Corpsey

bandz ahoy
I thought re-reading might work, but I re-read Death in Venice immediately after finishing it, and although it was a really interesting experience at the time, I still remember nothing about it now. I wonder how many times you have to read a book for it to sink right into your brain like a song does.
 

wild greens

Well-known member
Re-reading old books is pretty easy especially when you like them a lot. I think I have re-read Fiesta every time I've been to spain for the last 5 years or so

It's finding the time to find new books that are any good that is the challenge
 
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catalog

Well-known member
Re-reading old books is pretty easy especially when you like them a lot. I think I have re-read Fiesta every time I've been to spain for the last 5 years or so

It's finding the time to find new books that are any good that is the challenge
I feel like a lot of my top 10 is formed with rereading in mind. But as I've got older, or maybe just recently cos of lockdown, I'm doing less and less rereading, I seem to want to tick more things off. I think it's cos the flood of recommendations from various people keeps you wanting more and more.

It's good, to keep pushing on with new stuff, but it's also really nice to read the same thing again and again, something else happens.
 

version

Well-known member
I thought re-reading might work, but I re-read Death in Venice immediately after finishing it, and although it was a really interesting experience at the time, I still remember nothing about it now. I wonder how many times you have to read a book for it to sink right into your brain like a song does.
You need a decent gap between readings, imo. If you reread something immediately then you haven't really had time to read anything else, change as a person, properly process the first reading etc. You're still on the first reading, even if you're rereading.
 

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
You need a decent gap between readings, imo. If you reread something immediately then you haven't really had time to read anything else, change as a person, properly process the first reading etc. You're still on the first reading, even if you're rereading.
Don't agree.

Once you've read the whole thing you have an understanding of the entire structure/plot etc. that changes how you read everything in it.
 

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
Although I do of course agree that reading other things before you reread something will also change how you read it and enrich it.

I was listening to some of Ulysses on Bloomsday and I was surprised by how much more I understood about it because of my recent (Shallow) reading around history/philosophy.
 

version

Well-known member
Don't agree.

Once you've read the whole thing you have an understanding of the entire structure/plot etc. that changes how you read everything in it.
I don't think that's enough. I think you need to go in fresh rather than straight back in. It's too easy to glaze over and lose interest rereading something so soon after having read it.
 

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
I can't really remember if I liked Death in Venice now, despite reading it twice. I suppose I found it interesting, if too obviously systematic (Teutonic).

I really related to the ageing husk of a man staring longingly and impotently at a teenage boy while he dies of syphilys.
 

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
I never said that you would never be in love.
I doubt you can even remember why you hold the opinion you hold on Death in Venice. Perhaps you knew when you read it, but it's long gone now – it's become one of your opinions you can pluck off a shelf when the occasion calls for it.

This isn't a personal criticism, btw, I think this is true of most people opining about most books/films/things.
 

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
I, Corpsey, read it twice, and I can't even remember if he does die of syphilys, or if it's some sort of African fever.
 

craner

Beast of Burden
I actually can, but I'm concerned about Jenks showing up and saying, "all the reasons you dislike the novel are precisely what it is about." I would have no riposte for that, because it's true.
 
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