Friday, July 19, 2013

Re-Reads and the Desert Island Scenario


I know a lot of people reread their favorites. The crew here has chatted about that, which got me thinking about what I read again and again. And I realized, for the most part, I don’t reread anything. My sis reads the Lord of the Rings Trilogy every year, like a gift she gives herself. I have read those multiple times, but not with any regularity.

I think, when I was younger, I would reread books. But the last ten/twenty years? Nope.

Just don’t have time and there are so many new books out there waiting for me.

There is only one thing I do reread. My own writings. That is a pretty constant thing. I read something from beginning to end, or think about a scene I wrote in that alien one or the DBSM (that will never see the light of day) and I’ll go find it and read it.

Why?

Well, sometimes it’s just about reassuring myself that I can write.

(Are writers the most insecure people on the planet, or what?)

Sometimes it’s because I’ve learned something new so I dive in and edit as I read. (Honestly, I always edit when I read.)

And sometimes? Well, I just want to read the story I wrote for entertainment value. (Did I say we were insecure? Or was that egotistical?)

Because of my insecurity, there are reams of books I won’t read, even for the first time. I fear corruption. I fear finding out what I hack I am. I fear the green eyed monster soaring into the sky and blocking out my light. And that can be true from books I’ve heard are really good, to books I’ve heard are really bad and still made the author a fortune.
 

I’m an equal opportunity non-reader sometimes. I don’t even reread the books I really enjoyed! Well, mostly. I have gone back and reread some mystery series. When I’m on a real terror. So, I’ll read all 14 volumes of the George Chesbro books. Or the 50+ Nero Wolfe books, or the Miles Vorkosigan scifi saga. I think about reading Asimov’s Foundation series again, or Dune one of these days… For a geek, those two are bedrock books, especially Foundation. Also read 2001, A Space Odyssey and a few of the real golden age authors. Clifford D. Simak and A. E. VanVogt.

And yes, I am a scifi geek. But really only the older authors, who aren’t around anymore. It’s sorta odd.

For mystery? Well, a bunch I don’t read…because they are golden era mystery. Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe) and Agatha Christie is probably the closest I come to those.  And Holmes, course.

Fantasy? Tolkien – yup, read him. C.S. Lewis I imagine, nope, never read him. Marion Zimmer Bradley – some of her. Anne McCaffrey, read. (But not all.)

I know most of ye pirates are romance readers from a very early age. I’m not. And I’m not sure I’d want to read the golden age, because the genre has changed so much, writing style. (Same with the other genres, trust me.)

You’ve hooked my on Eloisa James. I’ve read a Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Kristin Higgins, Jill Shalvis and others. Nora, Cherry… But honestly, nothing I’d reread, as much as I enjoyed them the first time through.

It’s a bit sad, I know. But when you stand in front of a section at a bookstore, the titles are overwhelming! So many new things! Reread? I barely have time to read the first time through! Now, I can watch the same movies over and over again…but it’s more of partial attention. Books really do require full attention. (Shut up, Terri!) (Yes, I know, I miss things when I read…) (I know!) (I get the gist of things!) (Oh, that’s right, she isn’t here today…) (Nevermind.)
 

Anyway! I could ask what books you’ll never read again, but I know we don’t like to stir up things like that on the Revenge. Now, if I was stranded on a desert island and could only take one book with me… I’d take Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. But I find poetry can be reread and will constantly mean something different according to the mood. What ONE book would you take with you?

8 comments:

Maureen said...

Ah, crew! Fair warning...my husband is sweeping me away to Laguna Seca Raceway to watch the MotoGP riders practice for the race on Sunday. We be leaving early, but I will try to get in before we leave, and if my iPhone cooperates, during!

The bikes me deafen me, but I can still read!

Maureen said...

Wow, crew...I'm the only one up and on the boards? Well, check in later!

Marnee Bailey said...

I'm sorry. I'm packing! I'm going to FL to see my sister this weekend and abandoning my boys here. So I've been cleaning and packing and stressing.

Island read.... I'd take HP's Deathly Hallows. What a great book. Great every time I read it too.

Romance? Hard.... Paradise and Perfect by Judith McNaught. And Lover Eternal and Lover Awakened by JR Ward. All rereads for me.

Maureen said...

Have fun in Florida! Scape lives in Orlando!

P. Kirby said...

Dude, that decision would be Sophie's Choice painful. Which of my darlings...?

So frickin' many choices...

But I'll go with the one that's on my mind today: Jeff Smith's BONE, the two-and-a-half inch thick, one volume edition. It's a graphic novel, fantasy that follows the adventures of three brothers including the titular character Bone when they find themselves in a magical world. (Having been kicked out of their hometown after another one of Phoney's schemes went awry.) It's got romance, action, a dragon, adventure, and loads of humor. And strong female characters. And the art is fab, with a slightly retro look reminiscent of maybe something like the old comic strip Pogo.

It's also kid friendly, so probably a fun read-along for the younger crowd. My fave line, "Stupid, stupid rat creatures."

Love, love, love this series.

Happy Friday!

Hellie Sinclair said...

Sorry, my day off...I've been sleeping in and then out.

I have to agree with Marn: The Deathly Hallows. THE BOOK. Though if I was on a deserted island, I'd probably pick "How to Survive on a Deserted Island" as my one book pick...after that, it's just gravy, you know?

Maureen said...

Pat - sounds like a good one. May your desert island have no rats!

Maureen said...

Deathly Hallows, eh? Wonder if I read that one...