How intimidating. If I read a book without a plot these days, I would fall asleep. The exception is a non-fiction book about a topic I'm currently very interested in finding out more about.
The idea of re-reading books you have already read is more appealing, though: having recently been thinking about books I've enjoyed through my life, I realise I've forgotten a lot of the details and would like to read them again. But is it asking for disillusionment, to re-read a book that was a blinding revelation to you at age 18 (say)?
I'm with you on the lack of plot. Even Ulysses has a plot (rather well worked out actually). As for revisiting works that thrilled you in the past, I've resolved to do that a couple of times and write about it, but never seem to get around to it. I remember that Henry Miller found that he couldn't read The Magic Mountain when he tried it again - though it had transported him the first time: He actually couldn't figure out what he had seen in it. So caution is advised.
How intimidating. If I read a book without a plot these days, I would fall asleep. The exception is a non-fiction book about a topic I'm currently very interested in finding out more about.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of re-reading books you have already read is more appealing, though: having recently been thinking about books I've enjoyed through my life, I realise I've forgotten a lot of the details and would like to read them again. But is it asking for disillusionment, to re-read a book that was a blinding revelation to you at age 18 (say)?
I'm with you on the lack of plot. Even Ulysses has a plot (rather well worked out actually). As for revisiting works that thrilled you in the past, I've resolved to do that a couple of times and write about it, but never seem to get around to it. I remember that Henry Miller found that he couldn't read The Magic Mountain when he tried it again - though it had transported him the first time: He actually couldn't figure out what he had seen in it. So caution is advised.
ReplyDelete