What's On My Nightstand \\ Jan. 2012

I'm letting go.

I'm letting go of this feeling that I must devour every book in sight. Because I no longer feel that knowledge can only be found in books. (I never completely thought that, thankfully.) Because a book should be something someone wants to read, not something someone thinks she has to read. (I know, this completely screws up school's assigned reading.) A book is a gateway, not an anchor. And even if books continue to accumulate unread on shelves, if I can't seem to read them all, it will be okay. Because even if I don't read it, someone will someday. I'll make sure of that.

Voltaire by Candide. I recently finished this one for a class I'm taking, but I really enjoyed it. It's satirical and philosophical, and it was most definitely interesting.

Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery. My initial desire to participate in Carrie's challenge was great, but I have yet to get into this one and the challenge is almost over! I'll read it nevertheless. (And I've just heard about a Laura Ingalls Wilder challenge in February and I'm trying to be level-headed about it, but I may give in and join anyway!)

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. I have absolutely no idea of what this book is about. It's for my class as well.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. You know the movie adaptation is coming out Winter 2012, right? I'm almost done with this one. One word: enchanting.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Another one for my class. (If you haven't noticed this particular class is an English course, the theme of which is, in essence, a musing on whether or not a person can gain too much knowledge. Makes for interesting discussion.) I've read Frankenstein before and enjoyed it very much. I'm excited to re-read and see what I missed. (I'm recovering from the belief that re-reading a book when there are so many unread books out in the world is idiotic. I'm starting to think it is pretty nice.)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. Of course I'll have to read the trilogy after I finish The Hobbit. I picked this up at a cozy used bookstore that I discovered (oh dear) and though "used" the spine isn't even bent. Yay for me!

I edited this after further thought to mention that my local library just got digital downloads of audio books, of course for free. Oh, I love it. I just started listening to Lynn Austin's A Woman's Place and I'm listening to Frankenstein when I'm on the way to school (I have over a half hour commute). It's wonderful!

And now for a parting quotation from Frankenstein:

"How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to be greater than his nature will allow."