All I ever needed was the music, and the mirror/ And the chance to dance...

When people ask me what I'll do when I'm done with the list project I've always been taken aback. After all, there are millions of books out there; it's not like I'm going to be starved for options. Recently, though, I had an epiphany. They don't really mean to suggest that I wouldn't have plenty left to read. I think they probably mean to ask one of the following three questions:

Q. Do you have any particular plans for the books you'll read after finishing the list project?

A. Not really. Since I don't view this project as restricting my reading options (granted, the exceptions are few; Hunger Games, Mary Russell novels, books about number theory. . .) there aren't books that I am dying to read but can't right now. Non-fiction may seem like the obvious answer, but the reality is that most of the exceptions I make are for non-fiction right now. Actually, it might be more books that are not on the list but are by authors on the list, since I can't justify reading those right now generally (Edwin Drood for the win!).

Q. Are you going to attack any other challenges?

A. I'm not sure. Maybe not, since generally I find life pretty challenging, so that may be enough for me. But I could see this leaving a strange void in my life, so maybe I shall. That said, I can't really imagine tackling another 1,001 list. I don't have the attention span for the movie challenge, and with music I just like to listen to what I like, I don't tend to listen to stuff to expand my tastes (and my music tastes are pretty terrible, so. . .). I think I'd like to try something else, but I don't know at the moment what that would be.

Q. How are you going to celebrate?

A. This is another where I'm not sure. I want to do something epic, but I tend to not make plans more than three or four days in advance if I can avoid it, unless it involves transatlantic travel. As I said, it must be epic, and it must somehow have a sort of poetic connection to the project. I'm taking suggestions for sure. I've been thinking about maybe having a party for 500, perhaps with a literary theme. I tend to throw themed parties.

Since I have been bad about putting pictures on this blog, I added a random-ish one of me and my other hobby (it's old; the picture, not the hobby, that is; the hobby is current).