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	READING			READING NOW
	i used to read one book at a time. i used to read that book in a very regimented manner, like fifteen or twenty five pages a day, depending on how simple or dense the writing. i used to set a schedule and track my progress making it so i knew when i should be done with the book and if i completed the book as expected. sometimes i finished on time, and other times, i never finished at all. the never finishing at all business bothered me. like a lot. i found that a slow moving or not right for this moment book could stall my reading, all my reading. i knew changing the book might clear the block but consequences loomed. this is the ocd side of me. while this quirk sometimes debilitated me, other times, lots of times, my quirk helped me over many of life's saw horses. i needed this to be one of those times. so, i made a small tweak to my reading routine (somewhere along this journey, i stumbled upon the bionic power of small properly-placed tweaks). instead of focusing on one book, i now read four - six books at a time. and instead of reading in a genre rotation like i once did (e.g. fiction, history, literature, non-fiction, psychology, fluff, repeat), i read all genres at once. and instead of reading for a set amount of pages per day, i read for a set amount of time, thirty minutes. when the reading window comes up, i set the timer, pick one of the books from the currently being read stack, open to the bookmarked page and collapse into another person's world and experience. now when i stall, i stall for bigger, more meaty causes, the sort of things one should set their book down for. not just because the lead character in the book blows or the author and i aren't jiving at the minute. this i can live with.			Stranger in a Strange Land Robert A. Heinlein Wherever You Go There You Are Jon Kabat-Zinn Bleak House Charles Dickens Stumbling on Happiness Daniel Gilbert Endurance: Shackletons' Incredible Voyage Alfred Lansing Mindset Carolyn Dweck
	READ BEFORE	BOOKS FROM : 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
		The Invisible Man Ralph Ellison 12.2000 Typically when I read a book from the MLA's top 100, I can see why it's there, whether I agree or not. Not only is this book in the top 100, it is high in the top 100. I'm not certain on what basis though. While I found it to contain a unique tale, I found the plot scattered and unlikely. Furthermore, this book is to politics what Lolita is to sex; there's plenty of it in there, but no direct reference to it in the language. This most likely represents my majority reason for struggling through the piece in that I know more about feminine hygiene products than I do about politics. Can you say no prayer. link to this review
		The War of the Worlds H.G. Wells 12.2000 Possibly, the most amazing aspect to this novel rest in its timeless nature. That Wells crafted this tale in 1898, same as his Time Machine, simply boggles the mind. I guess its dated nature explains why this has such a different feel from modern day sci-fi. There is a simplicity to the narrative style which sincerely conveys the primitive nature the human race would truly assume given such an event. You just don't get that feel with Bruce Willis behind the helm or nuclear weapons in the equation. link to this review
		Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (book 3) J.K. Rowling 10.2000 I read an account of someone bashing Potter for it's ill representation of women/girls in the series. This stands as one of the more absurd dings against this fairly controversial series. I mean seriously, it is written by a woman and the main female character is also the smartest, hyper-smart actually, not to mention the voice of reason. If the detractors of Potter cannot do better than this, they should capitulate the battle. link to this review
		The Harried Leisure Class Stephen B. Linder 09.2000 Harried represents the work of a Swedish intellect who set out to observe a technologically advanced society (us) and the ramifications our evolution had on our lifestyle. The assumed postulate has always been "technology evolves culture" providing benefits and amenities not available to primitive peoples. Done. So what happened? Why so many abject and woeful people? According to Linder, too many goods and not enough time to play with all the toys. In a society with a lot of product, before you may consume, you must produce and in order to produce, others must consume. We have us a vicious little circle here. But, ultimately the lesson smacks of high school grammar, we all know how it works, we just don't know the rules. link to this review
		The Invisible Man H.G. Wells 08.2000 Wells, again, demonstrates that his mind rode on the creative concord of his time. This story is very authentically told with an extraordinary eye for the details given the extraordinary scenario. There is no question that imaginative abilities like this are not pedestrian. The only flaw resides in the fact that this scientist was smart enough to make his internal organs and skin invisible but did not have a convention to garner transparent apparel. Our hero therefore has to wander the streets of winter-time London buck naked. Thought of everything but the clothes. Damn the details! link to this review
		The Count of Monte Christo Alaxandre Dumas 06.2000 Hmmm. This was touted as the revenge story to pummel all revenge stories. If speaking of simple duration, I would concur, but if these sage reviewers are speaking of true visceral revenge, I doth contest. Due to the longish nature of the book one certainly feels the pain that comes from loss of time. But, as for good ole medieval payback, I'm afraid it falls short. Now what act serves suitable in this scenario? I'm afraid one who has not endured such trauma is capable of inventing the requisite recompense, but I do know that you would much rather have the count on your ass than Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus. link to this review
		Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (book 2) J.K. Rowling 04.2000 I'm a little surprised there isn't a greater stink about these novels that there is. Or should I say, lesser books have been attacked with greater vigor. Given the amount of adolescent violence and mayhem portrayed tags the book as a non-American based work. I just don't think it would fly here post columbine, etc. And, I read where this series is credited with single-handedly getting kids in the library again. Whoo-Hoo! link to this review
		Brave New World Aldous Huxley 04.2000 This didn't speak to me like it seems to have spoken to many before me. link to this review
		Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (book 1) J.K. Rowling 03.2000 Good young adult fiction is as rare as above par science fiction. Therefore, when something sound comes out, people consume it like repeat ticket buyers in line for Titantic. Rowling creates an engrossing tale here. The world she has created possesses enough detail and creativity to keep the story moving and enjoyable. link to this review
		An American Tragedy Theodore Dreiser 03.2000 Let me first say that this book has been the best I've read in some time. Based on an actual criminal record this psychological tour de force compels one, if the reader elects, to perform some crafty mental gymnastics. The very discussion got me in quite a banter session at a dinner party - sorry for demonstrating empathy towards someone who is not me. I can admit that this tale touched me due to parallels I drew to my own past and would not expect it to touch others similarly, especially women. However, I am comfortable asking nay-sayers to hold any diatribes until you walk in the birkenstocks of the accused. link to this review
		Battlefield Earth L. Ron Hubbard 02.2000 Hubbard's opus makes The Stand read like a USA Today article. I'm hip to and respect the literary technique of forcing a reader through a long journey to emulate a long journey, but I'm not seeking high literary prowess out of the likes of Scientology's father. It took me about four cracks at this tome to finally cap it for good. But, on its side, the movie makes the book look like one of man's greatest contributions to the arts. link to this review
		For Whom the Bell Tolls Ernest Hemingway 01.2000 The plot of this book is basic, the storytelling is not. Hemingway's ability to describe a moment is so powerful and the image so vivid, you may think it your own memory. I always marveled at a great writer's ability to describe something as simple as a man lighting a cigarette and you don't picture someone you've seen lighting a cigarette, but instead perfectly visualize Hemingway's guy lighting a smoke. link to this review

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