Finished!

I felt like Maria on top of the hill when I finally finished!

I was an English Major in College. Tackling enormous and sometimes overwhelming books was par for the course back then. When I graduated I had a lofty goal of reading a classic every fourth or fifth book that I read. I think it did stick for a while. I read Middlemarch and Moby Dick after college. These days I tend to choose mostly contemporary books. That is why I chose to challenge myself recently by rereading Anna Karenina. Perhaps I was inspired by the lush Keira Knightly film and wanted the book fresh in my mind before I watched the latest retelling on film. I figured I would plow through this book. I am embarrassed to admit it took me well over a month to finish, closer to two months if I am being really honest. Last night I was a bit shocked when the book finally ended. I felt a bit of relief mixed with sadness. Even though it had taken me a while to put it mildly, it felt like it ended so abruptly. I quickly started reading Junot Diaz' latest collection of short stories and devoured three stories in one gulp. I frankly could have finished the book last night if I had allowed myself to stay up. I don't know why reading old books is a bit more of a chore for me. Despite the challenges I am going to continue to force myself to tackle on older classic now and then. I often want to revisit the books of my college courses. I wonder if they will mean more now.