It's not really…it takes about 15 minutes to roast and another 5-10 for cool down and clean up.

Oh Ulysses, I think I've tried to make it through that book at least 4 times (including in a college class on Joyce). I can appreciate the scope of his two late novels…I just can't seem to finish them.

I'm actually thinking of making my goal to read fewer books next year. Allow myself to actually engage further in depth with them. But we'll see, I spend a lot of time on the subway/bus so books get read.

Coetzee: I haven't read a lot of him either. I saw the film version of Disgrace and thought it was a well made film. I also had an acquaintance that was quite fond of his writing. I did like the book in this list, but more because of the way he engaged the story…writing an autobiographical novel through the eyes of five people that had interacted with while becoming an established writer.

Rollins: We read this as part of a book club for the church service I attend. It was also part of our experiment of giving up "God" for lent. It definitely was something that fits with the general philosophy of the priest at the service.

Murakami and running: In general I recommend anything by Murakami. I'm not much of a runner, but it was still interesting to read.

I think in any of the large/epic novels like Karenina/War&Peace/Brothers Karamazov…there is always a danger of the author telling us too much of what's going on internally…but then I guess that's what separates the greats from the not so greats…they get the balance right.

A few thoughts on the above works you've read….

Coetzee. I read Disgrace, and I couldn't connect with it. The main character seemed so self-absorbed and static. He never seemed to me to change, which in and of itself isn't a knock on the novel, but in the absence of anything else that was compelling, I felt like I was in the head and hear of someone who didn't really have anything interesting to contribute to others or to the reader. So, do you recommend I try more Coetzee? Have you read Disgrace or other works by him? A good friend of mine with a good eye for literature recommended him. He passed away, so I haven't been able to ask him what was compelling to him about Coetzee.

Peter Rollins. I'm curious to hear more about your experience reading him. I read that particular book, and I think I've got a review of it sitting on my old blog.

When I Talk about Running. Worth reading? I'm a runner, so I've been interested in this book, written by a novelist no less. It has always sounded interesting. What was your experience?

Anna Karenina. I just read the novel this year. It seems to be tops on the list of many renowned authors. I can see why. I enjoyed it, although sometimes I felt he spent too much time telling us what was in the heads of his characters and not enough time showing who they were through the narrative. I see I have yet to post a review. I think I've got it written up, just not posted. I have a running list of Top 100 novels that I'm working through. You can read more here: http://erdman31.com/the-human-narrative-project/

Again. Wow. I admire your reading abilities.

Seriously! I thought at most when I left I'd be here 3 years. I better not make it to 5!