On Opportunistic Reading

On Opportunistic Reading 10 July, 2026 I usually plan what I intend to read in a given year a month or two before that year dawns. Doing that helps me focus on the books that have caught and held my attention and gives me something resembling a goal to achieve. On top of that, I don’t wind up with a pile of unread volumes. That said, there are times when my gaze is drawn to a book while I’m working through the annual list. That could be due to a recommendation from a friend, because the premise of the book intrigued me, or because I’ve been meaning to read or re-read that book and can’t direct my attention back to my list. Being weak I, of course, can’t help but turn my attention to the distracting book. And that’s what I mean when I say opportunistic reading. It’s a deviation from the written path I set for myself. It’s an indulgence, a flight of fancy. It’s not always a book that pulls me away. In early 2026, I latched on to a long essay by Alfred Jarry titled “How to Construct a…