Balancing reading with other life demands can be tricky, but for one individual, reading was his passion. On social media, @drawntobooks shared the story of Dan Pelzer, a man with a vast collection of books on his reading list, singling out one as the most challenging, even describing it as “pure torture.”
Upon his passing, Dan left his family a remarkable legacy – a 60-year archive documenting his reading journey. Starting in 1962 during his time in the Peace Corps in Nepal, Dan immersed himself in a volunteer library of 150 books and continued his reading quest upon his return.
Over the years, Dan delved into a variety of genres from classics to contemporary works, meticulously logging each title he completed, a practice reminiscent of online platforms like Goodreads or StoryGraph, or traditional reading journals.
His dedication led him to devour over 80 books annually, mostly borrowed from his local library, showcasing his remarkable reading pace and frugality in acquiring books.
At the end of his life, Dan’s meticulously maintained list comprised 3,599 entries, and he made it a point to finish every book he started, regardless of his personal opinion.
One notable book that didn’t resonate with him was James Joyce’s Ulysses, a dense and lengthy novel that faced censorship upon its release in 1920 before eventually being allowed in the UK in 1936.
Comments from readers reflected on Dan’s remarkable dedication to cataloging his reading adventures, likening it to creating a personal literary database like Goodreads before such platforms existed.
A touching tribute expressed condolences for Dan’s passing, highlighting the impact he had on those who knew him. His commitment to reading and the legacy he left behind resonated with many, inspiring others to explore the books he once devoured.
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