it. Then I finally get around to reading them and I, like my friends assure me, fall in love with them as well.
In the last six months I have experienced this thrill twice! In September I finally read (sparked by a book club list) Jeffrey Eugenides’ Middlesex which I have been hearing glowing remarks about since undergrad. And yesterday I finished Eugenides’ Virgin Suicides. Both of these, as promised, were remarkable pieces of literature. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a novel as much as I enjoyed Virgin Suicides despite the rather dark subject matter of the book. I really need to start listening to my friends more often. Maybe this reminder will be enough to get me to finally read Moby Dick . . .
What books have been lingering a little too long on your own "To Read" lists? Maybe summer and APL’s Summer Reading Program will be the perfect time to tackle those neglected titles.
