There is a slight chance I’ve missed out on a book I would have loved, by giving up too soon, but I’ll never know. LOTR itself takes a fair old while to get going but I too have read it 2 or 3 times and I rarely re-read anything. Too afraid of disappointment on a second read of something I loved, and too afraid of missing out on a good book I wouldn’t otherwise have time for.
On another note, that cycling photo made me smile. I’ve been looking through a lot of old photos with my dad the last few weeks including a bunch of black and white pictures of him in various races in the 60s and 70s. I bet you crossed paths now and then.
I don’t actually know, the only location I know for sure is some time trials in Roundhay Park in Leeds in 1979, but he did cyclocross and road racing too. Although some of my family were apparently in Morley cycling club alongside Beryl Burton, my dad rode for the neighbouring Drighlington club.
So you don't like the other Ransomes: Peter Duck, We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea, Coot Club, Great Northern eh? On Jane Eyre - you could try a *very* oblique approach via 'The Eyre Affair' Jaspar Fforde which is a very silly book. If it's any help Jane Eyre is better than Wuthering Heights. Or at any rate less bad. And for those who don't have a library any more, we can browse almost any book via the Kindle Reader app, sample of 10% is usually on offer. (Then buy in a bookshop of course....) I might have to reread 'Magic Mountain' for my 'About Mountains' blog, but I don't think it's actually about mountains much.
Books are like mountains, the ones that are a bit tough are often the most rewarding... On the other hand, some are like Everest tourist route, tough and definitely not worth it.
I do like the other Ransome books, to varying extent, but they aren't as close to my heart as the Lakes ones. Partly it's the location, and partly because I think they have the best cast of characters (especially Winter Holiday and Pigeon Post).
I suspect the best chance of getting through Jane Eyre is by audiobook, if there's a really good reader.
The Magic Mountain really isn't about mountains much at all. Less so than, for instance, 'The Final Problem'.
I think you can usually tell which authors have actually climbed a few mountains and which are not writing from experience. KIm Stanley Robinson definitely has (Escape from Kathmandu, and the story in 'Martians' about climbing Olympus Mons.
I had to skim this as a client is about to arrive (it’s great btw), but while it’s in my head I wanted to say I am the same re the supposed ‘epics,’ most notably Catcher which I couldn’t stand…. What I think is that these early 20c epics ie Hemingway, Fitz etc have influenced those I love ie Sally Rooney and Colm Toibin so that their books give the second wave lighter versions… which is so much more readable… so for those epics I am thankful. Thanks for posting
There is a slight chance I’ve missed out on a book I would have loved, by giving up too soon, but I’ll never know. LOTR itself takes a fair old while to get going but I too have read it 2 or 3 times and I rarely re-read anything. Too afraid of disappointment on a second read of something I loved, and too afraid of missing out on a good book I wouldn’t otherwise have time for.
On another note, that cycling photo made me smile. I’ve been looking through a lot of old photos with my dad the last few weeks including a bunch of black and white pictures of him in various races in the 60s and 70s. I bet you crossed paths now and then.
Quite possibly—where did he mostly race?
I don’t actually know, the only location I know for sure is some time trials in Roundhay Park in Leeds in 1979, but he did cyclocross and road racing too. Although some of my family were apparently in Morley cycling club alongside Beryl Burton, my dad rode for the neighbouring Drighlington club.
So you don't like the other Ransomes: Peter Duck, We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea, Coot Club, Great Northern eh? On Jane Eyre - you could try a *very* oblique approach via 'The Eyre Affair' Jaspar Fforde which is a very silly book. If it's any help Jane Eyre is better than Wuthering Heights. Or at any rate less bad. And for those who don't have a library any more, we can browse almost any book via the Kindle Reader app, sample of 10% is usually on offer. (Then buy in a bookshop of course....) I might have to reread 'Magic Mountain' for my 'About Mountains' blog, but I don't think it's actually about mountains much.
Books are like mountains, the ones that are a bit tough are often the most rewarding... On the other hand, some are like Everest tourist route, tough and definitely not worth it.
I do like the other Ransome books, to varying extent, but they aren't as close to my heart as the Lakes ones. Partly it's the location, and partly because I think they have the best cast of characters (especially Winter Holiday and Pigeon Post).
I suspect the best chance of getting through Jane Eyre is by audiobook, if there's a really good reader.
The Magic Mountain really isn't about mountains much at all. Less so than, for instance, 'The Final Problem'.
I think you can usually tell which authors have actually climbed a few mountains and which are not writing from experience. KIm Stanley Robinson definitely has (Escape from Kathmandu, and the story in 'Martians' about climbing Olympus Mons.
I had to skim this as a client is about to arrive (it’s great btw), but while it’s in my head I wanted to say I am the same re the supposed ‘epics,’ most notably Catcher which I couldn’t stand…. What I think is that these early 20c epics ie Hemingway, Fitz etc have influenced those I love ie Sally Rooney and Colm Toibin so that their books give the second wave lighter versions… which is so much more readable… so for those epics I am thankful. Thanks for posting