Wednesday, September 19, 2007
BOOKS
I like books. I like to read. I took to reading in the eighth grade, reading for pleasure that is, leisure reading. I was living in Germany for the year with my Parents; my brothers were back home in college. I got sick at some point, and somehow got a hold of a copy of 'Carrie'. In one day I finished the first book I had ever chosen to read.
Although I would eventually find my way back to Stephen King, at first it was a genre thing. That year in Germany we travelled quite a bit, and I had time to kill. I read the books of all my favorite movies: The Exorcist, The Omen, The Amittyville Horror.
When I returned to West Point my neighbor Hutch turned me onto the Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan series of novels.
There are 28 of them.
I read them all over the next two years.
The merit of those works lies in their ability to create a reader out of me.
Toward the end of high school I rediscovered Stephen King. I think it started with The Shining. I consumed his works in about another two years.
I didn't say I always read a lot, that comes and goes, still....
Anyway around the time I had caught up to Steve, my brothers got married, and their wives introduced me to new authors, which I clearly needed.
Karen gave me John Irving.
It started with Garp, Hotel New Hampshire, Cider House Rules, Owen Meany - OWEN MEANY....
A Prayer For Owen Meany is the greatest book ever written.
Hands down.
These days I read a lot more non-fiction, but I still dig a good story.
I love a well written one.
I like books. I like to read. I took to reading in the eighth grade, reading for pleasure that is, leisure reading. I was living in Germany for the year with my Parents; my brothers were back home in college. I got sick at some point, and somehow got a hold of a copy of 'Carrie'. In one day I finished the first book I had ever chosen to read.
Although I would eventually find my way back to Stephen King, at first it was a genre thing. That year in Germany we travelled quite a bit, and I had time to kill. I read the books of all my favorite movies: The Exorcist, The Omen, The Amittyville Horror.
When I returned to West Point my neighbor Hutch turned me onto the Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan series of novels.
There are 28 of them.
I read them all over the next two years.
The merit of those works lies in their ability to create a reader out of me.
Toward the end of high school I rediscovered Stephen King. I think it started with The Shining. I consumed his works in about another two years.
I didn't say I always read a lot, that comes and goes, still....
Anyway around the time I had caught up to Steve, my brothers got married, and their wives introduced me to new authors, which I clearly needed.
Karen gave me John Irving.
It started with Garp, Hotel New Hampshire, Cider House Rules, Owen Meany - OWEN MEANY....
A Prayer For Owen Meany is the greatest book ever written.
Hands down.
These days I read a lot more non-fiction, but I still dig a good story.
I love a well written one.
Comments:
I've read cider and garp - but have yet to read owen meany - i guess I will be visiting the used book bin this afternoon...
best book I've read in past 2 years -
"The Curious incident of the Dog in Night time"
great post
best book I've read in past 2 years -
"The Curious incident of the Dog in Night time"
great post
Recently finished readin Filth by Irving Welsh You may need to borrow it and a dictionary. Although whiskey works just as well.
# posted by 
: 11:07 AM
: 11:07 AM
I always remember you always having a book in hand back in the day.
I don't read much fiction at all opting for history and rock books for fun. Finally finished "The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World" by Avi Shlaim that one of Misanthrope's buddies recommended back when he was still blogging. Very detailed view of the regions history from an Arab perspective. Can't say it was exciting, but I alway try to force myself to read a book like this a couple of times a year. Then, I reward myself with something like "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead".
I don't read much fiction at all opting for history and rock books for fun. Finally finished "The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World" by Avi Shlaim that one of Misanthrope's buddies recommended back when he was still blogging. Very detailed view of the regions history from an Arab perspective. Can't say it was exciting, but I alway try to force myself to read a book like this a couple of times a year. Then, I reward myself with something like "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead".
I adore John Irving. Some of his most recent ones aren't his best, but when he's good — damn.
Tony: What did you think of I'll Sleep When I'm Dead? I loved it.
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Tony: What did you think of I'll Sleep When I'm Dead? I loved it.
