Is it Lord of the Rings, or because it's paper?

[latepaul]

I think there's something to the idea of comfort reading, a familiar book that gives a reliable 'hit' of pleasure.

I also think, for myself, that something has happened as I've gotten older. A new book has to be really good to seem as good as one of my old favourites. I think some of the books I enjoyed when I was young, if I read them for the first time now would just seem so-so.

Then there's the immersion issue. Even with my most favourite books I struggle to "lose myself" in the world of the book like I remember doing. I don't know what causes that but if I could get it back I would.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by latepaul

I think there's something to the idea of comfort reading, a familiar book that gives a reliable 'hit' of pleasure.

I also think, for myself, that something has happened as I've gotten older. A new book has to be really good to seem as good as one of my old favourites. I think some of the books I enjoyed when I was young, if I read them for the first time now would just seem so-so.

Then there's the immersion issue. Even with my most favourite books I struggle to "lose myself" in the world of the book like I remember doing. I don't know what causes that but if I could get it back I would.

Maybe the fact that a friend of mine recommended LotR to me as my first fantasy book was actually bad. I liked it a lot (except for the Bombadil part, which I'm debating if I should skip it or not because it feels like padding), and now I measure all fantasy I read to this standard. Most falls short. If a book (even if it's not fantasy) doesn't measure up to the scope of LotR, I tend to finish it and then forget it and be left with a 'meeh' feeling.

Maybe I'm reading too many short books. Maybe I should read something really long, like the 10 Malazan books, a thousand pages each, some more Clavell of whom I've not read everything, or maybe even break my own rule and start Game of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire though the series is not finished yet.

Same with computer games. In the beginning of my gaming days (1994-1998), I played point-and-clilck adventures and city builders. Then, the same guy how recommended Lord of the Rings, also recommended Baldur's Gate. Played it. Switched to RPG's. Played the other games in the series, BG2, Icewind Dale I and II, Planescape: Torment, and all it's expansions. Then Neverwinter Nights I and II.

It got to the point where I started to hit space bar to pause the game even outside of the Bioware RPG's. Now it's gone so far that I actually can't get into any other game but an RPG that measures up to the likes of Baldur's Gate I and II (and Torment) on story and gameplay mechanics.

The only two (edit: three) exceptions I've encountered through the years are Return to Castle Wolfenstein, War for Cybertron, and Fall of Cybertron. Those are excellent shoorters; and I'm not a shooter person. Because of this, I have had Gog.com clean out my library (as in, take games out), and I even wiped the backup copies from my hard drive, even though I paid for those games. (Fortunately, most of them only cost pennies.)

Maybe I'm just old and stuck already.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Maybe the fact that a friend of mine recommended LotR to me as my first fantasy book was actually bad. I liked it a lot (except for the Bombadil part, which I'm debating if I should skip it or not because it feels like padding), and now I measure all fantasy I read to this standard. Most falls short. If a book (even if it's not fantasy) doesn't measure up to the scope of LotR, I tend to finish it and then forget it and be left with a 'meeh' feeling.

Maybe I'm reading too many short books. Maybe I should read something really long, like the 10 Malazan books, a thousand pages each, some more Clavell of whom I've not read everything, or maybe even break my own rule and start Game of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire though the series is not finished yet.

Same with computer games. In the beginning of my gaming days (1994-1998), I played point-and-clilck adventures and city builders. Then, the same guy how recommended Lord of the Rings, also recommended Baldur's Gate. Played it. Switched to RPG's. Played the other games in the series, BG2, Icewind Dale I and II, Planescape: Torment, and all it's expansions. Then Neverwinter Nights I and II.

It got to the point where I started to hit space bar to pause the game even outside of the Bioware RPG's. Now it's gone so far that I actually can't get into any other game but an RPG that measures up to the likes of Baldur's Gate I and II (and Torment) on story and gameplay mechanics.

The only two exceptions I've encountered through the years are Return to Castle Wolfenstein, War for Cybertron, and Fall of Cybertron. Those are excellent shoorters; and I'm not a shooter person. Because of this, I have had Gog.com clean out my library (as in, take games out), and I even wiped the backup copies from my hard drive, even though I paid for those games. (Fortunately, most of them only cost pennies.)

Maybe I'm just old and stuck already.

My first big RPG was Bard's Tale on the Apple II. Still would love this game or something similar on the iPad. There is a Bard's Tale on the iPad, but it has nothing to do with the original game, as far as I can tell. Most RPG are either quick twitch or you have to remember a series of complex movements to cast a spell/special move (I call this the play station/xbox phenomenon). Bard's Tale was more like a true D&D game on the computer.

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Maybe the fact that a friend of mine recommended LotR to me as my first fantasy book was actually bad.

I'm not a great fantasy reader, but I suggest you read the Silmarillion if you haven't already. The book of Lost Tales is also good.
The Sunset Warrior trilogy by Eric Van Lustbader is very good.

Life is too short for mediocre books.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I'm not a great fantasy reader, but I suggest you read the Silmarillion if you haven't already. The book of Lost Tales is also good.
The Sunset Warrior trilogy by Eric Van Lustbader is very good.

Life is too short for mediocre books.

Thanks for the recommendation of the Sunset Warrior. I know some books by Eric van Lustbader, but not that one. I've read the Silmarilion once, but I intend to read it somewhere after I finish my 12th (or so) read of LotR. I also read Unfinished Tales and Lost Tales, but only once, around 10 years ago. I'll read them as well again at some point.

[Tarana]

Katsunami, you're probably seasonally depressed and the paper version is a familiar and beloved thing.

I bought the first version of LOtR ebook at Amazon. It had so many errors, I returned it. Never got around to getting it again. Instead, got a deal on the audiobook.

[DiapDealer]

I think it's probably the fact that you're re-reading a favorite book (any favorite book) more than anything. You don't have to focus on the words nearly as much as you would with first read (or little read) book. You know it, you love it, so it just goes.

[Katsunami]

Seasonally depressed? WTF... had to look that up. It seems to be akin to what we call "winterdip" in Dutch (moody feelings during winter). AFAIK, I'm not bothered by winter. I don't feel moody because of it. I actually like it better than summer, because you can just put more clothes on when you go outside; in Summer, as a man, there's a limit to how far you can go in removing clothing. (At most officies, long sleeved shirts, pants, and closed shoes are mandatory for men; women can get away with almost anything as long as it's not indecent.)

[theducks]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I think it's probably the fact that you're re-reading a favorite book (any favorite book) more than anything. You don't have to focus on the words nearly as much as you would with first read (or little read) book. You know it, you love it, so it just goes.

I usuall discover subtle things (character interactions, details) I missed the first time

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Thanks for the recommendation of the Sunset Warrior. I know some books by Eric van Lustbader, but not that one. I've read the Silmarilion once, but I intend to read it somewhere after I finish my 12th (or so) read of LotR. I also read Unfinished Tales and Lost Tales, but only once, around 10 years ago. I'll read them as well again at some point.

The Silmarillion is out in Kindle now too just like LotR is. I picked up a copy a couple months ago.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by latepaul

I think there's something to the idea of comfort reading, a familiar book that gives a reliable 'hit' of pleasure.

I also think, for myself, that something has happened as I've gotten older. A new book has to be really good to seem as good as one of my old favourites. I think some of the books I enjoyed when I was young, if I read them for the first time now would just seem so-so.

Then there's the immersion issue. Even with my most favourite books I struggle to "lose myself" in the world of the book like I remember doing. I don't know what causes that but if I could get it back I would.

I think it's the familiarity issue. When we are young and new to reading the act has a special magic to it that can fade in its intensity as we get older. Just as a young adult doesn't usually have to concentrate on how to walk unlike a toddler we get to the point where we don't have to concentrate on reading in order to do it and some of the luster can wear off.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by crich70

The Silmarillion is out in Kindle now too just like LotR is. I picked up a copy a couple months ago.

I have had it for several years already; but I also have an illustrated version from 2004 (the one with 48 pictures, that now seems to be out of print), so I'm going to read that one (I also have the boxed "Deluxe" version, but that one is solely for making the boxed series complete... Same with LotR. I have both the 2005 Alan Lee version, and the boxed Deluxe version.)

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Seasonally depressed? WTF... had to look that up. It seems to be akin to what we call "winterdip" in Dutch (moody feelings during winter). AFAIK, I'm not bothered by winter. I don't feel moody because of it. I actually like it better than summer, because you can just put more clothes on when you go outside; in Summer, as a man, there's a limit to how far you can go in removing clothing. (At most officies, long sleeved shirts, pants, and closed shoes are mandatory for men; women can get away with almost anything as long as it's not indecent.)

I was joking. Sorry that wasn't obvious.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Tarana

I was joking. Sorry that wasn't obvious.

It is a valid point though. Some people do get down during the winter. S.A.D. Seasonal Affetive Disorder. The change in the amount of light affects some people more than others.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I think it's probably the fact that you're re-reading a favorite book (any favorite book) more than anything. You don't have to focus on the words nearly as much as you would with first read (or little read) book. You know it, you love it, so it just goes.

Adding my support to this explanation. When you sit back with a book you already know and love, you're relaxed and ready to enjoy yourself. The book doesn't have to try to get you in, you've already done that for yourself. This is one of the reasons why I re-read as much as I do.