Comments | imbecamiel: Ramblings about books ahoy!

imbecamiel

Ramblings about books ahoy!

Jun 29, 2013 18:05

This... took me rather longer than anticipated. But - I finally have a (mostly functioning) brain again! Now if this stupid cough would just leave... XP

Anyhow - trip stuff!

( Bit of general trip stuff + book comments here! )

reading, family, vacation, dog

Comments 8

kriadydragon June 30 2013, 00:48:07 UTC

I loved The Phantom Tollbooth. I read it for a class in Middle school, thought I wouldn't like it but really enjoyed it (I think my favorite part was when they were eating the letters, and letters that were used most tasted better than letters used less). Whimsical books like that are tricky to find, because while there are a lot of stories that try to be whimsical they often end up lacking the cleverness that also makes the the world interesting.

And, hey, it's not a vacation without a pile of books to read :D

imbecamiel June 30 2013, 02:49:50 UTC

Exactly! There are books of that type out there, but sadly the majority just aren't as clever or endearing as they aspire to be. When you do find one, though, they can be just delightful. Juster has a wonderful way of playing with words (and letters, and numbers... ;D).

cairistiona7 June 30 2013, 01:21:18 UTC

Yay, two Dick Francis! I've read them so many times, but yet... I don't remember a lot of details about the plots of either of those, so obviously it's nearing time for me to go through all his books again. :) And Louis L'Amour! I know I've read that one, too, but it's been too long. His heroes are always wonderfully heroic.

And so many other Worthy Tomes. *iz impressed*

Yay for Cap! Another confession: I would run to the end of the dock, stop, look, and say, "Nope." Then quietly sit down and dangle my toes instead.

imbecamiel July 1 2013, 03:57:32 UTC

Yes indeed, clearly time for a re-read! He's definitely one of those authors where you get an itch to pick up the books again. *g* I've really been enjoying L'Amour, too - more than I expected to. There is something so enjoyable about heroes who are just plain good men.

Ha, yeeeah, I think it takes a while for anyone with sense to work up the courage to just leap off the end of the dock. XD Myself, I'm definitely one for beginning my swims in a more leisurely fashion. As hesitant as he was, I'm surprised he warmed up to the idea as quickly as he did...

cairistiona7 July 1 2013, 14:01:43 UTC

There is something so enjoyable about heroes who are just plain good men.

This. Ten thousand times this. And such heroes are becoming more and more rare, sadly, as the trend is locked on the grim-dark anti-hero. *sigh* I'm really hoping the pendulum swings back to heroism again. The world is grimdark enough!

imbecamiel July 1 2013, 17:57:48 UTC

I know! I've thought that so many times lately... The trend is very much toward portraying life "realistically" - by which they generally mean focusing on the worst aspects, tearing down the idea of normalcy and decency, and often showing even the best people as lacking in heroic, or even likable, qualities.

Yeah, real life has a whole lot to be depressed about sometimes. But what's wrong with our fiction giving us something to aspire to and admire, rather than shrugging and saying, "Actually, things are even worse off than you think"?

scarvenartist July 1 2013, 12:39:40 UTC

Yay for boooooks! I know we've pretty much already discussed the major ones--regarding 1984, my feelings about that book are pretty much, one needs to have read it, but one needs not enjoy it. (And you know, I don't know if I'd realized that 1984 was actually published AFTER That Hideous Strength--because I think when I read That Hideous Strength I was assuming that it had been partially influenced by 1984. Anywho. Yes, teh parallels!)

And isn't The Phantom Tollbooth delightful? I loved it when I was a kid--I still love it now. :D

imbecamiel July 5 2013, 23:27:45 UTC

"...one needs to have read it, but one needs not enjoy it."

Mmhmm, that's pretty much it. I'm not really one for praising books that I hate and don't think worthwhile just because they're generally lauded as somehow "significant." But 1984 is one of those books that's important, and thought-provoking, contains a lot of truth, and is genuinely well-crafted - it's worthwhile, but not the type of worthwhile that you, say, fangirl over. *g*

Yay, I'm not the only one who saw the parallels, though! XD It's really making me want to re-read THS now, actually.

Phantom Tollbooth really is one of those rainy-day-reread types of book. Just clever and fun and sweet. ^^