Tuesday, September 9, 2008

It Certainly Didn't Make Me Feel Too Gorgeous

Reading. A luxury that I rarely have time to enjoy. I work from home, raise two little ones and maintain a household. So when I have the time to read I need to choose my books carefully.

Lately I have been getting into reading the classics. Some are books I never had to read in school but feel that everyone else in the universe has. Some are book that I have read in school but remember absolutely nothing about (I would often read something just to pass the test and then lose all comprehension). The latest novel I have read is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I read it in the 11th grade and could only remember the main character's name, that he was in private school, and something about a cliff.


I wish I had paid more attention in those days because this is a great book! Yes, there is some colorful language and controversy surrounding the book used in a school curriculum, but there is also great character development and real depth to the story. Plus, I loved it when Holden Caulfield would say things like "It certainly didn't make me feel too gorgeous", or "It certainly was a gorgeous way to talk about a Christmas tree". I never thought of using that particular adjective the way he did!
I am currently reading The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis to my daughter. I thought perhaps all of it would go over her head since it is a novel with very few illustrations, but I am amazed at how much she is understanding! She could tell you the story if you asked her. I have also tried to read A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, but I admit that so far it is really boring. I think I should stop torturing myself choose something else instead.

3 comments:

heather said...

I have often wished I had read books other than the Sweet Valley High series when I was younger. Well, I did read other books, but I wasted too much time reading junk!

So, now I am trying to make up for lost time! I listen to many books on CD. I am amazed at how many books I have been able to get through just listening for a few minutes as I get ready in the morning or wash my face at night.

And I am revisiting old favorites with my kids and I am blown away by their comprehension. We are reading Prince Caspian right now. And A loves The Pilgrims Progress-we have it on CD being read by different voices but it is the actual text-I am amazed that he grasps that!

Kelly said...

Kids never cease to amaze me. They pick up on so much (which makes me very concious of how I act and what I say) and can grasp fairly mature concepts at their young age.

I read Sweet Valley High too, and Sweet Valley Twins. At the time they were so addictive and now that I look back, they really were just junk. I am glad to have a second chance to read good stuff.

I'll have to try audio books. I will probably have more time for that. Do you think A Tale of Two Cities is on CD? Maybe it won't be so boring if it is read to me!

heather said...

Check out Library2Go-google it. It looks like it has it and you can burn it on CD.

I have found that listening to books does make boring books easier to take.=)