This week I've been learning about memory. When we recall specific events in our lives, these are called 'explicit memories'. Sometimes they are BIG like our wedding days, funeral days, birth of children days, or holidays. Sometimes they are small such as visiting your favorite pizza restaurant with your friends last week. They are your memories of specific events. Some of my oldest explicit memories involve books. Specifically, the impact certain books had on me as I was reading them and beyond.
A few days ago I was watching a mindless reality show on PBS - I'm hung up on 'The Great British Baking Show' - ironic since I hate to spend time in the kitchen - but, they advertised an upcoming program called 'The Great American Read'. Well, how could I not check that out? Apparently, 100 books have been chosen by national survey, and there's one 'launch program' you can stream now, with a series beginning in September discussing these books in an up to date way.
The 100 books are all fiction. An author can only have one book on the list, but some books belong to a 'series'. They must have been published in English. I agree with MOST of the choices. I think "Huckleberry Finn" is missing. I don't think either the "The DaVinci Code" or "The Twilight Saga" deserves the term great. Overall, though, it's a pretty good 100. Here's the list if you want to take a look at it:
https://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/home/
Now, here's what's really fun: You can vote for your favorite book. The purpose being to choose the 'great American book'. You can vote for one book a day, so if you feel strongly about one certain book, you can vote for it every day between now and October 18th. My strategy is to vote for the books which I remember had the most impact on me personally. Memory is a great trickster, but even so, some books are unforgettable to me.
I've read a lot of the books on the list. Slightly over one-half, actually. My first vote went to "To Kill a Mockingbird". My second vote went to "Lord of the Rings". My third vote went to "Atlas Shrugged". Today, I voted for "Lonesome Dove".
This whole idea is right on my sweet spot. So, if you love to read, check this out and start voting! I'd also love to hear which books you cast your votes for.
