How I did it: About two-and-a-half years ago, I wrote in my journal that I could not find a currently-written novel that would hold my interest. I thought contemporary literature was in deplorable shape. When I found this goal on 43T, I thought, Well, it can't hurt to broaden my reading horizons.

I limited myself to reading novels published in the year 2000 or more recently, and I read them in alphabetical order (by author's last name). Having these three constraints really did broaden my reading horizons. I chose authors I would not normally have chosen. I ended up with a pretty balanced list between male and female authors. My three favorite books were:

1. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
   
2. Three Junes by Julia Glass
   
3. The Ambidextrist by Peter Rock
   
4. Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelet Waldman

(Okay, so that's four favorites.) I hadn't read anything by any of these authors before, so I discovered them through doing this challenge, and I would gladly read another book by any of them.

My faith in the state of the novel was restored. I would definitely do this challenge again. And not only did I discover that really well-crafted novels are still being published, but also I gained a great sense of personal accomplishment by reading all 26 books clear to their very last word. (Too often I've been a fickle and nonmonogamous reader and tossed a book aside the moment my wandering eye thought another book looked better.)

As I was nearing the end, I allowed myself to read a couple of older novels that were published prior to the year 2000. I plan to do this challenge again, but I would include some poetry and some nonfiction, and definitely include some classics.

Lessons & tips: Have fun with it! 

1. Go to the bookstore and browse. When I was feeling flush, I'd go to a new book store. When I was feeling short on cash, I'd go to a used book store. I deliberately did not buy books ahead of where I was in the alphabet - the trip to a book store every few weeks was part of the fun.
   
2. I looked at lists of literary prize winners on Powells.com for ideas of novels to look at when I went to the book store.
   
3. Read steadily, every day. This challenge took me 25 months to complete, but that includes some time out to read a few other books in between some of these novels.
   
4. I have my Rule of One Hundred Pages: I will stick with a book for 100 pages, and if I am just not into it by that point, I will choose another one. So there were a few in this challenge that didn't make the cut (a Q author, a V author...). I feel it is good to stick with a goal and see it through, but there's no point in becoming a martyr over your reading list. Reading's what you do for pleasure - so keep it fun. 

 

Resources:

• Lists of literary prize winners (Pulitzer, National Book Award, Orange Prize, etc.). I used Powells.com, but these lists can be found other places as well.
  
• The "Staff Picks" bookshelf at one local shop
  
• Occasionally, a New York Times book review moved me toward choosing a particular book.

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Feb 08, 2009, 09:28PM PST | 3 comments | 13 cheers