2014: Crime and Funerals

Ah, another year, another reading goal. Having not quite made my reading goal for 2013 (cough, cough, missed it by a few dozen), I decided to knock it down from 85 to 80 this year. I reduce my goal every year in the hope that my goal and my actual number of books read will eventually meet in the middle. Gone are the days when I try to read a book a day or even read 100 books in a year.

This year I will probably be focusing on Victorian crime and books relating to funeral studies as I am currently fascinated by the former and earning a degree in the latter.

My problem the past few years is that I just haven't applied myself to reading. I read when I have nothing else to do rather than making it a priority in my free time. So as long as Candy Crush dies a fiery death, I'll be good.

In my defense, I did also get married last year.  We had a Moby Dick-themed ceremony in North Carolina and then we renewed our vows in the Seamen's Bethel, which is mentioned in Moby Dick. So yay for me.

Why Read Moby Dick?

Nathaniel Philbrick has already made a gigantic contribution to Melville studies by providing us with In the Heart of the Sea, about the whaleship Essex. The story of the Essex provided Melville with a real-life basis for some of the fantastic events in Moby Dick.

Soon, Philbrick's new book, Why Read Moby-Dick?, will give us more of his valuable insight into this great American novel.