I meet an avid reader at a party who kept an Excel spreadsheet with every book that he had read.

What I found most interesting about that habit was that he said he could go through the list and remember what was going on in his life when they read that particular book.

I started my 'What I'm Reading' list on the right column of this blog when I started working at Tucows in July. I'm glad to have a record of what I read this past half a year. In trying to remember what I read in the first half of the year, not surprisingly, all I can remember are the books that were really good.

So here is a partial list :

The Davinci Code (an ideal gift at Christmas 2004; perfect for reading in airports as I finished my travels)

Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry - the first book I read when I got back to Canada.  I love Mistry's books.

Mercy Among the Children by David Adam Richards.  A profound story; highly recommended.

Unless by Carol Shields.  I have mixed feelings about this book.  Some parts of it were beautifully written but I found the overall message about modern womanhood (and how it relates to the plot) a bit forced.

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger This is not great literature but its a good story.  Recommended reading for anyone considering a job in a highly subjective industry (fashion, music, art).

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides I felt that this novel dragged on at the end (and confession: I skimmed the ending). Since I grew up near Detroit, a city with a rich history, I found the first half of the novel very interesting. 

Raymond and Hannah by Stephen Marche.  A good old Toronto novel, an interesting perspective on cross cultural relationships, and the experience of re-connecting with your faith.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.  Just after I finished this book, I saw a person on the TTC reading it.  He looked up to get off at his station and saw me looking at him.  He said, 'this is an amazing book'.  I said, "I know, I just finished it'.  Its that kind of book - you need to tell someone how good it is, as you read it.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry.  If you read one book that I recommend, read this one.  It is not too long.  It is not too depressing.  I thought that it was incredible, well written and a beautiful story to illustrate that life is a fine balance between hope and despair.