Novels I Didn’t Have To Read For Work In 2008

An unorganized, partial list of some of the non-work-related books I read (but weren’t released) this year.

The first time I met drummer Bill Stevenson (the Descendents, Black Flag) in the mid-’90s, he swore that I would love Charles Bukowski. It has taken me over a decade, but I’ve finally read him, and I liked it. I read Post Office, Ham on Rye (my favorite), Factotum (which I liked, even though Matt Dillon was on the cover — never a good sign), and Hollywood.

I was sent When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris for review. I realized that I had enjoyed reading most of these stories previously in The New Yorker and asked around for recommendations on his other books. I guess that I’m a little late to get on the David Sedaris train, as asking around lead to widespread disbelief that I had never read his books.

Someone recommended that I read Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, which I did, although I was reluctant to do so as I specifically remember my mom reading the book a few years ago. It was funny.

The Sedaris books lead me to Birds of America: Stories by Lorrie Moore, at which point I was seriously doubting my taste in authors. It had its moments but I don’t recommend reading it.

However, another Sedaris-seal-of-approval book, The Columnist by Jeffrey Frank, was really enjoyable. I read it in one sitting (plane ride to China).

During a road trip through New England this summer, I read Travels with Charley in Search of America, which I highly recommend. I had previously reread East of Eden and was on a huge Steinbeck high. Ahh.

I enjoyed reading The Sun Also Rises this year. Somehow this book had escaped me previously, as had the The Great Gatsby and Animal Farm.

I also reread The Complete Stories of Franz Kafka and for the first time read Under the Volcano.

I’m always wondering what I missed, from classics to contemporaries. Suggestions?

– Chris Force