Late last night while riding home from Nashville, I finished reading Dan Chaon's excellent book, "Await Your Reply." This was the 26th book I'd finished reading in 2009, which was exactly the number I'd vowed to read at the beginning of the year. In truth, 26 is a modest number.

In January I set goals for what I wanted to achieve in 2009. With the year coming to an end, it's only fair that I address my progress.

The time has come to declare what I hope to achieve in 2009. My goals are modest, but important:

Book #14 for the year was Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride, the story of four African American soldiers in WWII Italy who become separated from the rest of their unit. While waiting for rescue, the men take up residence in a rural village that recently experienced a horrible tragedy.

McBride provides an engaging backstory for each of his major characters (and even one inanimate object). Many chapters would be satisfying as standalone short stories, but they all still meld together into a rich whole.

Highly recommended.

52B/52W Progress: 14 down, 38 to go.

Currently Reading: Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger

In a different year, I never would have finished this book.