Riddle me this, Riddle me that.

"I have read of men, who when forced by their calling to live for long periods in utter solitude have made it a rule to dress regularly for dinner in order to maintain their self-respect and prevent a relapse into barbarism."

This is the first sentence from The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers, which so happens to be the most recent book conquered on that most ablist of bibliophiles, Keith Adams's quest. Some times I get the feeling that these random book selection aren't so random after all. Anyway impression of the book was that it was a wee bit too technical for my tastes. It was overflowing with nautical references which were lost on me. It is rather interesting that this book is considered the first of the British spy thrillers.

More interesting than the story is the author. Erskine Childers was a clerk in the House of Commons and wrote this story as a warning to the British people to shore up the defenses from the North Sea. Later Childers would leave his post to champion the independence movement in Ireland. He later joined the Irish Republican Army and was executed by firing squad in 1922. His son would later be elected president of the Republic of Ireland.

Once again I gave people the opportunity to help select the next volume in my quest and there were folks who took me up on it.

1. Chaireas and Kallirhoe – Chariton (Todd)
2. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell (Stewart)
3. Amok - Stefan Zwieg (Matthew)

However since Chaireas and Kallirhoe by Chariton required me ordering online and because yesterday when I went to the Stars' game I was running late and couldn't stop at the B&N, I will attempt a gambit that has befallen me on at least two separate occasions. I shall attempt to read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. This time victory shall be mine!