The Final Chapter

Well, here we are, 13 years after the beginning of this blog. I have previously completed the 1001 album and movie lists, but those kind of pale in comparison to the commitment of reading 1001 novels that range from spectacular to disgusting to mind-numbingly dull. I thought for my farewell post, I could do FAQ format. Some of these questions are inspired by comments I have received, others are just topics I want to address in a last post. If you have an additional question you want me to answer, you can comment here, and I'll come back and edit the post with my response.

You don't deserve to read these great novels that you fail to appreciate, you self-righteous cunt.

Thanks for reading! 

How do you read so fast? You post once a day! You need to get a life.

I appreciate your concern! I am a fast reader, but my post schedule doesn't actually reflect my reading schedule. I had drafts saved on some of these entries for years, and would compose entries after I finished each novel. And I have a full life, hopefully reading will always be a large part of it.

Should I start this list, and start my own blog, and follow in your giant footsteps?

That depends. I started the List out of a desire to read the "classics." The "classics" probably make up about twenty percent of the List. Most of it is composed of lesser known works of famous writers, with a strong Western bias. There are probably better lists to pursue obsessively for 13 years.

That being said, if you are following the list, I would recommend going in loose chronological order, as it really helps put the novels in context and it's cool to track different movements and trends. I would also recommend keeping a blog, or at least a journal if you have a Kafkaesque aversion to people reading your writing. Otherwise, many of the entries tend to blur together in your mind.

But if you are crazy enough that you are attempting to the Golden Quest (albums, books, and movies), we should really have a drink sometime. 

So what, you think you are like a musical, film, and literature genius now? I bet you can't even name ten Metallica albums.

And Justice for All..., Master of Puppets...you know what, no, I am not going to dignify that with a response. Yes, I do feel like I'd be a kick ass Trivial Pursuit partner now, as long as you have my back on any sports questions. But honestly, the stuff that sticks with you is the stuff you love. I might as well not have read Finnegan's Wake for all I got out of it. What I've taken away from each of these projects are the hidden treasures and new favorites. Of course, those moments of discovery are different for everybody depending on your taste, but when those moments happen, it's pretty magical.

What's next for you?

I am currently getting my masters and want to pursue my own creative writing, so I'm happy to free up a lot of my time by finishing this project. Reading wise, I would like to read more works from my favorite authors who I discovered through this List. I also don't think I will be able to resist completing the other editions of the 1001 Novels list. I understand that the subsequent editions offered a much more comprehensive view of world literature, rather than obsessing over the same five dead white guys (and I say that with affection towards those five dead white guys). But I don't want to write about those novels. I can't tell you what a relief it will be to read a completely "meh" story and not have to write a blog post about it.

So long and thanks for all the fish!