Good Books, Over and Over

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Charles Churchill

Without apology, I would rather read one good book thirty times than thirty good books once.

You?

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  • http://musingsfromthehinterland.blogspot.com R. Sherman

    I go through stages where I’ll read one book two or three times at a sitting. Cormac McCarthy’s The Road was one of those. Of course, the problem is knowing a book is worthwhile reading twice without reading it once, eh?

    Cheers.

  • http://musingsfromthehinterland.blogspot.com R. Sherman

    I go through stages where I’ll read one book two or three times at a sitting. Cormac McCarthy’s The Road was one of those. Of course, the problem is knowing a book is worthwhile reading twice without reading it once, eh?

    Cheers.

  • http://bittersweetblue.blogspot.com Ariel

    Wow, bold statement. Honestly, there aren’t many books I deign to read more than once…those that make the cut are classics, beyond dispute. I guess I feel two warring impulses within me…”Go read Till We Have Faces Again!” “No, I have to get through Sex God, so I can knowledgeably criticize Rob Bell!”

    The answer: more time. Will we have libraries in heaven?

  • http://bittersweetblue.blogspot.com Ariel

    Wow, bold statement. Honestly, there aren’t many books I deign to read more than once…those that make the cut are classics, beyond dispute. I guess I feel two warring impulses within me…”Go read Till We Have Faces Again!” “No, I have to get through Sex God, so I can knowledgeably criticize Rob Bell!”

    The answer: more time. Will we have libraries in heaven?

  • http://blogmeridian.blogspot.com John B.

    Ariel,
    I quote Jorge Luis Borges: “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”

    As to Charles’ statement, it begs the question of which “good book” And to add to Randall’s comment above, there are certain books that grow in my estimation the more I read them; if one of those had been among the 30 good books read once . . . sigh. We enter into Borges’ central metaphor in his story “The Garden of Forking Paths.”

    But then again, Emerson says, somewhere, that we will read all the books that we’re meant to read . . .

  • http://blogmeridian.blogspot.com John B.

    Ariel,
    I quote Jorge Luis Borges: “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”

    As to Charles’ statement, it begs the question of which “good book” And to add to Randall’s comment above, there are certain books that grow in my estimation the more I read them; if one of those had been among the 30 good books read once . . . sigh. We enter into Borges’ central metaphor in his story “The Garden of Forking Paths.”

    But then again, Emerson says, somewhere, that we will read all the books that we’re meant to read . . .

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  • http://www.biddlebugs.com/design.htm BrianB.

    I’d rather read 30 great books than 30 bad ones. (sorry, I’m a dork…no excuse sir?)

  • http://www.biddlebugs.com/design.htm BrianB.

    I’d rather read 30 great books than 30 bad ones. (sorry, I’m a dork…no excuse sir?)