Reading The 1000 Books to Read Before I Die

Hello 1000 Bookies, I have always been interested in World War I.  That interest started with reading the book Nicholas and Alexandra by the historian, Robert Massie.  I read the history during the summer between 8th grade and my freshman year of high school.  My mother encouraged me to read the history of the fall of the Romanov Empire because it contained the story of Czarvich Alexis.  Until Ryan White, Prince Alexis was the world's most famous patient with Hemophilia.  My mother's grandfather died of complications from hemophilia and her three brothers were born with the disorder.  So that summer I read Nicholas and Alexandra.   The Russian Revolution came at the end of the war and reading that book kindled my interest in World War 1.  Shortly after, Dreadnaught was released by Robert Massie.  That book chronicles the collision course between Germany and Great Britain and the lead up to the declarations of war.  Since then I have...

Happy Friday 1000 Bookies!!  If you are like me (And God help you if you are), you are always searching for your next read. I happen to enjoy when BuzzFeed Books develops and releases their book lists about once a week. And Here is one of the latest....(Drum roll please)... The 15 Must Read Books for Fantasy Fans. Now I must admit I love Fantasy Books-I mean who doesn't LOVE HARRY POTTER and his WIZARDING WORLD. Am I Right? So this list intrigued me. I had read one book  on the list- Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susannah Clarke . I recommend it but caution-- its a long read over 800 pages.  Also after reviewing the list--one book is listed on  1,000 Books to Read Before You Die . That book would be The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander , which is one of the books I am currently reading right. The Chronicles are actually 5 books (yikes) but seem interesting at this point in a far away land that has names that sound Welsh.   So I...

"And Yet we had done what so often happened in the proud history of geographic discovery.  We had found paradise.  And then we had set it on fire." Tom Hazzard, How to Stop Time?  

M ost people would agree they want to live longer.  I would assume the reasons vary, most would want to be with a spouse or their children.  Some will want to see the advancements of science and technology.  Some just want to keep living their lives.  I once asked each of my grandparents if they wanted to live to be 100 years old and each replied No!!! fairly emphatically.  Their reasons sounded fairly silly to my (very) young mind—not enough money to support themselves,  poor health, loss of memory (Going Senile), and being a burden on their family.  What if your body was able to slow down the aging process once you hit puberty?  At 32 you still looked 16, at 450 you looked 40.  You do not live forever but you live longer…a lot longer.  The author Matt Haig looks at that possibility in his latest novel.  I recently finished Matt Haig’s book, How to Stop Time .   The book is a pretty easy read at a length of 333 pages...

Welcome to my Brand-New Blog, Reading 1000 Books .   I am James Romano and I have always loved books for as long as I can remember.   As a little boy visiting my grandparents’ home looking for something to do, my grandmother would read to me such classics as There’s A Monster at the End of this Book .   As I got older, I stumbled upon my grandfather’s book collection and for hours on end I would sit and look and sometimes read his books on the Civil War, World War I and World War II which fueled in me a love of history and my love of books.   As I have gotten older, reading has become a passion in my life, a thirst for knowledge, adventure and understanding.   I have come to view books as a portal to other times and guides to places I want to see.   Some books you love and some you hate but like any adventurer you must discover that for yourself.   A few books that you pick up, you wish would never end, and those are the best books of all.   ...