The other day, C. and I were at a bookstore.  I picked up a book and showed it to her.

“Oh look,” I said.  “Another thousand-page book.”

She told me she thought I should lay off the thousand-pagers for a while, particularly since I just finished reading one, have just started on another one, and still have a third waiting for me after I finish that one.  “I think you should have a look at the beach reading section,” she added.  “Those are probably more your speed.”

I should probably mention here that I’m currently reading The Confusion, which is the second volume of Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle.  I bought the first book, Quicksilver, back in 2003 when it came out in hardcover.  I finally finished reading it on Friday.

In my defense, I started reading Quicksilver about two weeks before I was accepted to business school.  I didn’t get very far before I shelved it in response to other demands on my time.  Classes and the recruiting process can do that.  Then the job search.  Then the job.

As I mentioned in my Kindle Reader first impressions post, I considered buying the Kindle editions of the three volumes, so I could read a page or three during the dribs and drabs of time I spend waiting in line for stuff.  But I’m still not convinced that I would remember what was going on the next time I found myself waiting for something.  So I ruled that out.

Five and a half years later… it’s been quite a slog, but worth it in my opinion.  Hence my going straight away to the second volume.  I recommend it if you’re a math/science/history geek like me.

Otherwise, may I suggest you check out my beach reading list.  There are some good reads on there.

Have you read any of the books on the list?  Leave a comment and let me know what you thought of them.