Mike > Recent Status Updates

Another one of those books that I think I was assigned to read at some point in school but never actually did.

I was thinking just the other day about the Heinlein juveniles. I give Star Trek the credit for first making me a sci-fi fan, but these books were what turned me into a sci-fi reader. I was probably about middle school age when I discovered them at the library. I thought I’d see if 60 year old me liked them as much as 12 year old me.

A friend of mine wrote this book and she based the main character on her late father, who was a great guy that I always enjoyed talking to. So I’m looking forward to reading it.

A friend talked me into doing the 2025 chapter a day slow read of War and Peace. I’m starting late but hope to be caught up in a couple of weeks.

In an online group that’s doing one book of Paradise Lost a week. Just finished Book III.

Continuing to catch up on classics. I read this in 8th grade and I barely remember anything at all about it. It’ll be interesting to see what I think about at almost 60.

Currently listening to a podcast on the church fathers so I thought I’d read some of the early texts mentioned on the show.

I remember reading this in high school. 9th grade, I think. Beyond that, however, I remember almost nothing about it. But I have a friend who loves the book. Her passion for it has inspired me to give it another go. Looking forward to seeing if 56 year old me finds it more memorable than 14 year old me.

I wanted to read at least one spiritually themed book for Lent. Decided to do this one. I’ve heard much about it but never actually read it. Looking forward to it.

Thought this would make for good Lenten reading.

Decided to start listening to audiobooks in the car. Figured I’d start with this book, one of those books lots of people like but I’ve never read.

I think I’m going to try to re-read the Heinlein juveniles. I remember reading them (and loving them) as a kid and I’m interested to see how they hold up to me now.

They say you should occasionally stretch your boundaries in what you read. Erotic horror is not my usual choice but a super smart friend of mine wrote this book so I thought I’d give a taste. (Pun intended. See the title.)

This is great and I’m loving it so far. It’s taking me a while to read but that’s because they’ve printed all the poems from A Shropshire Lad at the end of the book and I keep stopping to reread the poems as they are being discussed in the book. Very happy I got this one for Christmas.

I saw this in a cool bookstore in downtown Madison, Wisconsin and it sounded fascinating. Bought it to read on the plane ride home.

I heard this author speak on a panel at Concarolinas last weekend and he mentioned this book. Sounded interesting so I thought I’d check it out.

I’ll be 54 next month and I’ve never read Moby Dick. I’ve been thinking about trying to make it through it for years but have never actually done it. Bob Dylan’s praise for the book in his Nobel Prize address has pushed me to give it a shot. Y’all pray for me, here goes. :)

I bought this book on the recommendation of a woman working at this extra cool independent bookstore in downtown Madison, Wisconsin called A Room of Ones Own. I wanted something to read on the plane ride home and when she told me it combines science with philosophical questions about consciousness and and communication between species, I was hooked.

Another one of those books I was supposed to have read in school but never actually did. I heard Bob Dylan reference it in his Nobel Prize lecture so I thought I'd finally get around to completing that assignment from 30 something years ago.

Just getting started. I found this on sale on the kindle store. When I was a kid, I loved reading Greek mythology so a goddess in Manhattan seems fascinating to me. Kind of a Percy Jackson for adults, hopefully.

I'm halfway through and I really like it. How have I never heard of this book? 11 year old me would have absolutely loved it.

I really liked this author's first book Where All Light Tends to Go. Looking forward to reading this one.

I tried to read this several years ago but gave up on it early. Hopefully, I'll make it through it this time.

One of those books I've been meaning to read for years. From all I've heard about it, this seems like an appropriate time.

These books always make feel better.

Daughter and I doing a thing on vacation this year where we each pick a book for the other to read. Being my daughter, she picked this one. :)

Pat Conroy, who just passed away, supposedly said he knew he wanted to be a writer after he read Look Homeward, Angel. I'm almost a third of the way through and I can see why Conroy liked it. It's long, meandering, and semi (if not mostly) biographical. It reminds me of some of Conroy's own novels. Glad I'm finally getting around to reading it.

Rereading this for the first time in many years. I intend to read Lord of the Rings again after I finish this one. That should take care of me for the next 20 years. :)

Figured this would be a good one to read for the upcoming MLK holiday.