So, I was driving home last night thinking that as much reading as I do, I should really be an expert in something. But I'm not. Unless Dorothy Parker quotes count.
There are two excuses for this: 1: My interests are spread too thin for me to read intensively about one particular topic for very long, and 2: frankly, after sitting and reading congressional blather and computer code all day, I'm not all that inclined to sit and read for fun in my free time. Even my pathetically lazy and lethargic self requires some level of motion and physical activity in order to not be a complete and utter cranky bitch.
So I have set myself a project, and I put it out here so that you guys can shame me into accomplishing it. I'm already a little ashamed not to have done it before now, so you've got a head start already.
I am going to read Shelby Foote's 3-volume opus on the Civil War. All of it. Start to finish.
Three thousand pages, people. 1.2 million words.
It took him 20 years to write it. I'm giving myself a year to read it. Well, technically a year and three days.
If I can do this, maybe there's also hope for me finishing the Bible cover-to-cover along with an accompanying explanatory concordance.
Or maybe I'll just look closer to home and become an expert on the battles of Manassas. At least if I do that, I can get a job as a docent if I get fired for blogging.
Shelby's opus is actually a pretty friendly read, believe it or not. I've read it twice since college. If you've ever heard him speak, you can almost hear him in your head. The cadence of the writing borders on being lyrical in that delightful educated southern way.
Posted by: tigmode | July 30, 2006 at 11:14 PM
Wow, what a long read...!
Our church has read through the Bible twice and we use the one year Bible, which breaks it into days. There's one version that ties passages together, and then one (which I liked more) that is in historical order of how things actually happened. Sometimes you end up reading the exact same thing over again, because it's in two different books, but it's still interesting...
Posted by: summercamp | July 30, 2006 at 11:16 PM
First of all - this just goes to show how MUCH you can know a person, without ACTUALLY KNOWING THEM at all.
I have no clue as to your ... religious persuasion.
Until I read your reply to summercamp I hadn't even thought about it.
Anyways - have fun with reading. When I was like 13 and 14 my mom and I read David Eddings 14 book series "The Belgariad". (It's actually in two parts, and I can't remember what the other half is called... but anyways.)
Yeah - have fun. :)
Posted by: modernfairie | July 30, 2006 at 11:17 PM
Tig: Yeah, that's what I'm counting on. Tha Mistah said that too, about hearing his voice as you read. :) I've read bits and pieces before, excerpts about battles that occurred in places where I happened to be visiting and that kind of thing, but all the way through was just too much like a commitment!
Camp: That is an interesting way to approach it. Might be more in line with my thought patterns, as well. :) I dunno. I don't even know why I feel so compelled to read the Bible, actually. I'm not Christian, and I've read enough creation myths and flood myths and so on from comparative religions to last a lifetime. But I feel guilty in terms of its existence as a historical document. Having not read it, I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing a huge foundation for a lot of history. I mean, duh, of course Christianity and its various aspects played huge roles in world development. Obviously. I'm just not sure my understanding of history will improve by reading the Book O' Rules Behind the Whole Movement, so to speak. But it can't hurt. :)
Posted by: average blogger | July 30, 2006 at 11:18 PM
You would definitely like the Chronological One Year Bible then...
Posted by: summercamp | July 30, 2006 at 11:18 PM
If you go into it reading it like it's the Illiad, you'll be just fine. The thing about the Bible is, if it's not your religious text, then reading it is kind of... well... like slogging through Homer.
When you start, get a New King James Version. All the nice poetry of the King James cleaned up for the modern palate without touching the equivalence to the Strong's Concordance (in the event that you want to look up original translations.) If you're looking for a nice read and not worried about comparison to historical documentation, get the Message paraphrase.
Don't like the paraphrases myself (The Living Bible and the Message are the two most popular) because you can't cross reference to the original language, but for reading the Bible like a book they are good.
Posted by: raphaela | July 30, 2006 at 11:19 PM