From Russia With Irving
Time changes a story. I first read John Irving in college. I’m not sure how I discovered him or why I fell in love, but I did. Lately, I’ve been revisiting his works.
It’s funny how different they are. Part of it is age. Another part of it is that I first read Irving as someone who never imagined she would write; now I read Irving as someone who’s written. Before I enjoyed the story and the characters, and now I’m still enjoying the story and the characters, but I can see the craft, too.
Below is one of the best interviews I’ve seen with John Irving. He talks about his life, how he writes, and his stories.
What stories have changed for you, upon re-reading years later? Are you a re-reader? Do you have a favorite novelist?
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats and husband. She spends summers camped near her niece, because, well, her niece is her favorite girl on the planet.
I recently reread a Georgette Heyer book. I was amamzed at how much I still enjoyed her characters and her writing. And how different and fun her characters are from what we read now. I admire her more now than before.
The same with Zenna Henderson. I have all her PEOPLE books. Once in a great while I’ll reread them, and I appreciate her writing now more than I did before. Before I just enjoyed the stories. Now I enjoy the stories and the writing.
I picked up a Georgette Heyer book not too long ago, Edie. I’ve never read her, but I enjoyed reading it a lot. And I’m embarrassed that I’ve never heard of Zenna Henderson. I need to spend more time in the “H” section!
I’ve only begun rereading books in the past couple of years. As a younger fellow I never wanted to go back, only forward to new books. But now I do reread some, mostly for nostalgic reasons. There is so much to read, though. I’ve actually never read Irving. One day I will
Charles, I’ve always felt so overwhelmed by all that I haven’t read, you know? I feel guilty re-reading a book, when there are so many I haven’t read.
But… re-reading is awesome.
I’m with Charles. I never reread boos until the past few years. Recently I have done some rereading. I guess it started as as nostalgia — rereading books I’d read in my teens or younger — but books like Bester’s The Stars My Destination or Miller’s A Canticle for Leibowitz were actually better than I recalled. As an adult, I understood more of what I was reading. And for me books I read remain fresh on rereading because my memory of them is so bad, especially from the years when I wolfed down about a novel a day indiscriminately.
Yesterday I finished rereading The Puppet Masters by Heinlein and it really opened my eyes. Wow. I didn’t recall it being so racy and salacious (in a fifties way). I was surprised the local library let a gradeschooler check it out. Then I looked into the matter and realized I’d read the greatly expanded, unexpurgated version released after Heinlein’s death. So that time I had an excuse for not remembering it.
Eric, I really need to re-read a lot of Heinlein. He’s my story God, I think.
I didn’t know that about The Puppet Masters, either! (Gosh, the number of things I don’t know, lol…)
“Wolfed down” is a good description. I read too fast, but it’s hard not to, when there is just so much I haven’t read!
I don’t reread, so I can’t really say. I will say my tolerance for “unsatisfactory” writing has diminished since I began writing.
Melanie, I know what you mean. There was a time when I never left a book unfinished, no matter how bad it was. Now? Not so much, LOL!
About the only books I re-read are non fiction. I have four or five that I keep at work and I constantly ready them while eating lunch.
Really, G? I’d be curious to know what they are!
I rarely re-read. My exceptions are Tolkein and the “Anne of Green Gables” books. How’s that for a weird combination? I’m amazed at what a fabulous writer Tolkein was. It’s not just the story. He was a true wordsmith. And I just adore Anne. I root for her and Gilbert every time.
Robin, I need to re-read both of those! Those are favorites of mine! Anne was awesome: I so admired her passion and guts! She rocked!
And Tolkien… well, nothing need be said.
I like to reread Tolkien, Dickens, Harry Turtledove, Donald Westlake, Piers Anthony and Michael Crichton books. It’s like going back to visit an old friend where you can re-experience the stories once read for story and now, as you say yourself, Spy, for the way they wrote their craft.
Dickens is a favorite of mine to re-read, too, Barbara! It is like an old friend. I really enjoy re-visiting the Harry Potter series, too! I tend to get swept away by the magic, though, and never see the craft, there.
Definitely a re-reader! I’ve re-read “Gone With The Wind” probably ten times, that’s my “big” story as far as re-read times go. And there are so many others. Re-reading to me is like visiting an old friend.
Speaking of which, what are you doing on Saturday? Can I meet up with you for lunch or at Borders or something? Let me know!
I need to read Gone with the Wind again! I haven’t read it in ages, and am about to send my paper copy away. I will put it on my Kindle, though, I promise!
Borders would be awesome!
The last book I’ve re-read was Bittne by Kelley Armstrong. I can honestly say that a second read did hardly anything for me. I will always love and treasure that first-time discovery that lands books on my keeper shelf.
Marcia, it’s true: there’s nothing like the magic of first discovery!