Read Modern Library Top 100 books

Just about finished. I am currently reading “Sophie’s Choice”. I have read a lot of books not on the list so it is taking me longer than I thought. Just finished Pat Conroy’s new book “South of Broad” and a new history book “The Decline and Fall of the British Empire” by Piers Brendan. South of Broad was not as good as some of Conroy’s other books, (Prince of Tides, Great Santini and Beach Music) but OK. The Decline and Fall of the British Empire was really entertaining. Some of the characters he describes couldn’t be invented. Oh well, guess I will finish this task someday.

Well,I am still at it. I am currently reading James Baldwin’s “Go Tell It on the Mountain”. Since I am trying to purchase a quality hard-cover edition of each book as I read it (preferrably a leather bound edition) I have amassed quite a library. I am also reading other books not on “The Best…” list. Just finished Pete Hamill’s new book “North River” and I read an old one of his that I had missed entitled “Loving Women”. It was particularly relevant since it takes place in Pensacola where I live.

Well, I’ve got to get off of this computer and back to reading.

Well I am still reading. I have read 30 of the novels (a little out of order as I have a problem getting the books in order. I am trying to purchase a “good” bound edition as I read it, leather if possible, folio society next and finally just a good hardcover volume. Currently reading Henry James’ “The Wings of the Dove”.

I finished Ulysses finally. (Now I know why I didn’t get through it years ago) I was a real slow go but I managed to finally get through it and overall it was worth it, but parts of the book were really tough to get through.

I have finished book number 3 which was “The Great Gatsby”. I had read it in the past and seen the movie, but it was still good re-read.

I have started “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” by James Joyce. A much easier read than Ulysses.

Just ordered Lolita by Nabokov. It is the 4th book in the list. I have seen the movies and it should be a good read.

Still trying to read new stuff in between the books on the list. Just finished “The Poet of Tolstoy Park” by Sonny Brewer (a local writer), and am reading “AWOL on the Applachian Trail” about an AT through hike. Also got the new Stephen King novel “Duma Key”, the new Sonny Brewer book “Cormac” and Rita Mae Brown’s new book “The Purrfect Murder”, and just bought “The Girl With the Pearl Earring” because I loved the movie and want to read the book. I also got the “His Dark Materials” trilogy after seeing the movie “The Golden Compass”.

I will be taking “War and Peace” and “Atlas Shrugged” with me when I go backpacking in the mountains in May.

Oh well, I got all the time in the world to get through the list.

I had actually started to read this many years ago and laid it down. Now I will read it. I also hope to purchase a leather copy of each of these books as I read them. I just ordered a leather copy of Ulysses.