World, Writing, Wealth discussion

I've read 1984 three times, and it's always relevant. A few years ago, I tried re-reading the Tolkien trilogy, and it wasn't as magical as I remembered it. I re-read Catcher in the Rye a few years ago and found it disappointing. I've read To Kill a Mockingbird many times because I taught it, and I've never been disappointed. How did Harper Lee do that point-of-view thing where she told things from an adult's point of view and a child's point of view at the same time? Amazing. Have you revisited a favorite novel from your younger days? Was it as good as you remembered, did you find new insights, was it still relevant, or were you disappointed?

Can't say that Grisham's Rainmaker was the favorite, but I enjoyed it in the nineties, however could't get beyond 100 pages trying to re-read it last year, because it's a slow-starter and I'd grown impatient -:)
Also watched an old movie with Belmondo - a french actor, whose films I used to like as a teen or a kid even, and it just looked silly this time around.
Gotta try The Godfather or Master & Margarita, which definitely were among the favorites in my youth to truly see whether the perception has changed.

Agatha Christie's And Then There were None
Enjoyed it as much as I did decades ago.

Catch-22 I re-read a number of times - love it still - did not like the TV Series

What counts as younger days? If we go with books that I first read 25 or more years ago -

- I reread the Pern series more times than I can count. For me, it's like comfort food. Until I got an e-reader, I read the series every Christmas vacation. Then the series expanded so much, it became half one year and half the next.
- I really like F.M. Busby's Rissa and accompanying books multiple times. The combination of horror and triumph still pulls me in.

- I have reread Elizabeth Moon's Vatta series several times, because it's easy escapism with characters that I enjoy,
- The 1st trilogy in the Dune series, at least 4x, but never with the same impact as when I was 17 and read Dune for the 1st time. I was so impressed that upon reading the last page, I went back to the 1st and started it over again.
- I have read Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold at least 3x. I like the series and the author, but mostly the re-reading was the result of new books coming out and there having been a long lapse in between.

There are many Heinlein and Asimov books that I have read multiple times over the years. Many, the dating of the concepts left them with less impact on me than my first reads. Others, I would find something new of interest because of changes in my own knowledge and life.

There are a few series that I reread from my childhood because I was reading to my kids - like Little House and Narnia. They didn't appeal to me as much as they did when I was 10 or 12, but I could see the appeal to my children reflecting how I had first felt about them.

Some of the books I have reread during my life because those are the ones on my shelves and pre-internet, pre-kindle, there was not the option to constantly obtain new books. A library was not always nearby when I needed something to read. Also, in the early to mid 90s, I was introducing my daughter to many of my favorites, so I had to read them to have them fresh in my mind to discuss with my daughter.

I used to like P.G.Wodehouse a lot in my younger days,but now I don't find his brand of humour particularly appealing,as he ignores real life altogether.
I liked Dick Francis and James Hadley Chase,both thriller writers,when I was younger.I still do,and also Agatha Christie.

George Orwell has always been a favourite.

Stranger in a Strange Land is next on my list. I wonder if I'll like it as much on second read.

Scout wrote: "Stranger in a Strange Land is next on my list. I wonder if I'll like it as much on second read."

I found it very difficult on third reading a couple of years ago. Attitudes of characters are very 1950s

I checked it out of the library today. Will read with your comment in mind.

I re-read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland about once a decade, and find something new in it each time. That reminds me that I'm due a re-read soon!

My favorite book as a child was ‘The Westing Game’ by Ellen Raskin. I loved the character called Turtle, a precocious 13yr old, and saw the story through her eyes. ... I had been scared to revisit it as an adult because often times when you revisit those childhood things they don’t hold up. And sometimes that means letting them go forever because they are just so bad ...

I finally pulled the trigger a few years ago and still really enjoyed it. I think I got so much more out of it as an adult. No regrets! The thing that surprised me -but seems obvious as I write it- was the character I gravitated to this time. It was not 13yr old Turtle, but the cynical 40yr old, Judge Ford!

Philip wrote: "Scout wrote: "Stranger in a Strange Land is next on my list. I wonder if I'll like it as much on second read."

I found it very difficult on third reading a couple of years ago. Attitudes of charac..."

Finished re-reading it a couple of days ago, the unabridged version of about 500 pages, and I have to agree with you, Philip. It was very dated regarding attitudes toward women and gays. I have to say, though, that I got some insight into what was acceptable at the time. That's what people these days don't get: what was acceptable then is very much not acceptable now, and how can you judge people for behavior that was okay at the time? Anyway, I did enjoy reading it again, seeing how free love could be a good thing, but very disruptive to society and its norms. How people attack what they don't understand because they see it as a threat to the status quo - which it usually is. Parallels, of course, to Jesus and his radical teachings and eventual death. Still an interesting book.

I pick up one of my Goosebumps books from my youth and give those a read. I foolishly sold them at a yard sale but bought them back on eBay a few years back. So every now and then a give some a read.

I gave away a couple of Nancy Drews I wish I had back.

I have done so, but it is a truly rare event for me. Something Wicked This Way Comes and Dandelion Wine have both been done within the last three years. I do not count comic book or cartoon strip collections.

I've never read Something Wicked This Way Comes. Would you recommend it?

Scout wrote: "I've never read Something Wicked This Way Comes. Would you recommend it?"

Absolutely!