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Terms of the Duel

New-Year's resolutions have a pronounced and infamous tendency to fall by the wayside by, say, the 1st of February. Perhaps, however, that is because they are resolved upon, adhered to, and discarded, by solitary individuals. Perhaps what's needed is some good old-fashioned competitive spirit.

The participants:

  1. Ilya Gandelman - desk jockey from 9-5:30, Monday thru Friday. Free time activities include, but are not limited to, writing, reading, watching tv/movies (very selective in this area!), eating Meredith's delicious food, playing with Gizmo, spending time with family and friends.
  2. Meredith Gandelman - also a desk jockey, from 9-6, Monday thru Friday. Free time activities include, but are not limited to, reading, watching tv/movies, cooking/baking for Ilya (and others), snuggling/playing with Gizmo and spending time with family and friends.

The resolutions:

  1. To read more books
  2. To watch less television
  3. To spend less money (by reading library books, and by making our way through unread volumes gathering dust on the shelves)
  4. To spend more quality time together with a shared interest

Therefore, the challenge proposed: who can read the most books in a year? On one side the wife, on the other the husband: who'll get the most volumes under her or his belt before 2015?

The rules:

  1. Books will be chosen independently. Any genre or subject is eligible.
  2. No second thoughts once starting a book. An uncompleted book is not counted, except of course as time lost. We shall have to choose carefully; and if a book seems to be disappointing, best to soldier on through to the end!
  3. A 300-page minimum. However, books briefer than 300 pages may be combined with others to count as one entry in the Duel.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

"Unwittingly, I had earned a Ph.D. in survival"

Pages read today: 90 for Meredith, 50 for Ilya

Our poor kitty (Kali) has been having a rough go of it the last couple of days (once the pain meds ran out) from her dental extravaganza last week.  After a couple of days of not eating we decided it was time to take her back to the vet.  Armed with some additional, new meds, hopefully they will help her be in less pain so she will start eating and be back to her normal self again soon!

 So with all of that going on (dropping her off at the vet before work, picking her up at the vet after work, etc.), coupled with it being one of those days at work where it seemed like I just couldn't get anything done so I skipped most breaks trying to actually get something done, there was far less reading time for me today.  Nevertheless, I managed to finish up Running With Scissors!  I have noticed that the reviews for this cringe-worthy-moments-laden memoir seem to be pretty polarized.  Love it or hate it, it seems.  Overall I would have to say I'm in the love camp.  It was certainly unlike anything I've ever read before and there were more times than I count where I laughed and/or said "oh my GOSH!" (or some derivative thereof) out loud.  The subject matter is quite intense and if it is all in fact true to the author's life, then wow... just wow.  I also read some conflicting information on that... apparently the family members have sued and claimed that everything is a gross exaggeration (but really, who wouldn't say that with the kinds of things being discussed in here!).  Ultimately, there's no way for anyone other than the author or the people involved to know for sure, but I'm ok with that.  The book was well-written and entertaining and if nothing else will really make you appreciate your life, as it seems highly unlikely that it can be anywhere near as messed up as what is set forth in the book!  It certainly isn't for everyone (again, love or hate), and I will try not to judge too harshly if it's not for some of you, but I really liked it and will be checking out some of the author's other memoirs as well (which I have heard chronicle later periods in his life).  

 Now I shall move on to Water for Elephants.  All of my friends who have read this one have thoroughly enjoyed it, and it seems the reviews in general are quite rave-esque.  We shall see... I'm not entirely sure I understand what it's supposed to be about.  I have never seen the movie for this one, so I'm going into it completely fresh, like a sponge ready to absorb all of its goodness!

Ilya also finished up Flowers for Algernon.  This one might actually make it onto my "to read" list as well, based on what he has told me about it.  I believe he will be writing a post tomorrow with his thoughts on the book, so look forward to that!  


As for now, we're both going to stare at the back of our eyelids for about 7 or 8 hours.   Good night and keep reading!
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