One Book Down, Eleven More to Go

I'm really pleased with myself for finishing one of my 2009 goal books only 9 days into the year.  Okay, so the book is written for elementary school kids.  But still.  I finished it.  And I learned a lot!  I'm very ignorant when it comes to history.  I've always been embarrassed about it.  But, I'm finally doing something about it.  I think I'll have to read this book again and maybe take notes so that I remember the details better.  But, for the first round, I just wanted to read it straight through so I could get an introductory to all the things that I should probably know, but have never even heard of.  I got a little lost with all the different civilizations.  There were so many!  Sumerians, Akkadians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, oh my!  How do the little kids keep them straight?  I can't.  But, since this is based on a classical education format, I suppose it's just supposed to be for introduction.  When these civilizations are brought up again, the kids (and I) will think "

I'm going to start Don Quixote next.  This one scares me a bit because it's 900 pages long.  I tried to read An American Tragedy last year, which is 800 pages and I only got through about 350 pages.  I just couldn't make myself like the protagonist.  He was so quick to fall in love and lose himself.  And his life seemed to be mostly guided by the actions of others.  So, I hope that I like the character of Don Quixote.  It will make all the difference in me actually finishing the book.