Thoughts on books...
I've realised for a while now that since I moved to the UK, I read a lot more than I used to. I haven't been keeping track, but I would estimate about a book a week. I think it's a function of a few things, namely 1) I don't drive any more, so I have more passive transit time 2) I take the train more, so no movies to watch on the plane and 3) I do less sleeping during travel, i.e. no more 4 am trips to Denver. Also, duncan has a huge library of books that, while I didn't own, are appealing to me. So lots and lots to read there that is almost preselected to my taste.
Recently, I have started reading more 'classic' kind of books. I never read any of this stuff before because 1) I missed the 11th grade, which is where these things tend to happen and 2)I had lots of school librarian types trying to cram it down my throat before I was ready, i.e. I could read the words, but just didn't have the patience for it.
So I've worked my way through a bunch of Edith Wharton, and have just started on Jane Austen. I'm starting with sense and sensibility, and after the first 50 pages I almost gave up, thinking WHAT THE HELL WILL SHE TALK ABOUT FOR THE NEXT 300 PAGES?!! But somehow, I kept on, and am kind of enjoying it. I am on the line between reading the rest and just googling to find out what happens. I am enthralled with the plot, but it's all a bit slow for me. On the other hand, I really loved reading Edith Wharton, just the very experience of it.
SO: Do other people read these books? (Well, duh, they keep printing them.) Why? What's so great about them? Aren't they just old sleazy romance novels? Also, any recommendations about what else I might enjoy? (I tend to pick one author and read until there ain't no more, or I'm dead sick of it. I'm obsessive that way.)
Recently, I have started reading more 'classic' kind of books. I never read any of this stuff before because 1) I missed the 11th grade, which is where these things tend to happen and 2)I had lots of school librarian types trying to cram it down my throat before I was ready, i.e. I could read the words, but just didn't have the patience for it.
So I've worked my way through a bunch of Edith Wharton, and have just started on Jane Austen. I'm starting with sense and sensibility, and after the first 50 pages I almost gave up, thinking WHAT THE HELL WILL SHE TALK ABOUT FOR THE NEXT 300 PAGES?!! But somehow, I kept on, and am kind of enjoying it. I am on the line between reading the rest and just googling to find out what happens. I am enthralled with the plot, but it's all a bit slow for me. On the other hand, I really loved reading Edith Wharton, just the very experience of it.
SO: Do other people read these books? (Well, duh, they keep printing them.) Why? What's so great about them? Aren't they just old sleazy romance novels? Also, any recommendations about what else I might enjoy? (I tend to pick one author and read until there ain't no more, or I'm dead sick of it. I'm obsessive that way.)