Frayed Edges by .Bradi.

Photograph by .Bradi.

I have always been an avid reader, often reading two or three books at a time, yet I realized when I did this I couldn’t recall the finer details of these very much appreciated books, whom, cliché as it may seem, have been my dear friends for a long time. I couldn’t recall the great words (perhaps because there’s just been too many) that made me smirk, tear up, and laugh aloud – the words that made me live with them as they drifted from one sentence into another, the words I would have liked to hold on to, and refer back to. Thus, I’ve decided to savor each book that I read. Mark down passages. Think. Contemplate on them. Taste them and ponder at their flavor for a while.

Having said so, the following is a list, which is not in any particular order, of what I’ve read recently, what I’d like to read, what I should read (don’t know what that means), what I’d like to reread, and what I may or may not read. The list may actually grow longer rather than shorter, as I seem to discover a new book each day, but that cannot be helped - I am a very greedy reader.

So, without further ranting …

The Reading List:

(Suggestions are welcome!)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

  1. Silk by Alessandro Baricco
  2. Jane Eyre (Penguin Classics) by Charlotte Brontë
  3. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
  4. Washington Square (Signet Classics) by Henry James March ‘09
  5. My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
  6. Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates
  7. Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
  8. The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
  9. The Lover by Marguerite Duras
  10. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
  11. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
  12. Atonement by Ian McEwan
  13. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier  Unfinished
  14. The Seducer’s Diary by Sören Kierkegaard
  15. Artemisia: A Novel by Alexandra Lapierre
  16. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
  17. Selected Poems of Langston Hughes by Langston Hughes (Related Posts: Gypsy Melodies)
  18. Ocean Sea by Alessandro Baricco and Alastair McEwen
  19. Umrao Jan Ada, Translated Khushwant Singh by Mirza Mohammad Hadi Ruswa
  20. Perfume by Patrick Suskind Unfinished
  21. Beasts (Otto Penzler Books) by Joyce Carol Oates
  22. Disquiet (Penguin Original) by Julia Leigh An odd little book.
  23. Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier March ‘09
  24. A Cup of Tea: A Novel of 1917 by Amy Ephron April ‘09
  25. The Mark of the Angel: A Novel by Nancy Huston April ‘09
  26. Snow : A Novel by Maxence Fermine April ‘09
  27. Asylum by Patrick McGrath
  28. The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
  29. These is My Words by Nancy Turner
  30. The Painted Kiss: A Novel by Elizabeth Hickey June ‘09
  31. Lust, Caution: The Story by Eileen Chang June ‘09
  32. Jamilia by Chingiz Aïtmatov June ‘09
  33. One Sunday Morning: A Novel by Amy Ephron Sep. ‘09
  34. Love and Summer: A Novel by William Trevor Oct. ‘09
  35. The Lover by Marguerite Duras *Currently Reading*

16 Responses to “The Reading List”

  1. Pari Jan Says:

    You must read The Thirteenth Tale – brilliant and somehow reminds me a bit of Rebecca! :)


  2. Pari Jan – Thank you for the suggestion, I’ll be sure to check it out. I absolutely loved reading Rebecca.

  3. seekingnoor Says:

    Let me know how you like it! So many books, so little time :)


  4. Seekingnoor -I will, and indeed time is of the essence!

  5. Rafael Says:

    As salam ‘aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

    I don’t see any Hesse on your list! Buy Siddhartha!
    http://www.amazon.com/Siddhartha-Hermann-Hesse/dp/0553208845


  6. Rafael – Wa Salaam.

    I looked up your suggestion – Thank you, it looks like something i should enjoy and benefit from. This is way input and suggestions from all different sources and people is so important. Thank you again! :)

  7. Rafael Says:

    And you *better* like it because it’s my favourite novel. You have been warned.


  8. Rafael – Ahh…i see, so i’ve been warned, have I? It must be some novel to come with such a recommendation.

    I can’t say i’ll get to it right away, but Insha Allah i will get to it.

  9. Zios Says:

    Very nice collection of titles :-) ….and very nice blog.

    I like your ID too…takes me back to the childhood when evenings were full of ‘raat ki rani ‘ and ‘ mutti ki khusboo’ :-)


  10. Zios – Thank you, and yes those languid childhood evenings are most definitely represented in those words, as is the sweetness of our land.

  11. Aadil Says:

    A very impressive list! I’d love to read even half of it!
    Your blogs impressive too!


  12. Aadil – I too would love to read even half of it! :)

    Thank you for your kind comments.

  13. J Alan Says:

    Impressive list indeed….
    You might want to try One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

    One of my favorites……the resiliance and power of man to survive and find comfort in small things…you might like it.

    Hope all is well with you and yours…

    Alan


  14. Alan! How are you? Yes, I’m fine, thank you and doing well. How have you been?

    And you’re right, i just might enjoy One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, actually i was looking at the book a few days ago :) I’ll be sure to put up on my list and get to it eventually (god willing).

  15. J Alan Says:

    It’s good to hear from you…..
    I missed your words of wisdom.
    Havn’t had much internet access!

    I’m doing well… been doing a lot traveling of late, very satisfying but tiring as well. (actually love almost every minute of it!)

    Take care …..and may God keep you in his sights.

    Alan


  16. Alan, yes, it’s been a while, but I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself :)

    Traveling! i wish i had a bit more time for that. All in good time I’m sure.

    Do keep on having all that fun, but keep in touch! You miss my words and i your great photographs!

    Jazakallah (God do you good), and take care.

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