Readathon Check-In #2

I’m a one story a day reader. I’ve known this about myself for a long time. I rarely start a book on the same day that I finish another. Sometimes when a book I’ve read touches me deeply, I might take a few days off reading before I start a new novel to give my brain time to assimilate and further understand what I just read. Or, I’ll read nonfiction.

If I’m able to do Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon in the fall, I think I’m going to read War and Peace or some equally long novel and see how far I can get into it rather than try to read several shorter ones. Don’t get me wrong, today has been wonderfully relaxing. To be able to put aside an entire day for nothing but reading is a luxury.

After finishing my first book for the readathon, I went for a walk to clear my head.

Reading location #2. After the walk I decided to read outside a bit, but first Lola insisted we play some catch.

I just finished book #2, A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean. It’s a complex story about two brothers who obviously love one another and how they communicate. The story is told by the older brother who isn’t sure how to help his younger brother who likes to drink, fight, and is accumulating deep gambling debts. Fly fishing, thinking like fish, and knowing how to read a river help the narrator figure things out. This is one of those stories to be savored. There are some interesting comparisons that could be made between this story and James Dickey’s Deliverance on American manhood, wilderness vs. civilization, and male friendships

It’s midnight now. Not sure what I’m going to pick up next, but I’m going to try to read for at least a few more hours. Confession: I already fell asleep once for about 15 minutes.

How you all doing? Staying awake? Any great book discoveries?

2 comments

  1. I've always meant to read A River Runs Through It. I am especially intrigued given your comparison to Deliverance. I think the film of ARRTI, which I didn't like, is the reason I have kept away from the book.

  2. I think you'd find the story an interesting read. I know I want to re-read it again when I don't feel as rushed. As for the movie, I have only vague memories of it–it must have been on in the background during a party or something. Nice landscape shots and a bloodied-up Brad Pitt is all I recall.

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