Sit and experience

"I fear we no longer take the time to sit and experience"

From Poetry for You, @ Blurb

She had decided to stop, to look around her, to feel, to laugh and cry. To pay attention. But, after a while, everything was a blur, life rushed back in, and she couldn't stop. She didn't have time to look around anymore. No time for flowers, or colours. Stones or tress. No time for lazy breakfasts and long walks. No time to enjoy.
And then, she remembered. She had to take the time to sit and experience.

If you really want to hear about it...

Yep, I have finally started my year of reading dangerously with The Catcher in the Rye. I've actually read this book already, many years ago. I can't say that I didn't like it, but I definitely didn't get it, or at least, I didn't get as much from it, as many other people seem to have. Perhaps I was too young, perhaps it wasn't the right moment in my life, perhaps the Spanish translation I picked up wasn't very good.
I'm intrigued to see if my experience this time is similar or completely different. I'm a different person in so many ways that I wouldn't be surprised if it was. I'm much more centered now that I used to be, I'm more aware of everything around me (or at least, I like to think I'm), but, above all, I'm so much more open to other people's experiences, opinions and ideas, and so much more confident that being challenged is not longer a threat but a very welcoming experience.
So, I'm off to read and will let you know what happens.

More reading

OK, so I have changed my mind (again) and I'm going to do the Reading dangerously challenge (My Year of Reading Dangerously) properly. Here are the 6 other books I'm adding to my list:

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger: thanks for the suggestion, Cheryl. I read this book years ago in Spanish and I've been meaning to read it in English for a while now, so this is the perfect opportunity.

Forgotten Voices, by Max Author: I wouldn't normally read a book about war, so that's the challenge. Also, I do want to learn more about WWI as I feel there is not enough information out there about it (certainly not as much as about WWII)

Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden: I got this book as a present many years ago, and I want to read it, and then watch the film to compare them.

The Secret Story, by Donna Tartt: I have never read anything by Donna Tart, so it's a new author to try!

Also, two books that have been on my shelves for a really long time: Prozac Nation, by Elizabeth Wurtzel, and White Teeth, by Zadie Smith.

Phew, I better start on one of this soon. Not today, though. This is my first week back at work after more than a year and I'm EXHAUSTED in the evenings, so I'm reading something light and funny: Remember me? by Sophie Kinsella (of Shopaholic fame!)

Reading

I'm joining a reading challenge, My Year of Reading Dangerously. I have to read 12 books I consider "dangerous" during 2009. These can be banned or challenged books, new genres, authors I'm afraid of or (my favourite) books that seem to have a permanent space on my shelves. I have 6 books in my list so far (any more suggestions?):

Rayuela (Hopscotch) by Julio Cortázar: Very scary, what I don´t get it?

100 años de soledad (100 years of solitude), by Gabriel García Márquez: Ive loved other García Márquez's books, but, for some reason, have always resisted reading this one.

The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova: As much as I loved Buffy on TV, vampire books are not my thing, but this one has been recommended by my sister so...

The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie: I WILL finish one of his books.

My New York Diary, Julie Doucet: I have never read a graphic novel and this one (recommended on the Dangerously challenge blog) looks great.

In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote: I like "fun, light Truman", but I have always been TERRIFIED of reading this one. Thanks, Jan, for the recommendation!

Come and join us. Otherwise, you can join one of these reading challenges: Art History Reading, A to Z challenge, Childhood favourites.

Update: I'm thinking I'm going to leave my list as it is, with only 6 books. Even though the challenge says 12 (and I definitely going to read more than that number of books this year), I want to have time for other non-dangerous books.

Reading

I love reading. But I, too, wish I could still read like a girl again.

Finding books

For me, finding a book is one of the greatest pleasures in live. Of course, reading something from your favourite author is great. You know what you are getting and you know you like it. But there is something magical about discovering new authors, new themes, new worlds. I recently found The unknown errors of our lives in a exchange book in a hostel in Ecuador. I have never heard of the author and I have never heard of the book. I normally prefer novels to short stories. But I picked it up (I think it was the title what drew me to it), I opened it on a random page and that was it. I read it in a day, and I loved every story. The characters, and their errors, will stay with me for a long time.