Things to say about books you have never read

How well read are you? Do you have conversations at dinner parties about books old and new? How do you get round discussing the books you haven't had the time or need to open yet?
There are so many books - good books - interesting books - eye-opening books - entertaining books - educational books - heartwarming or thrilling books. You cannot read them all.

I have friends who devour several books a week. Fast readers? Yes, but also with temporarily life situations that allows time to spend hours reading every day. I take longer, there are many other things on my daily schedule as well.

I just read an interesting article about what to say about books you have never read.
It's simply impossible to read all books. So how about learning a summary of classic books to make interesting conversation? It's like having an opinion about a movie you haven't seen, but only read the review.

I have discovered a fun way to remember books I have read. I have a beautiful little note book where I write my own book reviews. I write down the title of the book, the author's name, year published, a synopsis, my review, and when I read it. I enjoy flipping through and remembering good books and recommending them to others.

Last entry of my personal book reviews is this:

"Dissolution" by C.J. Sansom (2003)

Set in an exciting period in history during the dissolution of the monasteries. Shardlake is a likable and clever investigator. It is well written. I was there - at Scarnsea - seeing, smelling, and feeling. I am excited to read the other 4 mysteries with Shardlake; Dark Fire, Sovereign, Revelation, Heartstone.

Story: 1537. Matthew Shardlake is a lawyer in the service of Cromwell, King Henry's VIII's vicar general. He is sent to investigate a murder in a large Benedictine Monastery in Scarnsea, on the south coast of England.

Read September 2012

Reading unveiled

If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads, but what he rereads.
François Mauriac

Is it OK not to finish a book? Or even throw one away?
I don't mind if I finish early if I don't enjoy the book or if even throw it away, if I don't want to keep it in my library and be associated with my choice of reading.

To be picky about what we place into our minds is a good thing. What we are and what we become is under construction all the time - even under correction. The hard-disk in our head has room for much knowledge and many observances in life. Read and reread the things you find important to you and your own development and well-being.

My Wheaten Terrier sometimes places himself by the veranda door and does not bother to push the curtain away off his head. He can kind of watch me in the kitchen through the veil across his eyes. He can hear me and he knows I am there.

I hope to read books unveiled and know what I am absorbing.