What are you currently reading?

[Ken B]

Aldous Huxley: Point Counter Point

This is a re-read after many years. I cannot remember how I got on the first time, even tough I read quite a lot of his novels when I was a young man. This time around, however, I found it tough going. Perhaps as one grows older one gets impatient when a plot or character development is slow and tedious?

It is interesting how your reaction changes to some things over time. I can think of several books I really l8ked but could not reread. I can only think of a few I liked more the second time. In general I find the "classics" hold up very well, but more "commercial" stuff like thrillers does not.

[aligreto]

It is interesting how your reaction changes to some things over time. I can think of several books I really l8ked but could not reread. I can only think of a few I liked more the second time. In general I find the "classics" hold up very well, but more "commercial" stuff like thrillers does not.

All true here too.

[Florestan]

My experience is usually the reverse --- on the first reading I struggle with some books but then on the 2nd or 3rd I eventually ask myself: how could I have not like this excellent book? The most striking case in this respect is Stendhal's Le rouge et le noir, which I finished and greatly enjoyed on the 3rd reading only.

[LKB]

The Log from the Sea of Cortez, by John Steinbeck.

[aligreto]

The Log from the Sea of Cortez, by John Steinbeck.

I read that about 40 years ago! I devoured Steinbeck when I was a young man. Based on the relevant comments above I am afraid to re-visit his writing for fear that I will not appreciate them as much as I once did. Perhaps I will find more in them now? It is something of a conundrum for me.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Aldous Huxley: Point Counter Point

This is a re-read after many years. I cannot remember how I got on the first time, even tough I read quite a lot of his novels when I was a young man. This time around, however, I found it tough going. Perhaps as one grows older one gets impatient when a plot or character development is slow and tedious?

That is a book I read and enjoyed many years ago and which I've been planning to re-read.

[Ken B]

My experience is usually the reverse --- on the first reading I struggle with some books but then on the 2nd or 3rd I eventually ask myself: how could I have not like this excellent book? The most striking case in this respect is Stendhal's Le rouge et le noir, which I finished and greatly enjoyed on the 3rd reading only.

Some are a bit slow, as they put it in the South. 

That has been my favorite novel since I read it. I have read it 3 times, and next time will read it in French.

[Florestan]

Some are a bit slow, as they put it in the South. 

That has been my favorite novel since I read it. I have read it 3 times, and next time will read it in French.

I liked La chartreuse de Parme better, in that I finished and greatly enjoyed it on the first reading. Rumor has it that Lucien Leuwen is even  better than both LRELNR and LCDP --- have you read it? If yes, can you confirm or infirm the rumor?

[Ken B]

I liked La chartreuse de Parme better, in that I finished and greatly enjoyed it on the first reading. Rumor has it that Lucien Leuwen is even  better than both LRELNR and LCDP --- have you read it? If yes, can you confirm or infirm the rumor?

Have not read it. Parma is on the reread list.
Empty your mailbox!

[Florestan]

Empty your mailbox!

Done.

[JBS]

My experience is usually the reverse --- on the first reading I struggle with some books but then on the 2nd or 3rd I eventually ask myself: how could I have not like this excellent book? The most striking case in this respect is Stendhal's Le rouge et le noir, which I finished and greatly enjoyed on the 3rd reading only.

May I point out that you found enough in Rouge et Noir  on the first try to read it a second time, and then a third time?

I admit that I have never read a page of Stendahl.  Any suggestions on which to try first?

[Jo498]

A very interesting article about one man's religious conversion. https://www.firstthings.com/article/2019/05/why-i-became-muslim
An antidote to Woke.

And an indication for the total failure of the churches. If I get it right, this guy was at least as much looking for something like "christendom", i.e. a culture and tradition he could affirm as his own and live in as he was looking for spiritual enlightenment. That's why even as a muslim he stresses some common roots (like classical antiquity) and his fondness for British culture. But this was spoiled for him by the absurd stance towards 2500 years of Classical and Western/Christian culture of some modern academics. And the Christian churches apparently didn't offer much for him either (I don't think the paradoxes of the incarnation and trinitarism were the crucial point, this seems more like a rationalization.)

Now we see how weak cultural christianity (that still worked for atheist Evensong-loving Richard Dawkins) has become.
So finally, it is also a warning that postchristian atheism is probably not going to be stable and attractive. The Eastern bloc de-christianized its official culture but overall was quite affirmative towards many of to the grand cultural traditions, not that dissimilar from Dawkins love for church music. And of course it did have a powerful alternative narrative in communist ideology. The secularized West of today seems to have  seriously weakened the attachment and appreciation of tradition and it's ersatz narrative is less pompous but even hollower than what socialism offered: hedonist consumer culture in practice and vague and shallow ideas of internationalism and social justice in theory (or contrived and irrelevant postmodernist stuff in some niches).

So don't be surprised if vacua get filled by not very desirable options.

[Florestan]

And an indication for the total failure of the churches. If I get it right, this guy was at least as much looking for something like "christendom", i.e. a culture and tradition he could affirm as his own and live in as he was looking for spiritual enlightenment. That's why even as a muslim he stresses some common roots (like classical antiquity) and his fondness for British culture. But this was spoiled for him by the absurd stance towards 2500 years of Classical and Western/Christian culture of some modern academics. And the Christian churches apparently didn't offer much for him either (I don't think the paradoxes of the incarnation and trinitarism were the crucial point, this seems more like a rationalization.)

Now we see how weak cultural christianity (that still worked for atheist Evensong-loving Richard Dawkins) has become.
So finally, it is also a warning that postchristian atheism is probably not going to be stable and attractive. The Eastern bloc de-christianized its official culture but overall was quite affirmative towards many of to the grand cultural traditions, not that dissimilar from Dawkins love for church music. And of course it did have a powerful alternative narrative in communist ideology. The secularized West of today seems to have  seriously weakened the attachment and appreciation of tradition and it's ersatz narrative is less pompous but even hollower than what socialism offered: hedonist consumer culture in practice and vague and shallow ideas of internationalism and social justice in theory (or contrived and irrelevant postmodernist stuff in some niches).

So don't be surprised if vacua get filled by not very desirable options.

Excellent post. And let's nor forget that in Eastern Europe one of the major forces opposed to, and by, the official ideology was precisely the Christian religion. Poland is the prime example, and remains probably the only European Catholic country where the Church is thriving and plays a major social, cultural and even political role.

[The new erato]

I read both the Sea of Cortez, Point Counterpoint and Rouge and Noir in my youth. These days I mostly read non-fiction, biographies and crime novels for lighter relieff.

[aligreto]

That is a book I read and enjoyed many years ago and which I've been planning to re-read.

It would be interesting to read your thoughts whenever you do so.

[Florestan]

May I point out that you found enough in Rouge et Noir  on the first try to read it a second time, and then a third time?

True. 

I admit that I have never read a page of Stendahl.  Any suggestions on which to try first?

If you like your psychological analysis wrapped in rather page-turning action, try La chartreuse de Parme. If action is not much of a concern, then Le rouge et le noir.

[SimonNZ]

Aldous Huxley: Point Counter Point

This is a re-read after many years. I cannot remember how I got on the first time, even tough I read quite a lot of his novels when I was a young man. This time around, however, I found it tough going. Perhaps as one grows older one gets impatient when a plot or character development is slow and tedious?

Huxley's Point Counter Point made a big impression on me when I was in my late teens, in a way that none of his other novels quite matched.

Coincidentally I found one of his essay collections I hadn't yet read in a secondhand shop just a few days ago and am looking forward to getting into it:




recently finished:



Jack Reacher No.8. This is the one that's set back in 1990. The writing, structure and plots  keep getting better in steady increments, but he still hasn't learned how to wrap things up well. A couple of plot twists were obvious right from the start. But I'll continue with the series.

on the go, depending on whether I want something a litte easier or a little heavier:

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Had a wonderful time voraciously working my way through Ken Follett's Kingsbridge series, e.g. Pillars of the Earth, World Without End and lastly, A Column of Fire.  I had purchased the first book in the series ages ago, but for some reason or another (I'm embarrassed to admit), had never gotten around to reading it 'til about a month or so ago.  I can certainly see why it was a world-wide best seller!

I thought of it the other day whilst watching the news coverage of Notre Dame; they even contacted Mr. Follett--who, from what I understand, had spent an extensive amount of time in the cathedral researching it for his novels and discussing what he thought about the fire and how it had spread so rapidly, etc. and also bringing up what one of his characters had done in Pillars.  I don't want to say more and spoil it for those who are interested in reading the book(s).

Are there other fans of this series here? 

Serendipitously, I ran across a nice used hardcover copy of Fall of Giants by him at a bookstore whilst waiting for a takeout.  Hope to start that one in the near future.

Best wishes,

PD

[aligreto]

Huxley's Point Counter Point made a big impression on me when I was in my late teens, in a way that none of his other novels quite matched.

Coincidentally I found one of his essay collections I hadn't yet read in a secondhand shop just a few days ago and am looking forward to getting into it:

I have not read those essays. I would be interested in reading your thoughts whenever you get to read them.

[Florestan]

Although it's mostly too technical for me, I greatly enjoy the general comments he makes and his humorous and witty style. Lots of stuff for the Quotations thread, actually, liek for instance this one: Liszt's early works are shallow and great, his later ones are admirable and minor.