I don't know how many times I've read War and Peace. I've read it at least six times in Russian. I tried concentrating on different major characters over several readings. It holds up very well. Some people, like me, love War and Peace. Some people love Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. I read that one several times because I had to, not because it ever struck me as particularly good or insightful. Tastes vary.
I couldn't read Joyce's Ulysses once, though it must not be because it seems like nothing happens. I have read a Russian novel called Oblomov about three times without any sort of coercion. In Oblomov, it takes about one third of the book for the title character to decide to get out of bed one day.
Somethings just don't stand up to picky careful rereading. I read Pride and Prejudice fairly quickly the first time and thought it was a pretty good light novel. I later tried reading it with a critical eye and never got beyond the third or fourth chapter, because the English isn't great and the air-headed society which is depicted just gets too silly. Otherwise I can't say I've disliked many books on second rereading that I like on first reading. Sometimes the impression on second reading can be very different. Age, more education, even just a different state of mind can all make a book seem very different in later readings.
J K Rowling has her faults but she does tell a good story, worth rereading despite any warts.
I've reread several of the Brother Cadfael mysteries. The interplay of characters at least in the earliest books is very much worth studying, and Ellis Peters was a master at setting a scene both efficiently and beautifully.
One of the nice things about not having to read fiction for a living or for coursework or a book club any longer -- is you don't have to answer to anyone or impress anyone with what you are reading. It's freeing in a way.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2016-08-26 01:30 am (UTC)I couldn't read Joyce's Ulysses once, though it must not be because it seems like nothing happens. I have read a Russian novel called Oblomov about three times without any sort of coercion. In Oblomov, it takes about one third of the book for the title character to decide to get out of bed one day.
Somethings just don't stand up to picky careful rereading. I read Pride and Prejudice fairly quickly the first time and thought it was a pretty good light novel. I later tried reading it with a critical eye and never got beyond the third or fourth chapter, because the English isn't great and the air-headed society which is depicted just gets too silly. Otherwise I can't say I've disliked many books on second rereading that I like on first reading. Sometimes the impression on second reading can be very different. Age, more education, even just a different state of mind can all make a book seem very different in later readings.
J K Rowling has her faults but she does tell a good story, worth rereading despite any warts.
I've reread several of the Brother Cadfael mysteries. The interplay of characters at least in the earliest books is very much worth studying, and Ellis Peters was a master at setting a scene both efficiently and beautifully.
One of the nice things about not having to read fiction for a living or for coursework or a book club any longer -- is you don't have to answer to anyone or impress anyone with what you are reading. It's freeing in a way.
I'll agree with that!