Booking through Thursday
This week's question:
'Imagine that everything is going just swimmingly. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and all’s right with the world. You’re practically bouncing from health and have money in your pocket. The kids are playing and laughing, the puppy is chewing in the cutest possible manner on an officially-sanctioned chew toy, and in between moments of laughter for pure joy, you pick up a book to read . . . What is it?'
I don't really assign books to moods, and the only book I have ever re-read is Pride and Prejudice. So whatever mood I'm in, I'll probably keep on reading the book I'm reading.
But the thought of everything going so completely swimmingly reminds me of holidays, and on holiday I will read effortless pleasers that will maintain and the sustain this mood of la dolce vita. The sort of books you choose by their covers (the more embossed type the better) and how much they weigh. That sort of stuff. Chick lit. Or even crap, basically.
2 comments:
Les! I cannot believe you have never reread a book!!!! (Except Pride and Prejudice.)
I think I have reread all of dear Jane at least three times each, and Henry James twice (yeah, I know, I am a tiger for punishment). Dickens, Hardy, Eliot, Waugh … I’ve reread ‘em all.
I’ve even reread multitudes of crap stuff from the library – but for a different reason: I’ve forgotten I’ve read it the first time, and get three quarters of the way through before that vague sense of familiarity hardens into – what’s that thing again – oh yes, memory!
Rereading is an interesting thing, especially for classics. You bring such a different sensibility to the work at different ages. Novels that seemed impenetrable at age 20 suddenly become clear; others that you remember enjoying immensely then are now too boring to waste time on.
And don’t reread The Catcher in the Rye – you will just want to give Holden Caulfield two sharp slaps!
I can re-read anything. Even crappy romances!
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