From June, 2009, through June, 2010, I absorbed as much of the world’s most celebrated accomplishments as I could:
70 Days With Hemingway And Me, in which I read every one of Hemingway’s novels, from first to last,
81 Days With Oscar And Me, in which I watched every Oscar-winning movie from Wings in 1927 through Slumdog Millionaire in 2009,
30 Days With Aristotle And Me, in which I studied Aristotle’s classic work for writers, Poetics, and
180 Days With Mozart And Me, in which I listened to everything Mozart composed.
I took a year off — because that truly was a grueling schedule — and am now ready to face another year of self-imposed learning. This is my curriculum for 2011-2012:
June 30 – July 26: 27 Days With Billy Wilder And Me, in which I watch every movie Billy Wilder directed.
July 28 – December 30: 155 Days With Bach And Me, in which I listen to every piece of music Bach composed. As it so happens, I’ll be in Germany, not far from where Bach was born and were he is interred, when I begin this musical exploration,
January 1 – January 30: 30 Days With the Recorder And Me, in which I learn to play the recorder, an instrument I’ve always fancied but never took the time to learn, and
February 1 – June 28: 149 Days With Dickens And Me, in which I read every Dickens Nonesuch edition novel and short story — 9 exquisite volumes in all, God knows how many thousands of pages.
You can call me Billy. But don't expect me to answer to that.