John Allemang, has been writing his Book A Day column since Nov. 28. In tomorrow's paper, he writes his 100th review, along with an essay on the pains and pleasures of his daily routine.
Mr. Allemang was on-line for an hour to take your questions on books, authors and the remarkable pace he's set for himself. Your questions appear below, along with John's responses.
Now, you may be thinking, "Hey! There are more than 100 days between Nov. 28 and June 2. What are these guys trying to pull?"
You're right, of course. There are 186 days. But as John describes in tomorrow's column, "... my editors persuaded me that if I am reading more books in a year than Vernon Wells plays baseball games, then we can get away with describing it as daily."
Regardless, John's routine is a monumental feat. He picks up a new book, reads from prologue to denouement, takes notes — sometimes well into the night — and then writes a review. Four a week. No doubt if you count the hours, he puts in more than your regular work-week. Sometimes he reads two a day.
John's reviews appear Monday to Thursday. His most recent ones include George Bowering's Baseball Love (No. 97), Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living by Carrie Tiffany (No. 98) and Daniel Gilbert's Stumbling on Happiness (No. 99). Saturday, John reviews Bill Buford's Heat.
Oh, and he's not quitting. You'll find review 101 in Monday's Globe.
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Michael Snider, globeandmail.com: Hello John, it's great to have you with us today. And welcome readers. So, c'mon John, you can tell us. Do you skim? Actually, that's a serious question from someone who takes a good week or two of dedicated page turning to reach the final chapter. Is there a trick? Or is it just a matter of finding the time? Come to think of it, how many hours a day do you read and does it ever get boring?
John Allemang: Do I skim? Where's the fun in that? No I refuse to cut corners, partly because I was raised in the somewhat stern Lutheran faith and can't handle guilt, but mostly because that would be turning something I've designed as a pleasure into 9-to-5 Hackery. I'll admit that I might have skipped a few of the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die and I didn't commit to memory every list on the Book of Lists, but anthologies and collections apart, it ain't over till it's over.
I don't think there's a trick to it other than that because it's my job, I get to do it all day while the rest of you are slaving away at your performance reviews and 3-martini lunches and workplace Pilates classes. It helps, stating the obvious, to have a quiet place with no distractions, which rules out most offices, and to read a book you want to be reading. So I guess I pick and choose a bit, avoiding books that look awfully boring, experimental fiction that's supposed to be good for me, most business books etc.
I probably read eight hours a day, but that varies hugely. If I have something else going on in my life that has to be squeezed in, I'm reading at 7 in the morning or at midnight with complete indifference to my union contract.
No it's not at all boring, but I hate to admit this: very tiring. Today my voice seems to be disappearing from fatigue.
S. Spencer from Milton writes: A pair of questions: Among the books you have read so far for Book A Day, which is your favourite? What book are you most looking forward to reading, and why?
