1 down, 14 to go. (16)

I jumpstarted my book reading last night, reading two thirds of the first book of 15. This morning, I finished the book. (I'm a little excited!)

The Walk by Richard Paul Evans
Started: Saturday, Jan. 29
Finished: Sunday, Jan. 30
Recommended: Yes
Notes: Easy read, just like Lauren said.

Quotes:
"Some might call this a love story. Those without love will call it a travelogue. To me, it is one man's journey to find hope. There are things that happened to me that you might not believe. There were lessons learned that you might not be ready for. No matter. Accept or dismiss what you will. But, let me warn you in advance--which is more than I got--that what you read won't be easy. But it's a story worth telling. It's the story of my walk." - Prologue (pg. 3)

"The assumption of time is one of humanity's greatest follies. We tell ourselves that there's always tomorrow, when we can no more predict tomorrow than we can the weather. Procrastination is the thief of dreams." - Al Christofferson's diary, Chapter 3 (pg. 24)

"People instinctively fear people with beards (like Santa Claus, or the homeless guy who sits next to you on the bus), when, historically speaking, it should be mustaches we most worry about (e.g. Hitler, Stalin, John Wilkes Booth)." - Al Christofferson's diary, Chapter 23 (pg. 151)

"As I was putting back my razor, my cell phone rang, startling me. I had forgotten that I had it. I instinctively checked to see who was calling, but I didn't recognize the number, so I didn't answer. The phone was my last link to the world I had left behind. It was more than a link--this sleek device was filled with contacts, schedules, and a history--a microcosm of the very world I was walking away from. I did what every cell phone user has occasionally fantasized. I hurled the device as far as I could into the lake. It barely made a splash." - Chapter 24 (pg. 158)

"In the smaller towns, a stranger walking through is met with mild suspicion or curiosity and usually both. No doubt at least one of the towns along my route would someday print an article about my appearance that would read like this. Unidentified, hat-wearing man walks through town..." - Chapter 24 (pg. 159)

"In addition there were two seasonal specials, gingerbread and rhubarb. I asked which was better. 'That depends.' 'On what?' 'On whether you prefer gingerbread of rhubarb.' Ask a dumb question. 'I'll try the rhubarb.'" - Chapter 24 (pg. 171)

"I truly loved my hat. It was one thing that made me happy. I could imagine the Aussies in the outback, herding sheep or kangaroos or whatever in their Akubra hats, the rain spitting down on them, rolling off their hats' brims to their shoulders. The more it rained the more I loved my hat. I wondered if I would look ridiculous wearing it in Key West." - Chapter 27 (pg. 199)