Book Review + Update

I have finished one third of Dante's Divine Comedy! A challenging read to say the least, but thoroughly enjoyable and highly relatable. There was so much to first cantica that I was most definitely overwhelmed. Thus, I had to rely extensively on Cliff's Notes on Inferno to gain a substantial understanding of epic. Also, I got the idea that I should do book reviews as well in my vlog so here is the review for Dante's Inferno: 

Finally, the Comprehensive Reading List has been substantially updated, adding an additional 10 books! These additions will perhaps the final additions to the list for some time, until I am able to finish this years' goal of reading 75% of the list. Also, I probably won't add any links to the reading for a while, at least until I cross off more books of the list.

Where The Red Fern Grows...

          I couldn't find The Great Gatsby anywhere...so I'm moving with my list and reading Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. This is one of the books that I've been hesitant to read. Not that I wouldn't like the story or anything, but more because I was bored of the novel when I read this back when I was in the seventh grade. Perhaps with all these years that have passed by, my perspective of Rawls' classic will hopefully change. I'm already halfway through (I just finished chapter 10 last night) and so far, everything is pacing along quite quickly, contrary to what I once thought years ago. I've yet to reach the part where Billy competes with other coon hunters. 

(SPOILER ALERT!!!) I still remember how the story ends, but I don't know how it got to that tragic ending. (END SPOILER!!!) 

          In the end, I hope to read this book for start to finish and hopefully walk away with an understanding as to why this books has praised so critically and to comprehend the profound message of friendship.

CRL Update!

          I have finished the first of 16 for this year (since that will bring me up to 75%) on my Comprehensive Reading List for this year. Although if I may be honest, reading Dante's Inferno was a challenging read on its own. I ended up using Cliff Notes on the text to get the most out of my experience reading the first part of the epic. Unfortunately, I now realize that if I'm going to understand Purgatorio and Paradiso completely, I'm going to have to find Cliff Notes (or Spark Notes, it doesn't matter much) for the other two parts of the Divine Comedy. So for now, I'm going to be reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby for the time being. By then, I hope to find the Cliff Notes and continue the journey I have started with Inferno.

Comprehensive Reading List

I've been meaning to post this list for a while...

This is my Comprehensive Reading List (or CRL). The plan is to complete this list by accomplishing to successfully read every book on this list. As one can see, I've already made much progress, hopefully in several years' time, I can proudly say that I've read them all :p

Also, anything in blue is what I'm currently reading at the moment :)

01.-02. The Iliad and Odessy - Homer

03. Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Albom

04.-06. The Divine Comedy - Dante Alighieri

07. What You Have Left - Will Allison

08. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

09. The Social Animal - David Brooks

10. The Zombie Survival Guide - Max Brooks

11. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

12. Jurassic Park - Micheal Crichton

13. Next - Micheal Crichton

14. Drudge Manifesto - Matt Drudge

15. A Tale Of Three Kings - Gene Edwards

16. The Lost Witness - Robert Ellis

17. Dead Space: Martyr - B.K. Evenson

18. Then We Came To An End - Joshua Ferris

19. The Unnamed - Joshua Ferris

20. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

21. A Thing or Two About Curtis and Camilla - Nick Fowler
22. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

23. Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales (On A Break...)

24. The Books Of Rachel - Joel Gross

25. Policing As Though People Matter - Dorothy Guyot

26. Retribution - Jilliane Hoffman

27. Prince of Thieves - Chuck Hogan

28. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

29. The Know-It-All - A.J. Jacobs

30. The Year Of Living Biblically - A.J. Jacobs

31. Shining Like Stars - Douglass Jacoby

32. Survivors - Zion Ben Jonah

33. What Technology Wants - Kevin Kelly

34. Flowers For Algernon - Daniel Keyes

35. Cell - Stephen King

36. Getting The Most Of The Bible - G. Steve Kinnard

37. Frankenstein - Dean Koontz

38. The Satanic Bible - Anton Szandor LaVey

39. Fresh Kills - Bill Loehfelm

40. Our American King - David Lozell Martin

41. The Complete Guide to the Bible - Stephen M. Miller

42. 1984 - George Orwell

43. Animal Farm - George Orwell

44.Three Dollars - Elliot Perlman

45. Seven Types of Ambiguity - Elliot Perlman

46. The Reasons I Won't Be Coming - Elliot Perlman

47. 01-01-00 - R.J. Pineiro

48. Bahgavad Gita (As It Is) - His Divine Grace Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

49. Where The Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls

50.The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin

51. The Book Of Vice - Peter Sagal

52. Married To Murder - Robert Scott

53. Derailed - James Seigel

54. The Dark Room - Rachel Seiffert

55. Hamlet - William Shakespeare

56. Much Ado About Nothing - William Shakespeare

57. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ - Joseph Smith

58. Mostly Murder - Sydney Smith

59. Baseball In April And Other Stories - Gary Soto

60. Of Mice And Men - John Steinbeck

61. AMERICA (The Definitive Guide) - Jon Stewart

62. Mr. Clarinet - Nick Stone

63. The Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren

64. I Am The Messenger - Markus Zusak

65. A+ Guide To Managing And Maintaining Your PC 6th Ed. (Textbook)

66. Criminal Justice, Citrus College Custom Ed. (Textbook)

67. Electronic Technology Fundamentals (Textbook)

68. Psychology 2nd Ed. (Textbook)

Total Books Read: 43 of 68 (63.23%)

Reflections & Resolutions

I took some time to write down some of my highlights of 2012 and prepared ten resolutions for this year, 2013. Both lists aren’t listed in any particular order: they were just written down as they came to mind when writing down everything.

2012 in Perspective:

-New fastest driving speed record (from 110mph to 115mph)!
-I kissed a girl!
-I am now a Junior in university!
-I became serious with my writing.
-I started my YouTube channel.
-I saw a solar eclipse!
-I got to go to Six Flags - twice!
-I was a groomsmen in a wedding!
-I let somebody get away...
-I had the joy of living independently with friends.
-I bought a (newer) car!
-I saw the Rose Parade in person.

2013 Resolutions:

1) Be happier

2) Be healthier
    -begin exercising
    -improve diet
    -improve dental health

3) Read 75% of books in my reading list
    -also, buy at least 5 e-books

4) Complete my CD collection

5) Make more vlogs on YouTube
    -make at least 25 videos
    -find new channels to subscribe to
    -Be more interactive in YouTube

6) Work on writing skills
    -finish the "Dearly Beloved" series
    -start a new series

7) Learn a new language

8) Take more pictures of family, friends, self, and artistic

9) Deal with nagging tasks
    -check engine light
    -New tires/rims
    -physical checkups
    -dental care

10) Get a girlfriend

New Year's Vlogs!

I have recently posted two new vlogs, revolving around the idea of reflections and resolutions for this upcoming new year of 2013. Enjoy!