365 Books a Year Challenge: 27 Books in October

I'm in the final stretch of reading this year with just two months to go and 332 books read.  It seems safe to say I will make the 365 book mark and in all likelihood pass it.  This will put me at over 100+ books than last year.  Not a bad year in terms of reading I would say.  Clearly, this month I didn't make the 31 count to match the days, but since last month I hit 47 and October was incredibly busy, I'm ok with that. 

What I'm less ok with is that I didn't read any traditional books but graphic novels and audiobooks.  I am into some degree of at least 4 books that will make the list for November in all likelihood but I'm sure some people are snickering at my claims of "reading" 27 books despite they not being traditional "books".  Of course, interestingly, if I read every one of Shakespeare's writings, those also would not constitute "books"--they are plays and poetry collections.  


In terms of works that stuck out this month, there wasn't a lot.  There were a few disappointments (The Design of Future Things by Donald A. Norman and Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now by Douglas Rushkoff) but only three that stuck out to any degree.  

Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville


To be fair, I've read Bartleby before but it came through as a title to review this month and it had been a while so I figured another listen was worth it, since I do enjoy it.  I'll save talking about the narration as that's part of the professional review I wrote.  But Bartleby is on of my favorite Melville stories and I love to teach it.  The tension and consternation of the narrator with Bartleby is wonderful to watch as he knows not how to deal with such a direct force as Bartleby and his "preferences."

You Are Now Less Dumb: How to Conquer Mob Mentality, How to Buy Happiness, and All the Other Ways to Outsmart Yourself by David McRaney



Books like McRaney's are great as I find them to help center me and keep a wide open perspective about how people come to see the world (including myself) and how even when we may think we are right or see something clearly, we are substantially bogged down by external and internal forces that lead us to believe we know more than we might.   It earned a 5-Star rating (meaning I think it's required reading for everyone!) because I think so much of dialogue on so many different subjects could be enhanced through learning about the different ways in which despite our best efforts, we often fail at communication.

Doctor Sleep (The Shining, #2) by Stephen King


King returns to the world of one of his most famous and classic books with Doctor Sleep and it's a great trip.  King manages to deliver another story in the world without it being a sequel per se but rather, a continuation of the journey started in The Shining.  He loads it with his typical features (supernatual, characters devoid of morals, cross-country treks, and good folks with power never quite sure of what they are supposed to do).  I continue to enjoy King for his dedication to the story and writing style; he tells great stories that are always worth listening to.

So there are my highlights from this past month.  For those keeping track, here's the full list of books thus far (or check it out on GoodReads):
And for those who want to know what books I enjoyed, here is the list:  

AUDIOBOOKS

  • Social TV: How Marketers Can Reach and Engage Audiences by Connecting Television to the Web, Social Media, and Mobile by Mike Proulx
  • Doctor Sleep (The Shining, #2) by Stephen King
  • Oil and Honey: The Education of an Unlikely Activist by Bill McKibben
  • The Design of Future Things by Donald A. Norman
  • Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville
  • Sister Mother Husband Dog: Etc. by Delia Ephron
  • You Are Now Less Dumb: How to Conquer Mob Mentality, How to Buy Happiness, and All the Other Ways to Outsmart Yourself by David McRaney
  • Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now by Douglas Rushkoff

GRAPHIC NOVELS

  • Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Vol. 1 - Force Storm by John Ostrander 
  • Domovoi by Peter Bergting
  • The Last of Us: American Dreams by Neil Druckmann
  • Bandette Volume 1: Presto! by Paul Tobin
  • Wonder Woman, Vol. 3: Iron by Brian Azzarello
  • The Answer! by Mike Norton
  • Daredevil: End of Days by Brian Michael Bendis
  • X-Treme X-Men, Vol. 2: You Can't Go Home Again by Greg Pak
  • Wolverine Volume 1: Hunting Season by Paul Cornell
  • The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 2: A Troubled Mind by Dan Slott
  • Star Wars, Volume 1: In the Shadow of Yavin by Brian Wood
  • Superman Beyond: Man of Tomorrow by JT Krul
  • Commencement (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, #1) by John Jackson Miller
  • The Defense of Kamino and Other Tales (Star Wars: Clone Wars, #1) by John Ostrander
  • Star Wars: Vaders Quest by Darko Macan
  • The Ahakista Gambit (Star Wars: Rebellion, #2) by Rob Williams
  • Star Wars: Jango Fett by Ron Marz
  • Star Wars: Chewbacca by Darko Macan
  • The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor and the Ship That Sank Twice by Mike Carey



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