Tuesday, June 7

As most of you know, I am currently undertaking a reading of 100 top novels. I call it The Human Narrative Project. I compiled my own list of great novels: classic fiction, novels that are rich with meaning, stories written by diverse authors on diverse topics. I’ve also dedicated myself to writing up a review of each novel. That’s been fun; it lets the novel sink in, and I feel like I take something important away from my readings. After writing the review, I post it online, at my alter-ego theological blog, Theos Project. (www.theosproject.blogspot.com)

I am currently about 15 or so books in. I’m trying to work at a pace of about one novel a month. Though I’ve been remiss about posting my reviews, I have been writing them out, on paper, and I’ll be posting some of these soon.

In any event, today I came across a list of “Author’s all-time favorite novels” in the Christian Science Monitor. These are novels that the writers themselves most enjoy:

1. Anna Karenina….Can’t say it’s a favorite of mine, but the writing is damn good, and I can see why a writer would love it.

2. Madame Bovary…Haven’t read it. In fact, it isn’t on my list. Should I add it???

3. War and Peace…..More by Tolstoy. This also is not on my list, but I’m tempted to add it; maybe drop a Dostoevsky novel. The thing is, I didn’t really love reading Anna Karenina…soooo….hhhmmm…

4. Lolita……This novel was a page turner for me. I love Nabokov’s style, both in terms of his story telling ability as well as his lyrical prose. It is the closest I have seen, thus far, to a perfect novel. I will possibly add more Nabokov to my list, tough I already have one other novel, The Defense, on my list.

5. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn….Not on my list. But it probably should be.

My favorite read so far….that’s a tough one….I’ll say Catch-22.