Reading Goals

I am sad to say, I have failed. In January I decided I would read 52 books and 52 plays in 2008. If you are up to date on my GoodReads account, you will see I am not even close. I gave up in October. And to be honest, the list might be a little padded as many of the plays were short plays, one acts, or original works that can be easily read on a slow train ride home from work.



In 2009, I want to set a more reasonable goal - 12 books that have been on the "burn" list. When I googled "burned book list" a blog came up with a list of the top 50 books that have been on the burn list. I am not sure how this list was established, but I was very surprised at what was on it. To Kill a Mocking Bird, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Great Gatsby - all books on the required reading list for my high school. Public schools in westside Cincinnati are not progressive - at all. How did these books get this list? When were they on the list? How and when were they taken off?


While these books shows how our society has progressed over the years, they also show the sad place we have come from. I have lead a very good life. My generation has experienced very little repression. Is there still racism? Yes. Is there still discrimination? Yes. Is there still room for development to a more compassionate and equal nation? Yes. But negative actions are no longer condoned. We have come a long way and my generation has not experienced much of the growing pains. I want to read these burned books to see what was thought to be so bad, how it is now received and how it made it back into common society.



As I read each book, I want to research the history of the banning, burning, and reintroduction. When I was doing the 52 list I was just trying to get through the book. Looking back I can hardly remember what I have read, let alone what I learned. While I will continue to read plays for my acting, my pleasure reading will be these burned books and their history.



I am not sure if I will reread a book I read in high school or college. Would a few years of life experience shed new light on the story? I am not sure, but I hope to find out.