Which Book Have You Read/Re-Read All Your Life?

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by bthrowsnaill

Dennis, I also find it interesting that the movies haven't affected your enjoyment of LOTR. I agree that they got the images right in the sense that they were faithful to the novels and based on some of the best Tolkien inspired artwork. My mind's eye view of the imagery of Middle Earth had been so magical though - I don't even know how to describe it. I suppose it would be something like a heaven/nirvana/paradise visualization but for me it goes beyond just visual. Tolkien somehow allows me to experience a sense of the perfection and beauty of ME that I've never experienced in another fantasy novel. I think it has something to do with his linguistic expertise, his command of myth, etc., etc.

Bill

That's a reasonable attitude.

As mentioned, the induced visuals aren't what I'm rereading for. Curiously, I think visually. Sight is my primary sense, I navigate by visual landmarks, and when I'm asked a technical question, my impulse is the reach for a pencil and paper to draw a diagram. This falls down with people like my SO, who do not think visually and make no sense of the pictures I draw. I must find other metaphors to explain the concepts.

But while Tolkien evokes wonderful pictures, I don't get the visuals of the films overriding my own. It's more of a blend, simply because I do think Jackson pretty much got it right. I'm rereading for style and mood. For example, I used to fast forward through the section set in the Dead Marshes because it was intensely creepy. More recently, I've come to admire the craft involved in making it that creepy. I'm rereading for language, not pictures, and Jackson's films don't get in the way. (Another reason I like the films is how much of Tolkien's language Jackson managed to leave in.)

But then, I'm one of the folks who have have spent more time in the Appendices of LoTR than in the books themselves, intensely curious about the back story and the events of the First Age, and there was a time when I could do pretty fair Quenya calligraphy, and wished I knew more words to write.
______
Dennis

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by bthrowsnaill

MTM: nice to know I'm not the only one. As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm going to try LOTR again after about a 5 year hiatus to see whether the movie imagery has faded.

Matthew: I always try to read through the entire Dune series, but God Emporer never struck me as being as great as many seem to regard it as being. I think I need to give it another try...

The recommendation I normally give is to read _Dune_, _Dune Messiah_, and _Children of Dune_ as one long book, since that's how they were written. should you then feel inspired, you can read the others, but no penalty if you choose not to. _God Emperor of Dune_ doesn't really hold up for me, either.
______
Dennis

[loopeylisie]

At school we studied the yellow wallpaper by charlotte perkins gilman and the tense atmosphere of it hooked me. I kept a copy (its a short story and we were given print outs of it) that fell apart a few years ago then i found a collection of her writings. Such a creepy story, its one of those that makes you shudder but casts a spell over you... much like the yellow wallpaper it describes.

i frequently reread the belgariad series and discworld series for their light entertainment value. If i'm stressed and need something to divert me these are great go to books. I've also just reread the historian by elizabeth kostova and suspect this will be added to my list of books to read again as i love the atmosphere and the descriptions of the countries they visit. sparks a yearning in me to travel like they do and immerse myself in different cultures. although this is unlikely to ever happen so with this book i get to do so vicariously

[Georgiegirl2012]

I don't re-read very often these days. When I was a child I re-read nearly all the Enid Blyton books on multiple occasions - in particular the Mallory Towers, St Clares and the Adventure series. And given that my mother still has many of them I'll skim read them now and again when I'm there just to get the jist of the story.

I will probably read the Earth's Children series again early next year as the final book is due out in about March 2011. But anybody familiar with Jean M Auel's series will realise this probably won't be necessary given that about the first half of book 5 - Shelters of Stone was taken up with the previous history.

[Bikeridr]

The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide.
The trilogy that became fifthology by Douglas Noël Adams.
I have worn out my hardback, which literally has been around the globe. (I'm working at sea in international trade).
The books (individually) are now stored in my wishlist awaiting to be the first books downloaded to my coming Kindle 3

Of course, I also have the original BBC TV-Show both on VHS and DVD. And the newer movie in DVD.

All of which I've read/watched quite a numerous times.

BTW, is there any of you British native speaking forumists who can explain the word "benightedly" for me?
It comes from Marvins description of Trillian:

Originally Posted by Marvin with brain the size of a planet

That young girl, is one of the least benightedly unintelligent lifeforms it has been my profound lack of pleasure not to be able to avoid meeting.

I probalby read that passage about 12 times on my first encounter in order to sort out all the negatives. (As also Zaphod did)

[mjhudston]

For me the book, I go back to time and time again, has got to be Enders Game by Orson Scott Card. I know it was initially meant as a teen / young adults book when it was written, but even today I still read it, and it's one of the few I enjoy as an audio book.

[Georgiegirl2012]

Just remembered that I used to regularly read my sister's Sue Barton nurse series books by Helen Dore Boylston - not sure they are still in print.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Bikeridr

The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide.
The trilogy that became fifthology by Douglas Noël Adams.
I have worn out my hardback, which literally has been around the globe. (I'm working at sea in international trade).
The books (individually) are now stored in my wishlist awaiting to be the first books downloaded to my coming Kindle 3

Of course, I also have the original BBC TV-Show both on VHS and DVD. And the newer movie in DVD.

All of which I've read/watched quite a numerous times.

BTW, is there any of you British native speaking forumists who can explain the word "benightedly" for me?
It comes from Marvins description of Trillian:

I probalby read that passage about 12 times on my first encounter in order to sort out all the negatives. (As also Zaphod did)

Merriam-Webster defines benighted as
1: overtaken by darkness or night
2: existing in a state of intellectual, moral, or social darkness

And I'm with you on Adams. Douglas Adams is the funniest sci-fi author I've ever read.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by Bikeridr

The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide.
The trilogy that became fifthology by Douglas Noël Adams.
I have worn out my hardback, which literally has been around the globe. (I'm working at sea in international trade).
The books (individually) are now stored in my wishlist awaiting to be the first books downloaded to my coming Kindle 3

Of course, I also have the original BBC TV-Show both on VHS and DVD. And the newer movie in DVD.

All of which I've read/watched quite a numerous times.

BTW, is there any of you British native speaking forumists who can explain the word "benightedly" for me?
It comes from Marvins description of Trillian:

I probalby read that passage about 12 times on my first encounter in order to sort out all the negatives. (As also Zaphod did)

I too re-read this series at least once a year - it explains everything!

[Bikeridr]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Merriam-Webster defines benighted as
1: overtaken by darkness or night
2: existing in a state of intellectual, moral, or social darkness

And I'm with you on Adams. Douglas Adams is the funniest sci-fi author I've ever read.

Ah, very much
The Merriam-Webster is now bookmarked in my web browser.

Btw; what do you mean "sci-fi"? You know of course it is all true documented and well researched non-fictional science

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Bikeridr

Ah, very much
The Merriam-Webster is now bookmarked in my web browser.

You're welcome!

Originally Posted by Bikeridr

Btw; what do you mean "sci-fi"? You know of course it is all true documented and well researched non-fictional science

I don't doubt it for a minute!

[bthrowsnaill]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

The recommendation I normally give is to read _Dune_, _Dune Messiah_, and _Children of Dune_ as one long book, since that's how they were written. should you then feel inspired, you can read the others, but no penalty if you choose not to. _God Emperor of Dune_ doesn't really hold up for me, either.
______
Dennis

So far my read of God Emporer of Dune as a standalone is proving to be very enjoyable. I can't say whether this has anything to do with the fact that I am reading it as a standalone or whether I have grown into the work as I've gotten older and more attuned to politics (and to a lesser extent philosophy). When I used to read the successive Dune books I think I wanted them to be as similar to the first Dune novel as possible. God Emporer is so different from that first book that I don't think I gave it much of a chance in the past.

[Georgiegirl2012]

Originally Posted by bthrowsnaill

So far my read of God Emporer of Dune as a standalone is proving to be very enjoyable. I can't say whether this has anything to do with the fact that I am reading it as a standalone or whether I have grown into the work as I've gotten older and more attuned to politics (and to a lesser extent philosophy). When I used to read the successive Dune books I think I wanted them to be as similar to the first Dune novel as possible. God Emporer is so different from that first book that I don't think I gave it much of a chance in the past.

Originally Posted by DMcCunney View Post
The recommendation I normally give is to read _Dune_, _Dune Messiah_, and _Children of Dune_ as one long book, since that's how they were written. should you then feel inspired, you can read the others, but no penalty if you choose not to. _God Emperor of Dune_ doesn't really hold up for me, either.
______
Dennis


One of my local charity shops had nearly all the Dune books on the shelf when I went in there on Saturday. Prompted by the posts in this thread I bought the trilogy of the first 3 books for 75p. Not my usual fare, but I can always give it away.

[Georgiegirl2012]

Originally Posted by bthrowsnaill

So far my read of God Emporer of Dune as a standalone is proving to be very enjoyable. I can't say whether this has anything to do with the fact that I am reading it as a standalone or whether I have grown into the work as I've gotten older and more attuned to politics (and to a lesser extent philosophy). When I used to read the successive Dune books I think I wanted them to be as similar to the first Dune novel as possible. God Emporer is so different from that first book that I don't think I gave it much of a chance in the past.

Originally Posted by DMcCunney View Post
The recommendation I normally give is to read _Dune_, _Dune Messiah_, and _Children of Dune_ as one long book, since that's how they were written. should you then feel inspired, you can read the others, but no penalty if you choose not to. _God Emperor of Dune_ doesn't really hold up for me, either.
______
Dennis


One of my local charity shops had nearly all the Dune books on the shelf when I went in there on Saturday. Prompted by the posts in this thread I bought the trilogy of the first 3 books for 75p. Not my usual fare, but I can always give it back to the charity shop if I don't like it.

[khalleron]

Originally Posted by Georgiegirl2012

Originally Posted by DMcCunney View Post
The recommendation I normally give is to read _Dune_, _Dune Messiah_, and _Children of Dune_ as one long book, since that's how they were written. should you then feel inspired, you can read the others, but no penalty if you choose not to. _God Emperor of Dune_ doesn't really hold up for me, either.
______
Dennis


One of my local charity shops had nearly all the Dune books on the shelf when I went in there on Saturday. Prompted by the posts in this thread I bought the trilogy of the first 3 books for 75p. Not my usual fare, but I can always give it away.

I read the first three Dune books when I was in college - I loved the first one, thought the 2nd was blah, thought the 3rd one was flat out terrible.

Never read a Frank Herbert after that.

YMMV, of course.