Wait until I keep track of the films, then you’ll think I never leave the house.

Rebecca January 14th, 2008

I read, on average, a book a week. I’ve done this for as long as I can remember. Yes, I was that child. You know, the one you remember seeing at the upscale restaurant with her parents, not communicating with them because her nose was deeply buried in something wildly inappropriate for her tender age like Germaine Greer’s The Female Eunuch. I don’t really think about my literary addiction, though, until someone throws down the gauntlet. Or, in Chris La Tray’s case, someone innocently mentions he’s a bookworm too. Yes, that’s me in the comments on Chris’ piece for New West, getting all up in the poor guy’s face and announcing it’s on like Donkey Kong:

Should we each keep a list, compare them at the end of the year, and–just to make it interesting–compete for a prize? Drinks at a favorite bar? Coffee at a preferred coffeehouse? Fame and fortune, or at least a free bookmark from our favorite bookstore?

I’ve never, ever kept track of the books I’ve read over the course of a year. Oh, I generally know what I’ve read just by glancing at my bookshelves or seeing a familiar dust jacket at the library or bookstore. However, I’ve never written any of the titles down. I think it will be interesting to see where my mind takes me in 2008. You can follow the two of us along on my new Bookworm page. And who knows? Either you’ll be inspired to try this experiment yourself, or you’ll look at it and wonder just what the hell I’m thinking this week.

10 Responses to “Wait until I keep track of the films, then you’ll think I never leave the house.”

  1. # Matton 15 Jan 2008 at 11:19 am

    so far i’ve only got one book under my belt for january - Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders (P.S.)

  2. # Rebeccaon 15 Jan 2008 at 11:22 am

    Maybe your list should be alongside mine on Bookworm.

  3. # Pareon 15 Jan 2008 at 12:05 pm

    “Fear of Flying” = age 10

    The list-keeping becomes oddly satisfying. Trust me.

  4. # Rebeccaon 15 Jan 2008 at 12:54 pm

    Yep, that’s the age I read Eunuch. I also read my mother’s copy of Flying and Fanny, and her D.H. Lawrence collection that year. All of them influenced me more than I care to admit.

  5. # Matton 15 Jan 2008 at 4:55 pm

    i’d have a much easier time tracking my films.

  6. # Rebeccaon 15 Jan 2008 at 5:22 pm

    That’s the Netflix Experiment.

  7. # Chrison 15 Jan 2008 at 11:52 pm

    I bet you think you are a big shot for already having four books knocked out, eh, Rebecca? Well I just closed the cover on #4 mydamnself, so don’t start calling for the bartender just yet. . . .

  8. # Rebeccaon 16 Jan 2008 at 11:07 am

    Okay, NOW you’re throwing down the gauntlet! ;-)

  9. # Ruth Seeleyon 20 Jan 2008 at 5:25 pm

    Ok, this is my kind of challenge. I’ve got a little book dedicated to writing just the titles and authors of the books I’ve read - have kept a list of the books I’ve read ever since they first told me to in my first creative writing class.

    I think I’m up to eight so far this year, but I haven’t been working so I’ve got an unfair advantage.

  10. # Rebeccaon 20 Jan 2008 at 6:05 pm

    You ought to find a 9 to 5 job just to even things out, Ruth.

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