I absorb literature like a fiend. I'll read anything laid before me, from novels to coffee table books to articles and everything in between. If it's got words, I'm there.
That being said, as much as my heart beats for the written word, I haven't really had any cornerstone-of-life, world-shattering-revelation experiences with literature. I absorb, I ponder the complexities, I retain, and then I move on to the next. I have favorites, certainly, but nothing that really marked me deep enough to say it was profound.
I'd say Michael Crichton as an author is definitely a milestone for me, of sorts, for the fact that his work was the first I recall selecting to read for myself, by myself, without it being a school-thing or someone handing to me to read. I wasn't really reading what other kids were reading. My Dad and Mom would read me Koontz and King before bed (minus the more 'adult' segments in certain books, of course)... and when those two are your R.L. Stein, Goosebumps just kinda pales, y'know
( ... )
OKAY, so now that we've established that most of what I consider "cornerstones" in my literary digestion (see what I did thar?) are things from childhood, because that's where I formed the "I like to read" part of my personality, and from there I become kind of a vacuum. Even for crap I hate (Kerouac- who I only stomach so that I can argue with my post-modern hippy-ass best friend on even ground).
THAT all being said, I'm on a similar tier with scraplove with it being music that tends to effect me and stay with me through the years, and I know something wouldn't be the same within me without it. I'm that person that lives with her earphones attached to her head, MP3 player (or, oldskool yo, my walkman back in the day son) burning itself out in her pocket, one bud hanging out of my ear if you absolutely have to talk to me
( ... )
I love music, too. But my husband really loves it. It's his life. I have to glare grumpily at him sometimes because I had eight years of piano lessons as a kid and can scarcely play a note (gave it up and just never had reason to play again and fell out of practice) Josh has only ever been formally trained on the trumpet, but he's one of those who can sit down at the piano, tinker with it a few minutes and then proceed to play back a song he just heard, complete with cords. You right brained people, your artistic/musical talent astounds!
Ooo I really want to read "The Fountainhead" now even though Ayn Rand is not very popular among my friends.
I agree with daphnie_1 that every book I've ever read has affected me some way or other and I carry all of them with me in my heart and soul, even if I hated some of them. Some books do have a stronger, or more discernible, impact than others though. One of my favourite authors is Olav Duun (he's Norwegian) whose books always explore the nature of good and evil, individual responsibility and ethical choices. His novel I stormen (I think it is called Storm in English) made a huge impression on me: The protagonist and his rival for power and influence are stranded on the top of a boat upside down that will only carry one of them. Despite knowing that he is physically stronger than his opponent and that his opponent is doing his best to push him off the boat, the protagonist chooses to willingly let go of the boat rather than sacrificing his enemy, because it would go against all his principles and his belief in compassion and human
( ... )
LOL, yeah, Ayn Rand seems to be one of those authors that people either really, really love, or really, really hate. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground with her readership. You'll have to let me know what you think when you read it, even if you don't end up liking it, I'm just excited that you're interested in giving her a shot.
I went to Amazon to look up Olav Duun at your recommendation and I found "The Storm" in English! It's a used copy because the book is out of print, so how lucky am I to have found it?! I'm so excited! Your description of it sounds very intriguing so I definitely want to check it out. Thanks so much for commenting! :-)
I need to read Angels in America, too. It's on my to-do list. I've been meaning to read it ever since I saw an interview with Zach where he waxed poetic about it. I think that I've been so caught up in fanfiction lately (as in ever since Reboot came out, lol) that my book reading has gone entirely to the wayside *sheepish grin*.
Hahah I have added Ayn Rand to my ever-expanding to read-list, and I will definitely let you know what I think when I get around to reading at least one of them ;) Like you, in the last couple of years, I have been reading a lot of fic and not quite as many novels as I used to do, but I am slowly getting back into reading more books again yay! Atm I am reading Extremely loud and incredibly close, which I am enjoying a lot.
And of course you have to let me know what you think of "The Storm"! (it is the sixth book in a family saga btw, but I do not think it is necessary to have read the first five books in order to enjoy the last one).
I read "Angels in America" last autumn just before going to NYC to see the play; it is deeply moving and a powerful commentary on a number of political and social issues in the contemporary world. I was completely bowled over by it even before I was lucky enough to see it performed on stage.
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That being said, as much as my heart beats for the written word, I haven't really had any cornerstone-of-life, world-shattering-revelation experiences with literature. I absorb, I ponder the complexities, I retain, and then I move on to the next. I have favorites, certainly, but nothing that really marked me deep enough to say it was profound.
I'd say Michael Crichton as an author is definitely a milestone for me, of sorts, for the fact that his work was the first I recall selecting to read for myself, by myself, without it being a school-thing or someone handing to me to read. I wasn't really reading what other kids were reading. My Dad and Mom would read me Koontz and King before bed (minus the more 'adult' segments in certain books, of course)... and when those two are your R.L. Stein, Goosebumps just kinda pales, y'know ( ... )
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THAT all being said, I'm on a similar tier with scraplove with it being music that tends to effect me and stay with me through the years, and I know something wouldn't be the same within me without it. I'm that person that lives with her earphones attached to her head, MP3 player (or, oldskool yo, my walkman back in the day son) burning itself out in her pocket, one bud hanging out of my ear if you absolutely have to talk to me ( ... )
Reply
I love music, too. But my husband really loves it. It's his life. I have to glare grumpily at him sometimes because I had eight years of piano lessons as a kid and can scarcely play a note (gave it up and just never had reason to play again and fell out of practice) Josh has only ever been formally trained on the trumpet, but he's one of those who can sit down at the piano, tinker with it a few minutes and then proceed to play back a song he just heard, complete with cords. You right brained people, your artistic/musical talent astounds!
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I agree with daphnie_1 that every book I've ever read has affected me some way or other and I carry all of them with me in my heart and soul, even if I hated some of them. Some books do have a stronger, or more discernible, impact than others though. One of my favourite authors is Olav Duun (he's Norwegian) whose books always explore the nature of good and evil, individual responsibility and ethical choices. His novel I stormen (I think it is called Storm in English) made a huge impression on me: The protagonist and his rival for power and influence are stranded on the top of a boat upside down that will only carry one of them. Despite knowing that he is physically stronger than his opponent and that his opponent is doing his best to push him off the boat, the protagonist chooses to willingly let go of the boat rather than sacrificing his enemy, because it would go against all his principles and his belief in compassion and human ( ... )
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I went to Amazon to look up Olav Duun at your recommendation and I found "The Storm" in English! It's a used copy because the book is out of print, so how lucky am I to have found it?! I'm so excited! Your description of it sounds very intriguing so I definitely want to check it out. Thanks so much for commenting! :-)
I need to read Angels in America, too. It's on my to-do list. I've been meaning to read it ever since I saw an interview with Zach where he waxed poetic about it. I think that I've been so caught up in fanfiction lately (as in ever since Reboot came out, lol) that my book reading has gone entirely to the wayside *sheepish grin*.
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And of course you have to let me know what you think of "The Storm"! (it is the sixth book in a family saga btw, but I do not think it is necessary to have read the first five books in order to enjoy the last one).
I read "Angels in America" last autumn just before going to NYC to see the play; it is deeply moving and a powerful commentary on a number of political and social issues in the contemporary world. I was completely bowled over by it even before I was lucky enough to see it performed on stage.
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