I did it. Finally.

If you just met me now, at this point in my life, you'd probably have no idea what an avid reader I used to be, and how much I love books. I just seem to have so little time for reading anymore, and when I do have the time (before bed), I tend to fall asleep while reading. I had kind of hoped that with all the time I had off this summer, that I was going to be able to really dig into a few good books and get back on the train again.

So, what better book to start off my recommittment to reading than Steinbeck's East of Eden? After all, it's a classic, and no one tells a story quite like John Steinbeck.

Yeah, ok. I probably should have started a little less ambitiously. Don't get me wrong, the story really pulled me right in, and his writing is beautiful. It's just that there were a lot of pages (632). And a lot of words. Lots and lots of words. Combine that with my limited ability to stay awake while reading in bed and I averaged only about a dozen or so pages a night for many weeks. It took me over a month to read it, whereas I used to polish off a couple of books a week. But, as I rounded the final stretch (last 200 pages), I kicked it into high gear, and I'm proud to say that I finished it last night.

Next on my queue, The Road (Cormac McCarthy). Evan read it in one night, so I'm hopeful that I can tackle it in a reasonable amount of time (caveat being that he is an insomniac, so many nights he stays up til 3 0r 4 in the morning). I'm really determined to be the avid reader that I once was, even if it kind of feels like work in the beginning.

ISO Reviews and Recommendations

First - has anyone read this, or anything by Cormac McCarthy? I think he wrote 'All the Pretty Horses.'

I saw this book at the supermarket the other night, and thought Evan would like it. It seems right up his alley. However, I was too cheap to pay the $14.95 hardcover price. Our local library doesn't have it yet, so now I'm rethinking my reluctance to buy it.

If you've read it, give me a review.

Next, we finally got around to watching Babel. Definitely enjoyed it (though, not as much as Crash, which is the movie it is constantly compared to). My Netflix queue is getting shorter as we make our way through it, so ISO suggestions for movies to add to it. I'll watch almost anything, except for action-adventures. So, give me suggestions?