Moves from the Should to the Want List

A very long time ago I came to terms with the realization that, whatever my teachers said, I was not going to be able in a single life time, to read everything that I “should”.  I was quite happy reading instead everything either that I needed or wanted to know.  So I never did read all of Shakespeare.  Or every book in the bible.

But now something completely unforeseen is happening.  Hundreds of books on my ignored Should List have migrated uninvited onto my Want List.  I am now faced with the much more difficult realization that I can’t possibly read everything I really want to read.  The list is huge, including, as it does, not only so many ignored “shoulds”, but also a long list of things I did read once and want to read now for a second or third or even fourth time.  Re-reading classics like Dostoevsky or Shakespeare is like reading a poem or listening to a great concert – one never fathoms it all.

Having a Kindle which downloads books in about 30 seconds and at minimal cost is only making matters worse.

I guess it suggests I’m not bored with living yet.

But it also suggests I’m not going to be finished with living when my years are up.

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