What Are You Reading Now?

[Bo Diddley]

I've been reading Mike Leavitt's memoirs. I always looked up to him for how he led and who he was as a person. It was interesting hearing some of his stories early on in the National Guard and basic training which reminded of many of my own experiences.

In 1997, I was selected to be his Soldier of the Year (he was the Commander-in-Chief) so I got to drive him around in the Humvee during the pass & review parade at Governor's Day. General Gordon was really specific that I needed to ease on the accelerator because the year before the driver had gunned it and almost lost all of them off the back.

http://www.leavitthistory.com/

[SteelBlue]

The Atlantic has put out a list of Great American Novels. Their list came out 5 days ago and is still behind a paywall so I'm posting the listchallenges version that someone uploaded. This version is nice because it keeps track of how many you've read while you comb through the list.

"...we approached experts—scholars, critics, and novelists, both at The Atlantic and outside it—and asked for their suggestions. From there, we added and subtracted and debated and negotiated and considered and reconsidered until we landed on the list you're about to read. We didn't limit ourselves to a round, arbitrary number; we wanted to recognize the very best—novels that say something intriguing about the world and do it distinctively, in intentional, artful prose—no matter how many or few that ended up being (136, as it turns out). Our goal was to single out those classics that stand the test of time, but also to make the case for the unexpected, the unfairly forgotten, and the recently published works that already feel indelible. We aimed for comprehensiveness, rigor, and open-mindedness. Serendipity, too: We hoped to replicate that particular joy of a friend pressing a book into your hand and saying, 'You have to read this; you'll love it.'"

I've read 38/136.

[BigPiney]

The Atlantic has put out a list of Great American Novels. Their list came out 5 days ago and is still behind a paywall so I'm posting the listchallenges version that someone uploaded. This version is nice because it keeps track of how many you've read while you comb through the list.



I've read 38/136.

I'm at 19. Need to get reading. There were also a few that I started and didn't finish.

[SteelBlue]

I'm at 19. Need to get reading. There were also a few that I started and didn't finish.

I pictured you laughing when you saw Lincoln in the Bardo on the list.

[BigPiney]

I pictured you laughing when you saw Lincoln in the Bardo on the list.

Ha, I actually finished that one.

[Copelius]

Only 1

[chrisrenrut]

The Atlantic has put out a list of Great American Novels. Their list came out 5 days ago and is still behind a paywall so I'm posting the listchallenges version that someone uploaded. This version is nice because it keeps track of how many you've read while you comb through the list.



I've read 38/136.

I like lists like this. I started working through a top 100 list in the early 00’s. I’m probably around 25 on this one, many I read due to recommendations in this thread from you fine people. There are few that caught my eye and I’ll add to my list. But there are also many that just don’t interest me.

[BigFatMeanie]

Only 6. That list is garbage. Too much modern trash and too few classics. SJMO

[falafel]

I've been reading Mike Leavitt's memoirs. I always looked up to him for how he led and who he was as a person. It was interesting hearing some of his stories early on in the National Guard and basic training which reminded of many of my own experiences.

In 1997, I was selected to be his Soldier of the Year (he was the Commander-in-Chief) so I got to drive him around in the Humvee during the pass & review parade at Governor's Day. General Gordon was really specific that I needed to ease on the accelerator because the year before the driver had gunned it and almost lost all of them off the back.

http://www.leavitthistory.com/

I wonder if I'm in there. Did you read anything about a weekday staff meeting of the Governor's office on a Wednesday or Thursday in June or July 2002? The one where the Guv (as he liked to be called) had a Diet Dr. Pepper and a bag of microwave popcorn as a snack. Slightly overcast.

[falafel]

Only 6. That list is garbage. Too much modern trash and too few classics. SJMO

I've only read 10, and I've heard of less then half of them.

[Bo Diddley]

I wonder if I'm in there. Did you read anything about a weekday staff meeting of the Governor's office on a Wednesday or Thursday in June or July 2002? The one where the Guv (as he liked to be called) had a Diet Dr. Pepper and a bag of microwave popcorn as a snack. Slightly overcast.

Wait. Are you the nose picker?

[USUC]

Only 6. That list is garbage. Too much modern trash and too few classics. SJMO

Lacks some seminal Sci Fi works. No Last of the Mohicans, Scarlet Letter, moby Dick, Huck Finn?

[falafel]

Wait. Are you the nose picker?

[Bo Diddley]

That's pretty cool though I would have liked actually meeting him and talking to him.

[SteelBlue]

Lacks some seminal Sci Fi works. No Last of the Mohicans, Scarlet Letter, moby Dick, Huck Finn?

I neglected to mention that it's only books from the past 100 years.