Chapter 1

I can read. I mean, I'm reasonably literate and have had a normal education and everything that implies. But I recently realized that I was a grown up, and that I was never going to be required to read anything again for the rest of my life, and that it was up to me - to me, who doesn't understand why alchemy doesn't work! - to determine the course of my education for the rest of my life. I guess I always assumed that by the time I was an adult, all that would be kind of taken care of; I'd have read and learned all the important stuff and could devote the rest of my life to niche pursuits and the latest chic fiction. Instead, I find myself with gaping holes in my education and a TBR list that gets longer every day.

The other thing is, I kind of don't remember what I've actually read, as opposed to what I've pretended to have read, or started and never finished, or listened to on tape, or saw the movie version of...in short, I need a system, and fast. I decided, therefore, to start this project: read through some list of great books and keep a journal, just for accountability's sake.

I looked through a lot of lists of books (there's no shortage on the net), and decided to stick with the classics: modern library 100. Once I get the English under my belt, maybe I'll go global, but let's keep it simple for now. Okay, wish me luck.

A little background might be a good idea. I'm 26, work from home as an editor/ghostwriter (plus part time in a boutique), and recently broke up with my fiance and boyfriend of 8 years. My sublet, here in Brooklyn, is a charmer, but in the grand tradition of such things I don't have it for long.

Today's sunny and cool, I have a banana pudding in the fridge, and I'm ready to start with no. 100 - The Magnificent Ambersons.