In descending order of most to least enjoyed. My favorite read of the month was a reread... The Stranger, Albert Camus (1942): Short, powerful novella; apparently emotionless dude in Algiera murders a nameless Arab and is condemned for it, but doesn't ever seem to emote over anything. Life is absurd and a series of … [Read more...]
Top 5 Books I Read in 2024
Top 5 Books I Read in 2024 I read a lot of good books this year. Top 5 is impossible... Other standouts, all great: A Short Stay in Hell, Steven L. Peck Evicted, Matthew Desmond Preacher (6 volume graphic novel), Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon Fatale, Jean-Patrick Manchette A Walk in the Park, … [Read more...]
Top 5 Books I Read in 2023
Top 5 Books I Read in 2023 CTMQ's Reading Challenges and Lists … [Read more...]
Top 5 Books I Read in 2022
Top 5 Books I Read in 2022 CTMQ's Reading Challenges and Lists … [Read more...]
Modern Library Top 100 Books 81-90
Because They Made a List... Modern Library Top 100 Books of the 20th Century (Books 81-90) I used to think I was qualified to write actual reviews of these books. I am not. So 20 years into this effort, I've dumbed it down for the good of us all and now just write a few sentences. 90. Midnight’s Children … [Read more...]
Modern Library Top 100 Book Reviews 91-100
Because They Made a List... Modern Library Top 100 Books of the 20th Century (Books 91-100) I used to think I was qualified to write actual reviews of these books. I am not. So 20 years into this effort, I've dumbed it down for the good of us all and now just write a few sentences. 100. The Magnificent … [Read more...]
Books & Reading Challenges
2,500 Books Note: If you found this page via a CTMQ.org Library stamp from a book you grabbed from a Little Free Library, say hello in a comment or via email! Especially if you found the book outside of Connecticut! I love lists and when I turned 50 in 2022, I began more seriously reading book lists that interest … [Read more...]
Modern Library’s Top 100 Novels
Just Read 2002 - 2039 or so Outside of all the regular CTMQ stuff, I have other goals. One of those goals is to read The Modern Library Top 100 English novels of the 20th century. If all goes well, I hope to finish the entire list around retirement age. This little scheme began in 2002 as an agreement with Hoang … [Read more...]
Top 100 Modern Library Books Tally
At the turn of the century, the Modern Library, whomever they may be, came out with a list of their Top 100 English Literature novels of the 20th Century. Criticism abounded and many more lists and counter-lists were developed. But I had met a girl in 2000 who agreed to tackle the whole list with me, plodding slowly … [Read more...]