It has come to my knowledge that the list that I have originally posted is from the 2006 edition of the 1001 Books You Should Read, and now the book has been edited a total of three additional times: 2008, 2010, and now 2012. I have found a list that has compiled all four editions of the books, for a complete number of 1,305 books. I may actually add it to the "Books" page, once I am done editing it. Point being, the list is definitely not about the 1,001 books that are magically deemed worthy by editors, but the continual addition/revision of what is out there. The list pushes my personal boundaries of what I would normally choose to read; because let's face it, we all get comfortable with the stories we know, and the cultures from which they originate.
Now, in reference to the title of this post: I should NOT be allowed into book stores, especially Powell's. For those of you not familiar to Powell's, it is a book-lover's safe haven, portal, debt-creator, and most of all: Holy Grail. Used books, specialty books, books in foreign languages: you name it, they will probably have it. I wandered into Powell's today to find my school books for this coming term (I prefer to buy them at Powell's because they are a local business, and they offer most novels at a cheaper price than the school book store)... I found all of them, but I found one more; Kazuo Ishiguro's Remains of the Day. Ever since I relished and devoured Never Let Me Go, I had to venture into Ishiguro's world once more.
I am definitely taking advantage of my break from classes and required reading to devour more literature before I go back to the tiresome, dreadful analysis that is "close reading." This practice of reading "closely" is similar to that of studying art: you look so closely, you lose the entire image. The beauty of the story has disintegrated into diction, word choice, syntax, and the worst word of all: intention. Although a new appreciation for the writing process may arise out of this deconstruction, an old adoration is destroyed. I have to change my brain, switch it from one channel to the other, in order to enjoy a novel again. My love of books has ultimately destroyed my ability to enjoy them.
And one last note (I know this is long), I promised myself to write at least once a day. I have neglected myself and my inner sanctity and have not written much in a long time. So if I don't write here once a day, I definitely won't wait another 3-6 months before writing here again. My promise to myself, and maybe even you, dear reader. That is, if you are even out there, reading this...
"The only thing more painful than being an active forgetter is to be an inert rememberer." - Jonathan Safran Foer
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