cannonball read

a few years ago i started reading movie reviews on pajiba. i thought the reviews were smart and funny even when they were mean. i started using the site for recommendations to fill the netflix queue. they started to post “comment diversions” recognizing that their audience was filled with people looking for an excuse to take a 5-minute break from cubicle work. one diversion involved switching your ipod to random and listing in the comments the first 5 songs that came up, no matter how embarassing. the post featured a photo of ashlee simpson. i put my ipod on random and among the decemberists, stars, and the beatles in my top 5 was an ashlee simpson song (that i secretly love). i got freaked out by the coincidence and closed out of the website…until the next time I needed a 5-minute break.

then, in 2007, they published a list of our generation’s best books, as chosen by pajiba readers. it was my first law school summer and i had been longing for books for months. i worked from home that summer so my schedule was flexible. i got a library card and read 10 books in 2 and a half months. i used the pajiba list as a starting point and had a truly enjoyable reading experience that summer.

starting now, pajiba is hosting cannonball read, a challenge to 100 readers to read 52 books in a year. there is a back story, but it’s not really mine to tell (and it’s kind of sad) so look it up on pajiba.com if you’re interested. look for a weekly book review here for the next year.

here are some books i wish i hadn't already read and could review because i loved them so much:

straight man…richard russo

the year of magical thinking…joan didion

the amazing adventures of kavelier + clay…michael chabon

moon palace…paul auster

the beautiful things that  heaven bears…dinaw mengestu

want to help? leave me a book suggestion in the comments.