A Book To Forget

Electric Skeptic

Electric Skeptic

Well-known member
Is there a book you've read that you'd love to entirely forget - not because it was awful, but because reading it for the first time was wonderful, and you'd really love to read it (effectively) for the first time again?

For me Lord of the Rings, definitely. Honorable runners-up: Ender's Game, Mort, The Hotel New Hampshire, The Wheel Of Time, The Stand (the best post-apocalyptic story I've read in about 50 years of voraciously reading all the science fiction I could get). All books that just gave me the best feeling as I read them. I re-read them know and love them, of course - but there's nothing like the first time :)
 
K

Komodo

Well-known member
Electric Skeptic said:
Is there a book you've read that you'd love to entirely forget - not because it was awful, but because reading it for the first time was wonderful, and you'd really love to read it (effectively) for the first time again?

For me Lord of the Rings, definitely. Honorable runners-up: Ender's Game, Mort, The Hotel New Hampshire, The Wheel Of Time, The Stand (the best post-apocalyptic story I've read in about 50 years of voraciously reading all the science fiction I could get). All books that just gave me the best feeling as I read them. I re-read them know and love them, of course - but there's nothing like the first time :)
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Pretty much anything by Jane Austen. The first time I read Pride and Prejudice I was so oblivious to the conventions of romantic comedy (some of which were pretty well established by Austen herself) that I didn't at all foresee the final get-together of Elizabeth and Darcy, and was very impressed with how deftly Austen managed this completely counter-intuitive union. (And it's still quite impressive, compared to the way it's typically done with a handwave or two in romcom movies.)
 
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Torin

Well-known member
Electric Skeptic said:
Is there a book you've read that you'd love to entirely forget - not because it was awful, but because reading it for the first time was wonderful, and you'd really love to read it (effectively) for the first time again?

For me Lord of the Rings, definitely. Honorable runners-up: Ender's Game, Mort, The Hotel New Hampshire, The Wheel Of Time, The Stand (the best post-apocalyptic story I've read in about 50 years of voraciously reading all the science fiction I could get). All books that just gave me the best feeling as I read them. I re-read them know and love them, of course - but there's nothing like the first time :)
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You're not going to like this, but my answer is: All of Ayn Rand's books.
 
Electric Skeptic

Electric Skeptic

Well-known member
Torin said:
Interesting. Aren't you left leaning, politically?
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Very much. I find the book interesting and if things were really as they described them, I'd agree with her. But they're not; she deals with caricatures of both sides.

If Bill Gates, Elon Musk et al disappeared as they do in Atlas, the world wouldn't stop turning. Everything would proceed pretty much as it does now. It's simply not the case that a few people (Atlas) support the world.

And we do have socialism (in limited forms) in our society and, again, people are not desperately lying about how ill our children are in our attempts to get a bigger slice of that common pie.
 
T

Torin

Well-known member
Electric Skeptic said:
Very much. I find the book interesting and if things were really as they described them, I'd agree with her. But they're not; she deals with caricatures of both sides.

If Bill Gates, Elon Musk et al disappeared as they do in Atlas, the world wouldn't stop turning. Everything would proceed pretty much as it does now. It's simply not the case that a few people (Atlas) support the world.

And we do have socialism (in limited forms) in our society and, again, people are not desperately lying about how ill our children are in our attempts to get a bigger slice of that common pie.
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I see. Thanks for your thoughts.
 
T

Torin

Well-known member
Electric Skeptic said:
Feel free to tell me I'm full of it - wouldnt' be the first time!
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Maybe some other time.

In general, I am of the opinion that internet "debate" is not typically fruitful. I'd prefer for forums like this to serve as a place for people to "share notes." Ideally we would all be reading stuff on our own and come here to chat non-combatively, with the goal of learning. But that is impossible - there just isn't a large enough number of people who agree with me that that's what this sort of forum ought to be.

Also, if you've read Atlas Shrugged multiple times... I mean, I can't make the case any better than Rand did. My goal on the rare occasions I engage in any kind of persuasive effort is just to get people to give Rand's work a try. You've done that already.
 
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Rynn_2

New Member
I read the book The Lord of rings. Many people recommended watching the movie, but I decided to try hard and read it. It was a great experience. It was a book to forget just because reading it for the first time was wonderful. The character I enjoyed the most was Gil-galad. He was the last High King of the Ñoldor in Middle-earth and bore many titles, including High King of the Elves of the West. I was amazed at how brave he was. His actions show us the abilities he had and the courage he offered to the show. I would like to know what other character you enjoyed in the book or the A Book To Forget for you.
 
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Temujin

Temujin

Well-known member
There are so many. His Dark Materials, anything by Terry Pratchett, but if pushed, The Night Watch, Ringworld, Consider Phlebas. For historical novels I would go for the Patrick O'Brian series, particularly HMS Surprise. I also have to say that I enjoyed all the Harry Potter books, particularly the last, which I read before watching the films.

I also enjoy rereading books. I have read Lord of the Rings every five years or so since I was ten. There is a different sort of thrill in finding details and undercurrents that you overlooked the first time.
 
Bonnie

Bonnie

Super Member
A book to forget? Most of the ones English teachers forced us to read, from 9th grade through college! :p I have no desire to remember any of those, though I do remember a little from Goodbye, Mr. Chips.
 
BJ Bear

BJ Bear

Well-known member
Electric Skeptic said:
Is there a book you've read that you'd love to entirely forget - not because it was awful, but because reading it for the first time was wonderful, and you'd really love to read it (effectively) for the first time again?

For me Lord of the Rings, definitely. Honorable runners-up: Ender's Game, Mort, The Hotel New Hampshire, The Wheel Of Time, The Stand (the best post-apocalyptic story I've read in about 50 years of voraciously reading all the science fiction I could get). All books that just gave me the best feeling as I read them. I re-read them know and love them, of course - but there's nothing like the first time :)
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All of the Kurt Vonnegut/Kilgore Trout novels.

Also, the Agent Pendergast novels of Preston and Child.

Edited to add:

For the Spanish speakers, Cervantes' Don Quixote De La Mancha. Truly, it is one of the best books ever.
 
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Electric Skeptic

Electric Skeptic

Well-known member
BJ Bear said:
All of the Kurt Vonnegut/Kilgore Trout novels.

Also, the Agent Pendergast novels of Preston and Child.

Edited to add:

For the Spanish speakers, Cervantes' Don Quixote De La Mancha. Truly, it is one of the best books ever.
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You know, I have tried and tried to get into Vonnegut. I fail every time. He's just boring and dull, to me. But that's what makes horse races.
 
BJ Bear

BJ Bear

Well-known member
Electric Skeptic said:
You know, I have tried and tried to get into Vonnegut. I fail every time. He's just boring and dull, to me. But that's what makes horse races.
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I read him as a kid and his writing just hit my funny bone, the same as an adult with Cervantes (The English translations just aren't what they could be.).
 
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