A man named Dan Pelzer dedicated his life to reading, despite the challenges of finding time for it. His passion for books was evident as he accumulated a vast reading list, with one particular book that he described as “pure torture.”
Upon his passing, Dan left his family a remarkable legacy – a 60-year archive detailing his reading journey. His love for reading began in 1962 while serving in the Peace Corps in Nepal, where he delved into a volunteer library of 150 books.
Returning home, Dan continued his reading quest, covering a wide range of genres from classics to modern works like those of John Grisham. Over the years, he managed to devour over 80 books annually, mostly borrowed from his local library.
He meticulously recorded each title he completed, culminating in a 109-page list with 3,599 entries. Remarkably, Dan made it a point to finish every book he started, regardless of his opinion on it.
One notable book that Dan struggled with was “Ulysses” by James Joyce, a dense and lengthy novel that recounts a day in Dublin in 1904. Despite its historical significance, Dan found it to be a challenging read and labeled it as “the worst” and “pure torture.”
His dedication to reading was compared to creating his own version of Goodreads before such platforms existed. The impact of his reading journey even inspired others to explore books he read, creating a unique connection through literature.