Skip to main content

Posts

100 Best Books Challenge: Remarque

It' been awhile, but I have been busy so excuse my absence.  My next venture on the 100 Best Books Challenge was All Quiet on the Western Front  by Erich Maria Remarque.  I first cracked this book open back in April and just finished today (September 17th).  Why did it take me so long?  I think a couple reasons prevented me from finishing this book in a timely manner.  This spring/summer was particularly busy for me and my family, I read other material and put this one on hold, and honestly I wasn't super motivated to finish this one.  Don't get me wrong I think All Quiet on the Western Front  is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone, especially to gain insight on the plights of war, but as I was reading the story there were times I was bored.  Many of the chapters in the book are page turners, but there are a lot of instances in the book where the main character is reminiscing and reflecting.  I appreciate these moments, as I ...
Recent posts

100 Best Books Challenge: Bradbury

I started this journey at the bottom of the list, and honestly I am surprised.  To be completely honest I had never read Fahrenheit 451  by Ray Bradbury before and it automatically jumped to one of my all time favorites.  After looking at my list of 100 books  I am surprised this one landed at the bottom of the list, but I have a lot more reading to do. The book follows the main protagonist, Guy Montag.  Montag is a fireman, and the book takes place is a dystopian future where firemen start fires.  Specifically book fires.  Books are outlawed and the idea for this future is all about equality and fairness (and not in a good way).  With books there are too many ideas and thoughts that could influence people in the wrong way.  Montag begins to see issues with the society in which he lives in and I'll stop there as far as a summary goes.  The book deals greatly with censorship and government influence or control over society.  There ...

The Journey (100 Best books Challenge)

As a former English teacher, obviously I have done a lot of reading, but there are times I reflect and think, why haven't I ever read that book?  For a bulk of this blog I am going to be focusing on visiting what are considered the best books of all time.  Some I have read, others (and actually many) I have not.  The list I have compiled is made up of 100 books (actually technically 103, I'll explain below).  Perhaps you care or not, but why am I doing this?  I believe there is much to be learned from reading, as many experts would agree.  I also believe that some of the greatest minds put there thoughts down in the form of novels, novellas, etc., and I believe there are great lessons in all of these books I am about to read, or re-read.  I also have a sense of insecurity knowing that I taught literature and there is so much out there that I have not touched for whatever reason.  For my own accountability I have laid some ground rules for myse...

The Introduction (or Why this Blog Exists)

I have always been somewhat of an avid reader to many people's surprise.  I wanted to start documenting my reading in a way to keep track of my thoughts and feelings (kind of cliche) about what I am reading, as well as share my thoughts with others.  I have no clue where this blog will take me, but I do have some ideas that are listed out below: Reading Log : I intend to almost complete old school book reports for each of the books I read.  I will include specific information, and my thoughts on each book as I finish them, or as I am reading them.  I do read a range of material, so don't expect the same stuff over and over again.  Typically I enjoy works of fiction, but I do branch out quite often.   Stories and Testimonials : I think its intriguing to look back and reflect on times when reading had a specific impact on me.  Part of this blog will be devoted to those stories.   Education : I am a teacher at heart so it would be, sor...