A Kindred Spirit

By serendipity, I just discovered this smart, engaging woman’s vlog on books and writing. Farah lives in the UAE and is articulate, perceptive and oh so knowledgeable about current books.

After the first video I watched (above) I immediately subscribed. Then I watched her talk about writing and bonded with her because as a screenwriter, I am concise with description and context and get right to the dialog.

According to her Good Reads account she reads 100 books or more a year. Wow. I envy that. I have to update my Good Reads, but I aim for 26 books a year.

Above Farah talks about the 5 classics she wants to read this year. Some she probably finished by now.

Here’s my list of classics I have read this year:

1. Dante’s Inferno – a reread and a delight. I got a lot more out of it.
2. The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington – just started so watch this blog for a review.
3. His Excellency by Émile Zola – the third book I’ve read in the Rougon-Macquart series.
4. The Kill by Émile Zola – my goal is to read all 20 of these Rougon-Macuart books.
5. Prometheus Unbound by Aeschylus – It was a classic I missed though I knew the legend.
6. The Lady of the Camilias by Alexander Dumas, the Younger – it reminded me of The Kill.
7. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. I reread this and discussed it online with a friend, with whom I try to read a classic and discuss it online each summer.