And while we’re on the subject of reading, here are some interesting thoughts from Rodney Welch: The Blog about re-reading:
For me, re-reading is what reading is, or should be, all about. The problem is that little of what we read, little of modern literature, really demands a second reading, although some does. This of course is nothing new, if we apply the old rule that 80 to 90 percent of everything is lousy. For books that are above average, or appear to be, a second reading is something of a test — to see whether it yields more or less, whether or not upon a second reading it doesn’t start showing its seams.
There are so many books to read that with few exceptions I feel it’s a waste of reading time to re-read. But those exceptions, the true classics, are richly rewarding.
but rereading is a joyous activity in itself. rereading is like visiting an old friend and learning new things you hadn’t realise from the first reading! true, there are so many books out there, and possibly better ones at that, but if you really think about it, there is just way too many to cover, so why not enjoy the familiar company of the classics you love some time?
http://sulz.daria.be
When I was a kid I spent more time re-reading than reading, if that’s possible. My mother had a lot of books, mostly historical fiction, but the school and town libraries were very small and there was no bookstore within 20 miles of our house. So I read and re-read and re-read everything we had on hand.
Re-reading is much like revisting an old friend, and it can be lovely to snuggle up with an old friend. One of the joys of re-reading for me is that I can at the same time re-live some of the memories of the first time I read that particular book — was it wintertime, summertime, was I happy or sad, was I going through some teenage angst?
But I do feel that pressure to keep moving on. There are so many great books I haven’t read. Over the years I’ve become a much more merciless discarder of books. Years ago, I felt compelled to finish every book I started. No more. I used to give a book 100 pages to get going. Now, if a book hasn’t grabbed me within 30, 10, 5 pages, out it goes. It’s a combination of two things, I think: many more demands on my time these days, and a more critical style of reading that prevents me from becoming immersed in a story the way I used to.
There are only a handful of books I have and would re-read. Not because I missed anything the first time, but simply to enjoy them again. “The Shipping News” by E. Annie Proulx is one of them. The film with Kevin Spacey does the novel justice and is one of the best translations of a novel to movie screen, but the novel is still much better. And for the aspiring screenwriter it is an excellent example of how a novel should be adapted.
I rarely used the library (JMRL) for several reasons. The first being they usually didn’t have whatever it was that I wanted to read and if they did have it it would be “out” and would mean a wait of more than a month. Plus I didn’t like to read on anyone else’s schedule.
I was lucky, my mother always indulged my love of books, so while other kids went to the toy or record stores I went to the bookstore. I was able to amass quite a collection from those regular trips.
I rarely used the library (JMRL) for several reasons. The first being they usually didn’t have whatever it was that I wanted to read and if they did have it it would be “out” and would mean a wait of more than a month.
That hasn’t changed. I’ve been pretty disappointed in JMRL, frankly. I can always find plenty to read, but it’s frustrating to have search after search come up empty in the catalog. And their nonfiction collection is appallingly out of date. I moved down here from Loudoun County which, perhaps because it’s experienced such massive growth in the last 10 years, has a surprisingly large and up-to-date collection. In Bloomington I could always find what I needed at the Indiana University library if not the county library. I need to get into the UVa system, I suppose.
Funding the JMRL has never been a city or county priority, and since it serves more than one locality none of them really wants to put up the fundage. At least that’s the impression I’ve always gotten. I could be wrong.
UVA isn’t an option for me either. It’s not worth the hassle to find a parking spot and then hike. After I’ve figured in gas and time I ‘m better off spending 8 bucks on a paperback.