Daily Archives: January 1, 2012

Goodbye to 2011

01 Sunday Jan 2012

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New Year’s Day always leaves me a bit dumbfounded.  Has it really been an entire year since last New Year’s?  At the risk of sounding like a cliché, this is a day for reflecting on the past and preparing for the future.  On this blog, that means taking a look at what I read in 2011 and gearing up for another run at 100 in 2012.  We’ll start with a look at my reading stats for the past year.

      • Total Books Read: 75 (Click Here for the List)
      • Total Pages Read: 19,411
      • Average Book Length: 258.81 pages
      • Best Month: July, 14 Books Read
      • Worst Month: May, 1 Book Read
      • Blog Views: 14,382

I am pleased with my stats this year, despite falling 25 books short of my goal.  The purpose of my challenge was to provide focus for my intellectual efforts and keep myself mentally fit.  I definitely think I accomplished that.  This year saw an eclectic mix of books from many different genres, time periods, and countries.  I enjoyed some more than others, and later this week I will post my Top 10 Books from 2011.  Until then, Happy New Year!

#75: 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

01 Sunday Jan 2012

Posted by in Book Review, Books, Literature, Movies

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At long last, here is my final review from 2011.  Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is an unusual book.  It came out after the movie of the same name, but is not a novelization or adaptation of the movie.  It was written by Clarke at the same time that he and Stanley Kubrick were developing the screenplay for the film.  Kubrick wanted Clarke to develop depth for the story, which would help him make decisions regarding how he would shoot the film.

The film version of 2001 is one of my all-time favorite movies.  The effects are groundbreaking and Kubrick is one of the greatest visual storytellers the world has ever known.  The film is also perplexing.  It is the cinematic equivalent of Hemingway’s iceberg method, with ten percent of the story visible.  Clarke’s novel helps to provide context.  It is a good read, but is most enjoyable as an addition to the film.

The Final Count:

75 Read, 25 To Go