One of the unexpectedly pleasant things that has come to happen at the end of the year is the sharing of reading lists. I am grateful to FOTB (Friends-Of-This-Blog) Leigh, Bob (x2), and Kev for sharing theirs. Which prompted me to share mine.
That said, one of the things that impressed me about the lists of others was that intentionally or unintentionally, they seemed to follow some kind of plan, be it a theme, period, or author. That is usually somewhat different than how I address things, so it got me to thinking about a slightly more organized reading program for 2026.
I suppose the good news is that I have a rather full library to pull from, so finding "Themes for Reading" will not be hard. This is what is currently planned:
1) Japanese Martial Arts/Culture: Maybe no surprise as I have also listed passing the JPLT N4 test as a goal this year, but between that and my Iaijutsu, it would not be a bad idea to "settle back in" as it were.
By my count, I have well over 100 volumes dealing with aspects of Japanese history, culture, literature, and martial arts - easily enough to constitute a full reading program.
2) 20th Century Christian Writers (C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, Leslie Newbigin, G.K. Chesterton): It occurs to me that I need to go back and re-read some of the great 20th Century Christian Writers - all a lot smarter than I am and better writers to boot. Lewis, Schaeffer, Newbigin, Chesterton - these were men that grappled with the hard intellectual issues and were able to write well on them. I need this sort of re-direction (as it were) in my life.
3) Wendell Berry: One of the things that showed up at the end of last year was that I really enjoy Wendell Berry but have not read enough of him, beyond his three books that I own. My goal is to rectify that by not only re-reading the works of his that I own, but some of the others (poetry and fiction, I suspect).
To list those wide swaths is not to exclude other things; for example, I have three other books by bedside right now (Loeb volumes of Clement of Alexandria and The History of the (Later Roman) Empire by Herodion Volumes I and II). Other books will undoubtedly make their way in as the year goes on, as sometimes the mood just "catches me" to read a thing.
I will remain interested in how this (slightly) more focused approach leaves me feeling at the end of the year.
It sounds like you have an impressive personal library. I think one of the best investments that can be made is books.
ReplyDeleteI've never thought that I had a reading plan, but after reading your post I realize that I kind of do. Nothing formal like a list of specific books, but an idea of topics I want to research this year, plus genres I enjoy, with room to read something someone recommends.
Thanks for posting about Mr. Berry, will look at his efforts in the coming year when I visit the library later today TB. Only book on the purchase list right now is the second volume of Rick Atkinson's American Revolution. Remember Osprey Publishing? Counted the titles I had from them on my bookshelves......uh.... 237.....ulp.
ReplyDeleteIn a similar category as Berry you could include Gene Lodgson.
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