Midway through January and I am feeling keenly the reality of having set too many goals for this month. I have several major projects going on, reading being just one of them…
I have not started any new books for the War & Pacifism project, but a friend recommended Rousseau’s The Social Contract as a related text. I haven’t encountered Rousseau since a college history course, and I barely remember what was covered about him. It seems like a good choice to begin the year, adding to the project’s religious foundation some philosophical thought.
However, before I can sanely pick up Rousseau, I have a few other books to finish:
- Nearly at the end of the second part of The Woman in White. It’s slow in places, but I’m still greatly enjoying it. It’s made me remember life used to be much more enjoyable when I used to consume more art like this.
- About 1/3 into The Elephant Vanishes by Murakami; debating whether to finish it.
- A few chapters into Kristin Lavransdatter: The Cross. It was quite easy to get back into even after so long a break, but I can’t say I’m liking it anymore than I did before. I will have a lot of critiques to share on this trilogy; brace yourselves.
- Started Kafka’s Letters to Felice. I haven’t got back to it since starting it, but it’s highly entertaining. I will try to squeeze it in where I can.
Last but not least, I still owe you all a review of The Unwomanly Face of War… Honestly, it is one of those books where summarizing hardly feels adequate. Perhaps I will share some quotes from it instead. Let me know—what are your questions about it, if any?
Classics Considered 
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