The forced march through Gibbon killed the desire to read in me for really probably closer to two months. Why I then took up Shelby Foote I still can't figure out. For what it's worth the longest books in my non-fiction library have now been read. If I could get through those, I can get through anything. In reality, I think 32 is an impressive number given that for 25%-33% of the year I was reading nothing, I do not read at the speed you do and a lot of what I read was non-fiction, which just doesn't read as quickly. Plus, I do have a job.

Gibbon did provide me with a witty footnote. however, which I have cited in my signature. He indirectly led me to where I am. Well, Gibbon and then Camilla when she posted the insightful article on the utter failure of translators to do Madame Bovary justice.

Luckily, I had only read a few works of French and German literature in English by the time I decided that translations would NOT do. Not now, not ever, not if I can help it.

And so here we are ... the challenge is to read significant works in their original languages. The Russian I just threw in because I read so little in Russian last year and I feel like there are still a few significant gaps in my list that no former Russian Literature major should have.