On books

[hils]

I've been thinking about the conversation I had with woman_of_ on Sunday about books that had an impact on me when I was a teenager. Do you ever go back and read books that you loved or that influenced you only to find that as you've got older they don't fit into your life the way they once did? I don't often read a book more than once because there's so much new stuff out there for me to enjoy, but I've been thinking of going back to some of the books we discussed and now I'm worried I'm somehow going to ruin my teenage memories. What if these books aren't what I remember?

Am I being silly? Should I read the books again or leave them in the past?

*sighs*

Clearly I am watching too much Frasier and it's making me over-analyse everything. LOL. Quick, someone find somethig shallow and meaningless for me to think about ;)

Comments

[notsowise-sage.livejournal.com]

Books are easier and faster to read if you can lock onto the pattern the writer is using, they tend to just flow through me then. Even the most complexly worded book can sudden become a quick read, with that right key. That said, not all books have keys to their flow, I never got one for High Fidelity, and Dune definitely doesn't have one that makes it easier.

The time it takes me to get to work and back is also a valuable asset. Out of a one hour journey, I find myself with thirty to forty minutes good reading time - though if a books too good, I've been known to miss stops, or worse still not realise, or not bother that my bus is coming towards me and just carry on reading.

Most books I read in a year I would put at round about the 350 mark, however I worked in Bradford, and commuted from Leeds. Strangely I rarely minded the strikes, or the bad weather as I'd be too engrossed in a book to notice. Oh and not smoking back then helped, that frees up time at lunch and such.

At the moment, for read/writing I get maybe four good hours in a day. Though I am fail, tonight on the writing account. I can't settle down with pen or key to get some words down for my story. Wrote loads on the bus earlier :-s

[notsowise-sage.livejournal.com]

Oh and another suggestion, if there is a book you're fancying from when you're younger, why not look see if it's on audiobook. Never really been into audiobooks before, but this year I've listened to The Northern Lights (which was fantastic, and turned me onto audio books), I Am Legend, Stardust, and next I've got some Lovecraft and some Xanth books to listen to. They're fantastic in I can surf and listen to them.

Actually I tend to chat online anyway, or watch a film/listen to music when reading at home. Nothing intense, but something easy going. Don't ask how I don't end up behind one, or both, or completely muddled up, for some reason it all just fits together :). My only issue is I can only write, and listen to music - I can't watch any form of TV, nor can I be online.

[hils.livejournal.com]

Wow, I have to have pretty much silence when I'm reading or writing.

[hils.livejournal.com]

Four hours a day? I get in an hour at most. LOL!

It's annoying that I can't read on buses or in cars though. It makes me sick :(