Book Blogger Hop No. 5: Why I Love Reading, in One Sentence

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,

hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

For more information, and 

to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.

This Week's Question

In one sentence, describe your

passion for reading.

(Submitted  by Billy @ 

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer)

My Answer

In times fondly remembered, in the long afternoons of an idyllic childhood, I first beheld The Book, that beautiful, spellbinding creation of the human mind and spirit that has been bringing me endless hours of delight ever since, and thereby giving meaning to my otherwise humdrum existence, which, I must confess, I have been forced to dwell in because of the necessity of MAKING A LIVING; wherefore, with the greatest interest and single-minded focus, I have long endeavored to consume as many of these wonderful things called "books" as humanly possible, since, after all, I cannot consider myself as properly living unless I am consuming, and being consumed by, a great book, which of course, will not only NOT fail to entertain me, but also bring me hours of diving into other realities that I wish were my own, so, if not for this wonderfully fascinating, exhilarating, relaxing, and intellectually stimulating activity, I would definitely not consider myself to be alive at all, and this, naturally, would not please me one iota, because living life to the fullest, for us bookworms, is simply to engage our minds, hearts, bodies, and souls in the utter perusal and immersion in a book that will not only give us glimpses of other worlds, but also provide us with that joie de vivre that makes life worthwhile for a genuine bookworm, of which, I might add, I fervently consider myself to be one, inasmuch as it is undoubtedly true that books and I have had a long, fruitful relationship together for many years, and we are not currently contemplating, nor will we ever contemplate, separation or divorce, inasmuch as we all love each other madly, gloriously, and intensely, in one great burst of joyous dancing and intense, bibliophilic ecstasy.

I rest my case. : )
  
 

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Book Blogger Hop No. 3: Books I Have Re-read

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,

hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

For more information, and 

to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.

This Week's Question

How many books have you re-read? If you have re-read books, please tell us the book titles and why you re-read them.

(Submitted  by Elizabeth  @ 

Silver's Reviews)

My Answer

There are several books I have re-read throughout the years. Although subsequent readings cannot compare with that first reading, I have still enjoyed each book -- or not -- just as much the second time around.

Since there are quite a few books I've re-read, I will just highlight a few. 

The first books that come to mind are those of The Twilight Saga, by Stephenie Meyer. As regular readers of my YA blog A Night's Dream of Books,  know, I LOVE this series!! I've re-read all four novels three times each, and the first novel four times -- one of them in Spanish, since I'm fluent in that language. 

I love the characters of these novels, especially Edward Cullen and Bella Swan! Although some people might dislike the books because they think the romance between Edward, a vampire, and Bella, a human, is just too 'weird' and 'out there', let me assure those of you who have not read these books that they're beautiful, romantic, and full of teen angst and great paranormal action! But there's more to them than this. They also have themes of loyalty, courage, and the determination to live a life of non-violence.

 
Another book I've re-read (twice, unbelievably enough) is Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte. In my last Book Blogger Hop post, I expressed just how much I detest this novel, so I won't repeat myself here. Reading -- as well as re-reading it -- was not a pleasant experience by any means.

What a contrast is Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte!! This novel is my all-time favorite classic!! I've read it twice, as well, and gained some new insights the second time, too. I have admired Jane for many years, and only wish I could be half the person she is. Her strong determination to live her life on her own terms, according to her inner moral compass, and not the dictates of the society of her time, is truly an example. Furthermore, her romantic relationship with Edward Rochester is tumultuous and passionate, which makes for great drama!

I've also re-read Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. The first time I read it, I was a high school student, and found it just as boring as I found Jane Eyre exciting. Of course, these two writers -- Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen -- had very different personalities. I much prefer Bronte's novel because she created dynamic, passionate characters, as well as very dramatic scenarios. Austen's novel, in contrast, was of a more subtle type. This author was concerned with satirizing the accepted conventions of the society of her time, and in a slyly humorous way. There was no "sturm und drang" in this novel.  

During my second reading, I was better able to appreciate Austen's sly humor, as well as her astute characterizations. However, I will always prefer Jane Eyre!

Another book I've read twice is Magister Ludi, by Hermann Hesse. This novel is also known by the title The Glass Bead Game. What's fascinating about it is the intellectual nature of this fictitious game, although Hesse never does elaborate on just how it's played. Equally fascinating is Hesse's creation of an intellectual province, known as "Castalia". I would love to be able to live in such a province!

This is not a dramatic novel at all, and the action moves quite slowly. I liked it, though, because the main character, Joseph Knecht, goes through a very compelling series of changes, all of an intellectual as well as emotional nature, throughout the novel. At the end, he has become transformed into a person who is able to appreciate both the intellectual life, and the life of the senses. This was one of Hesse's major themes, too.

I think I'd like to go back for a third reading of this novel! I'm sure there are many more things about it that I will be able to appreciate.

Another novel I've read twice is Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier. I was enjoying it the second time just as much as the first, until I found out what had really happened with one of the main characters. I don't know why, but I had not remembered this detail from my first reading, years ago. Instead, I had remembered what happened in the movie version. Interestingly, it seems that my mind had surreptitiously substituted the events of the movie version, precisely because the way the plot developed in the novel had disgusted me. The whole thing involved a murder, and how this murder was covered up. In the movie version, there was no murder.

This curious incident has made me realize just how complex the workings of the mind are. Our memories are not always reliable in recording exactly what took place in our past. We remember some things as we wish they had taken place, and not as they really did. Hmmmm.....

So these are some of the books I've re-read. There are several more, but, in the interests of not making this post overly long, I will stop here. Lol.

I'm very interested to know what books other hop participants have re-read, and why!

 
       

What are your thoughts on

this topic?

Please leave a comment!

If you're participating in this meme,

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If not, I will then comment on one 

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Book Blogger Hop No. 1: Reading Classics as a New Year's Resolution

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,

hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

For more information, and 

to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.

This Week's Question

Your New Year's Resolution is to

read a classic novel that you have

never read before. What book

will it be?

(Submitted  by Billy @ 

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer)

My Answer

This is my first time participating in the hop with this blog, which is dedicated to classics, literary fiction, and nonfiction. I have decided to answer this question here because my other blog, A Night's Dream of Books, deals with Young Adult Fiction, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and other popular genres.

I have been wanting to read some classic novels for quite some time, but just haven't seemed to be able to get around to it. The thing is, I have eclectic reading tastes (which is why I have two blogs, although I don't post to this one as often), so I'm always feeling conflicted about which genre to delve into next. During the Christmas season, there's no doubt in my mind regarding this; I will be reading Christmas-themed romance novels only. The rest of the year, though, things are not so easy!

There are many classic novels I have not yet read, and definitely want to do something about that! If I were to pick just one, though, it would have to be....hmmmm.....

Well, I can't pick just one, really. Indeed, there are at least two classics I would definitely like to read this coming year.

So here are my two choices!!

Since I consider myself a feminist, and am very much aware that women have frequently not been given the same status as men in literary circles, I'm a bit ashamed of the fact that I haven't read this book yet. I hereby resolve to get it read this coming year!

  . 

The only Thomas Hardy novel I've read so far is Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and I would definitely like to add more of his novels to my list of classics read! I have a thing for British 19th-century writers, after all. Of course, if I really like this novel, I will want to see the movie version. However, I always prefer to read the book first, and this one won't be the exception to that little, self-imposed rule.

Of course, these are not the only classics I would like to read this year, as I stated above. There are many others. I have never read F. Scott Fitzgerald, for instance. Ditto for Ernest Hemingway. And I also want to read Kurt Vonnegut. Then there's Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, Kate Chopin's The Awakening, a couple of novels by Hermann Hesse that I haven't gotten to as yet....and Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo. The two books mentioned above, though, are a good place to start, I think. 

What are your thoughts on

this topic?

Please leave a comment!

If you're participating in this meme,

I'll go comment on your 

own BBH post.

If not, I will then comment on one 

of your blog posts!

Thanks for visiting!!!