Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Day 12: A book you used to love, but don't anymore.

-The Chronicles of Narnia
I remember loving it when I was younger, it was so full of magic and adventure. But when I re-read it as an adult, it seemed so heavy into religion and politics that it was no longer the fun, magical story that I had remembered.

Who wants to play!

Dear Enemy I re-read this recently and realised some of the ideas are quite unpleasantly non-PC.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris

I read it when I was young and re-read it couple years ago, and it wasn't as good as I remembered.

I cannot think of one. I remember re-reading Madeline L'Engle's The Wrinkle in Time Quintet and being afraid I wouldn't like it as much as I remembered, but I liked it even more.

I hardly ever ever reread books, especially those I read as a child. I did read The Black Stallion again to my boys. I don't think I should like it as much now as I did when 10. And I read The Truck Book a thousand times. Trisha, you probably know what I mean...

Janet wrote: "I hardly ever ever reread books, especially those I read as a child. I did read The Black Stallion again to my boys. I don't think I should like it as much now as I did when 10. And I read The Tru..."

Oh man, we've read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom so many times that my 4 year old thinks she can read because she has it memorized! Haha!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom was a favorite for many years -- way past just 4!!

"Jane Eyer" by Charlotte Bronte. Cant she let Mr Rochester take care of her a little? Why does she have to take care of him?

Any book written by John Irving. He used to be my favorite author back in the day, but I've had a hard time finishing most of his recent books. I don't dare reread any of my old favorites by him, because I'm pretty sure I'll hate them now.

Mad Jack. I tried to re-read this but it's just not something I can get into anymore.

My Brother the Dragonfly by Will Campbell

May 12th Entry: I can't really think of anything that I would not be able to stand any more that I used to love, but I guess it would have to be Ramona the Pest and pretty much any other book with that character by Beverly Cleary.

I can see how a kid would love these books, but as an adult and after watching the movie Ramona was a pain and a bad influence.

May 12: Starting Point

I am jumping in during the middle of the month, so it will be a challenge to remember to continue into June, ha!!

I have not re-read many books from my childhood so the only one that comes to mind is Little Women. To say I don't like the novel anymore is a stretch, but think I have read it once too many times, (in addition to seeing the various movie versions more than once).

I don't know if I could honestly say I hate it now, but John Norman's Hunters of Gor and the rest of that series don't seem anywhere near as good as they did when I read them 25 years ago.

Nothing comes to mind for this. Though I've always been afraid of re-reading much loved books such as The Great Gatsby or To Kill a Mockingbird incase they didn't live up to my memory of them.

I don't really read books again... But I would guess some childhood favourites wouldn't be that great now when I am older and more picky. I might have that problem if I would read the rest of the Sherloch Holmes short stories...

Tess of the d'Urbervilles. The first time I read it, I found it very enjoyable. After dissecting it for several university classes though, I can no longer appreciate the story as much. Too many obscure references and symbols have been pointed out!

Le Petit Prince by Antoine de St Exupery

I can't think of any.

None specifically come to mind, however, in my early twenties I went through a chick-lit phase. I doubt I'd still like most of these books.

I thought Split Infinity was awesome when I was 11. It's terrible. Even if it wasn't horribly sexist, it would still be garbage.

Twilight.I think I outgrew it.The perfect thing does seem a bit bland now..too perfect or too YAish..
I guess I changed.

Since I don't usually re-read books, (with the exception of the books I truly love, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice) especially if I read a book and didn't like it, I certainly wouldn't pick it up again. If I liked a book, really really liked it, I probably wouldn't read it again only because there are just too many books out there to read that I haven't read yet! :)

The Pillars of the Earth, I read it too many times.

Loretta wrote: "Since I don't usually re-read books, (with the exception of the books I truly love, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice) especially if I read a book and didn't like it, I..."

Same here :)

Why?!

I used to love it in high school, but hated it when I reread it this year. It's basically about a guy going around talking about how amazing he is and how stupid and evil everybody else is (especially women... something I didn't notice first time around). Like The Catcher in the Rye on steroids.

Les Misérables

I got nothin

The Man in the Iron Mask. Used to love it as a kid.

This happens all the time now. . . Jane Austen novels not so very very cool now with me. Drats. . . .I have time to read Austen novels over and over now, but not so interested anymore. . . .Still I try.

'Of Human Bondage', Maugham.

I loved the book and movie Gone with the Wind when I was in high school, but now they are super problematic.

This is super difficult. When I was in Elementary School, 8 - 12 years old or so, I read my mother's Nancy Drew mysteries. She had the first twenty or so in hardback. They were magical. I loved them. I think I was reading the 1930s editions. Now the books have been rewritten and updated. I tried to pick one up a few years back of the "newer" ones. I didn't even recognize the characters and it definitely did not have the same "feel". I quit mid-way with a feeling that the series had been ruined. So many people read them when I was a child, and I never, ever see any children reading them today.

I loved The Pearl by John Steinbeck when I was 14 and read it at school for class. I reread it as a teacher. I still loved it so much that I bought a set of books to use at school for the students - with my own money! I taught it for two years. The students hate it. I loved it until I had to deal with their complaining. Now it has a sour taste for me.

Robin P wrote: "I loved the book and movie Gone with the Wind when I was in high school, but now they are super problematic."

I read that book in about 1972. I have not revisited it. I am sure that with the way the world has changed it would have trouble fitting into today's sensibilities. At the time the "strong female character" aspect was admired. I was in 6th grade I believe.

I am afraid to reread childhood favorites because I am afraid I won't love them anymore and something wonderful and magical would be damaged for me. But this past summer I reread Island of the Blue Dolphins, and thankfully, I still liked it very much.

The first time I read Wuthering Heights I really liked it, but didn't like it enough to even finish it when I tried rereading a few years ago. Who knows, if I give it another try in 10 years if I might like it again?

Sherry wrote: "I am afraid to reread childhood favorites because I am afraid I won't love them anymore and something wonderful and magical would be damaged for me. But this past summer I reread Island of the Blue..."

Oh I read the Island of the Blue Dolphins and the sequel Zia both for the first time as an adult and liked them both.

I thought The Stand was incredible when I read it in junior high. I reread it with this group a few years ago and I really struggled to get through it. I have read enough dystopian novels through the years that I have liked so much more that it didn't hold up as the classic for me that I thought it would.

Joseph wrote: "I got nothin"

Me either, nothing comes to mind.

I recently reread Happyslapped by a Jellyfish: The Words of Karl Pilkington which was SOooo... funny first time but very little of it worked on a reread.