There are two motives for reading a book: one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it

I got “tagged” with this book post by Cincy back in October and am finally getting around to filling this out. I love to read, but rarely find the time to do so these days unless I am stuck on an airplane for a few hours (and even then, I’m usually catching up on my Vanity Fair or Surfer magazine subscriptions). Anyways, here we go…

1. One book that changed your life:

Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert Massie. I was enrolled in a world history class in summer of 2001, and after sitting through an incredibly fascinating four hour lecture on the Russian royal family, I ran to Barnes & Noble to find a book on the subject. I ended up purchasing Massie’s extremely well-written account of Russia’s last Tsar, and finished it within days. Thanks to this book (and many others that would soon follow), I re-oriented my studies at GW to focus on Russian politics and history, spent two summers in Russia, and earned a Master’s degree in Russian Studies from LSE. Of course, my current position has nothing to do with Russia, but hopefully in the future I’ll get to use this knowledge…like maybe when Putin brings back the USSR and needs a bunch of economists to staff GOSPLAN…yeah, I could totally run a planned economy.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once:

This is a hard one, because there are a lot of books I like to re-read. A book that I could read over and over again? That would have to be Herman Wouk’s The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. These two volumes are quite possibly the best account of World War II I have ever read. They’re historical fiction, but Wouk doesn’t skimp on the facts. If you have any interest in WWII, read them.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island:

The U.S. Army Survival Manual. I have a copy of this back in California (no idea why, it’s just sitting on my book shelf), and trust me, I would need this if I’m ever stuck on an island a la “Lost.” Seriously, I need a book to show me how to light a campfire…

4. One book that made you laugh:
I’m cheating and picking two…

English as a Second Language by Megan Crane. This is a fun, light, total “chick-lit” book – a genre that you will rarely find me reading, as most of my books tend to focus on Russia, Russia, and, oh yeah, Russia. I borrowed this from my friend Moira and read it on my London-Luxor flight. It was one of the few books that actually made me laugh out loud (semi-embarrassing when you are stuck in a middle seat on a crowded plane). The basic premise of this book is that an American moves to the UK to attend graduate school. Yeah, now you know why I enjoyed it so much. The book was hilarious because I could actually identify with the author’s grad school experience: the English weather, the pubs, the horrible food, the odd grading system…basically, everything. I was disappointed, however, to read some of the reviews of this book on

Amazon:
“I think that anybody who reads this book and thinks it strikes a chord should probably get themselves to an AA meeting.” Uhhh…yikes.

And the second book, Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture by Douglas Copeland. I’m not a member of Gen X (Gen Y represent!) but I could still identify with this tale of three twenty-somethings living in my hometown of Palm Springs, California (OK, I’m from Rancho Mirage/Palm Desert, but whatever, 10 miles away). Copeland perfectly captures the absurdity of living in a “desert resort.” This is required reading for all my friends from the desert. I’ll lend you the book if you want, just let me know.

5. One book that made you cry:

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I picked this up from a second-hand bookstore in, of all places, Luxor, Egypt. I had already finished English as a Second Language, and Lovely Bones was the only book that wasn’t some trashy romance novel or John Grisham bore-fest. I’ll admit that I didn’t actually cry while reading this, but I’ve never felt so depressed while reading a book. Odd, considering that half of my reading material in college was on Stalin’s reign of terror.

6. One book you wish had been written:
My great American novel which I will eventually write. It will rocket to the top of the NYTimes bestseller list and sell millions of copies in 30 different languages. I will then sail around the world in my ridiculously large yacht. Yeah, I’ll get right on that.

7. One book you wish had never been written:
Uh, I dunno…anything by Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh. I actually own one of Limbaugh’s books. It was given to me a long, long time ago by a hardcore Republican relative. Inside the book they cheekily inscribed “To Lindsay: Know your enemy” or something like that. Maybe when I’m stuck on a deserted island I can use it to start a fire, because its literary values is practically worthless.

8. One book you’re currently reading:

The Prize : The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power by Daniel Yergin. I’m slowly slogging through this 900 page monster. Not exactly a page turner, but it’s the classic textbook on the history of the oil & gas industry.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
I’ve got a ridiculously huge stack of unread books back in California…The Brothers Karamazov, War and Peace…you know, the usual collection of dead Russian authors. So, one of those.

10. Six people to tag:
Damn, which of my friends still maintain their blogs? Let’s see, Emily, Ryan, Capitan, Joyce, Will, and Cindy. Anyone else who is up for it, just do it. I need some reading suggestions. The title of this entry, BTW, is a quote by Bertrand Russell.

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