Rediscovering old favorites...
So a while ago, there was a meme asking about reading experiences. Not one of those "which books have you read" memes, but asking questions like, "what was the best reading experience you've ever had?"
To that particular question, I described the first time I read Les Miserables. I already loved the musical, but had never had a copy of the book. My mother gave me one for my sixteenth birthday - at which time, every single one of my friends was out of the country, and it was Spring Break, and my parents left that day for a brief overseas trip, so I spent my sixteenth birthday at home by myself.
I curled up with the book and some food and juice, and I read the whole thing in one sitting. Straight through, all 1000+ pages - and I wasn't as fast a reader then as I am now, so it took me over 24 hours. I didn't sleep - I couldn't, I tried - the only reason I stopped reading was to go to the bathroom.
I've reread the book multiple times since then, but not since my freshman year of college. I know a lot more history now than I did then, and a lot more philosophy.
Rereading it today, I'm even more impressed with the book than I was when I first read it.
I've also been listening to the musical again, of course - again, for the first time since college. It's also better than I remembered it (though, oh, the French lyrics are better than the English).
I think I'm going to drive people nuts with it - I've been humming and singing themes from it pretty much constantly for the last few days.
To that particular question, I described the first time I read Les Miserables. I already loved the musical, but had never had a copy of the book. My mother gave me one for my sixteenth birthday - at which time, every single one of my friends was out of the country, and it was Spring Break, and my parents left that day for a brief overseas trip, so I spent my sixteenth birthday at home by myself.
I curled up with the book and some food and juice, and I read the whole thing in one sitting. Straight through, all 1000+ pages - and I wasn't as fast a reader then as I am now, so it took me over 24 hours. I didn't sleep - I couldn't, I tried - the only reason I stopped reading was to go to the bathroom.
I've reread the book multiple times since then, but not since my freshman year of college. I know a lot more history now than I did then, and a lot more philosophy.
Rereading it today, I'm even more impressed with the book than I was when I first read it.
I've also been listening to the musical again, of course - again, for the first time since college. It's also better than I remembered it (though, oh, the French lyrics are better than the English).
I think I'm going to drive people nuts with it - I've been humming and singing themes from it pretty much constantly for the last few days.