TL;DR

In our fast paced world many of us don’t have the time – or the inclination – to read long books. Maybe we once aspired to them. Maybe we did not. But they’re titles that keep coming up over and over in conversation. I am not ready to give up and I encourage you to never give up! Here’s a brief list of the books I am gearing up for this winter.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

19^th Century Russian Lit can be very fulfilling. Like all great literature, it explores the depths of the human soul and has inspired generations. Crime and Punishment has been on my list for many years. And, sometimes, I think it’s a crime I haven’t read it yet.

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

I first saw the musical version of this when I was in the high school choir – and it was an existential inspiration. The questions it brings up range from: What is freedom? What is the role of the individual in society? And the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law – among many others. When Victor Hugo died the entire nation of France wept. It is rare that a single writer can capture the spirit of a nation.

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

This book goes under the Mark Twain rubric of “a classic is a book that everybody talks about but nobody’s read.” I’ve started this book before. It was a challenging book with which to engage. I am ready to try again. And this time, I’m ready to finish. And that is no jest.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

My wife loves Ken Follett books and I have often been curious about them. This particular book of Follett’s is considered a classic by many. Sometimes I find that fantasy books delve a bit too much into world building but, after the last few years, visiting another world for an hour or two at a time sounds like a nice vacation – especially with Follett as a guide.

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

This book is considered the first novel of the Western Tradition – though the world honor of that title goes to the Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu – which I also aspire to read. Don Quixote is an, almost, perfect novel combining adventure, derring do and courage in the face of both inner and outer obstacles. It was one of the great reads of my life and I am planning on returning to it again. I like to think there is a little Don Quixote in all of us. So, get on that donkey and tilt at some windmills!

What are some of the TL;DR’s that are on your list? Let us know.

- by Chip, Hopewell Branch