Rav from Filmfiler.com came across a list of the top 1,000 books owned by OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) libraries.  It’s basically a Best Sellers list that ranks books based on the total number of copies available at libraries nationwide.  The list contains some good ideas for books to read and after browsing it for ideas, I think I’ll read a Mark Twain novel for my next book.  I should find some time to finish Odd Thomas this week and will be looking for something new to read.

http://www.oclc.org/research/top1000/complete.htm

I just finished reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens, an 874 page tome originally published over 150 years ago.  It surprises me that I enjoy Dickens as much as I do, considering how reticent I was toward his novels in high school.  However, as I mature I find I become more and more fascinated with the past and a Dickens novel is great way to experience the past through the people who lived it.  I say mature, because I prefer to think of myself as developing and improving instead of just aging, but that’s a debate for another time.

I stumbled upon Bleak House while browsing through classic literature at a local Barnes and Noble store.  I really enjoyed Great Expectations and had most recently read A Tale of Two Cities, so I decided to look for some other Dickens novels.  At first I was a little intimidated by the size of Bleak House, but I eventually accepted the challenge, purchased a copy, and began.  Although I felt it meandered a bit and could have done without a few characters and side plots, such as Mr. Guppy and Mr. Weevle, but I enjoyed it nonetheless and feel better for having completed it. I won’t go any further critiquing this classic which has already been written about by better judges than me.

After completing such a heavy (both in weight and substance) book, I decided to read something a little easier next and settled on Cell by Stephen King.  I started it this morning and was hooked immediately, I think I’ll finish it pretty quickly.