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?
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Books by the Crew
8 comments:
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!
Wow, crew...I'm the only one up and on the boards? Well, check in later!
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.
Have fun in Florida! Scape lives in Orlando!
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!
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?
Pat - sounds like a good one. May your desert island have no rats!
Deathly Hallows, eh? Wonder if I read that one...
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