Wednesday 21 May 2014

Reading!?

WARNING: The text in this post has absolutely nothing to do with the pictures!!

My list of classic book reading was seriously short until about 15 years ago. So short, there was nothing on it apart from books I had to read at school. Then, I was given a book voucher for my birthday and decided that my list needed adding to, so I bought The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.....and loved it!  

A scrappy cushion for the stall


A new world opened to me and I've gradually added more to the list since (Lorna Doone, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Far from the Madding Crowd, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, The Moonstone etc). I've just finished a copy of Jane Eyre, bought from a church fundraiser last year, that was published the year I was born. 

2 more phone cases made on request (but not suitable as phone bigger than I was told)

I felt obliged to try a couple of Jane Austin's but, as I might have mentioned before, I just didn't get what all the fuss is about. To me, they lack substance and plot compared with the others. Each to his own! I still have copies of The Mill on the Floss, Little Women and the complete works of Charles Dickens waiting to be read - so it'll be a while before I need to go looking for more!

These phone cases are big enough, and the right one was chosen.

Something else I find difficult to understand is when people read the same book over and over again, sometimes once a year. I once re-read a book that I had remembered really enjoying, but it was nowhere near the same second time around. It even spoilt my good memories of reading it the first time! I'd be very wary of doing it again.

Bag crocheted out of home made t-shirt yarn. 

 I also believe that the amount of enjoyment a reader gets is relative to their situation at the time. What I mean is - you may read a book that has a profound effect on you because it unconsciously resonates with your circumstances or mood at the time. But if you read it a couple of years earlier or later, in different circumstances, it might have little effect on you and you would enjoy it a lot less. That's what I think anyway!

Don't you wish I'd stuck to posting about crafting now!? Ha ha
Bye for now
Teresa x

6 comments:

Marksgran said...

Hello Teresa, I've just come over to your blog from Scarlets and I've bookmarked you now, so watch out I'm a prolific commentor! lol. I don't actually comment on many blogs but when I do I take over the page, if it can be said in two words or two paragraphs I always go for paragraphs! I've not read most of the classics either, except at school (a long time ago). Other than Little Women I didn't enjoy most of them. I agree that books can sometimes resonate at different times. I've often found when I'm having problems reading Cathy Kelly gives me insight for some reason. More recently I've found I can reread a book but only because my memory has become so ridiculous I can't remember it from the first time! I look forward to reading more of your blog.

Leslie said...

No! I totally enjoyed your thoughts on reading AND your interspersed photos of crafts. I agree with you on all points, though I did like JAusten, but I do see why some folks don't. You have done really well in reading good, classic books. I should do that, too, but always get sidetracked by those books that resonate with me. That is how I think I pick books.
I have only reread a very few and they are the kind that are complex thus good for varying seasons of life (like Kristen Lavransdatter and Stepping Heavenward). Love book talk! :)

Scarlet said...

You have 2 of my all-time favourites on your list - Far From the Madding Crowd and Pride and Prejudice. I thought Austen was very clever in her use of letters in P& P - it is thought that the book was originally written in epistolary form, which is probably why I think that it works so well! I read Jane Eyre when I was at uni and despised it with a passion, as I found it to be incredibly far-fetched and the character of Jane was intensely annoying. It's a good job there is so much variety in reading material isn't it? That way there's something for everyone!

Marivel said...

I really love Jane Eyre and I watched all movies with the same title,but my favorite one is with William Hurt and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Have a wonderful day !!

Elizabeth's quarters said...

I love 'off piste' posts, and constantly do them myself. Regarding rereading a book several times, I've lost count of the times I've read Tender is the Night by F Scott Fitzgerald–his writing is so beautiful, it's almost like poetry. Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you again soon.

Cathy said...

I enjoy reading and stitching, so your chatting and showing photos are wonderful.

I must say though, that the tee-shirt bag caught my eye...very interesting. Have you done a previous post about it?