October reading recap

I ran in October. I also read. Two things I enjoy but admittedly haven't been doing enough of lately.

I finished four books in October and 1,103 pages. That brings the yearly total to 29 books and 9,931 pages. That compares to 35 books and 12,687 pages at this time last year. A little bit behind. But like I said, it doesn't seem like I've been reading as much this year as I have in the past. The goal of 40 books for the year still might be doable, but I'm going to have to up the reading time. Or choose shorter books.

Anyway. So what'd I finish in October? Have a look:

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Land of a Hundred Wonders by Lesley Kagen
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

I don't think I normally would have picked up the Michael Pollan book, but the University of Wisconsin was holding a common reading club (think book club for 40,000-plus university students, staff and alumni) and this was the choice. It was OK. Will it change the way I eat? Maybe. But will I decide what I eat based solely on what I read? Not likely.

Into Thin Air was my favorite choice this month. It had been sitting on my shelf for almost two years, patiently waiting to be read. It's about the most deadly season on Mt. Everest. A season where 12 climbers died. A writer myself, I really liked Krakauer's writing style and and eager to read more of his stuff, including Into the Wild and Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman.

And Tuesdays with Morrie? It's a repeat. I've read it before. But liked it a lot. And Morrie? He's got a lot of lessons to pass on. Good read.