Grace
tagged me on facebook to share 7 of my favourite books. Really? ONLY 7?! With 5
decades of reading and a personal library of close to a 1000 books, How can I choose just 7 - you can relate
to this feeling, right!
But
I took this as an opportunity to start a new album and share the books that are
in my home. It is taking me through some nostalgic moments. I invite you to
share my journey .... No promises, but I’ll try to do one post per week on my book
collection.
Under
the tag "books
I read", you can find my old posts & pics about a few books, most
with a tatted bookmark. I'll try not to repeat them, if possible.
Back
in the ‘80s, with my very first paycheck, I ended up in a bookstore. This
became a monthly habit. My checklist included classics, complete works
preferably in hard cover/binding.
The
Complete Works of Oscar Wilde was among the very first of such buys.
Oscar
Wilde has such a wonderful way of presenting stories laced with humour and
satire, whimsy characters, and witty epigrams. But reading his plays back to
back revealed that he often repeated them! I penned a few thoughts
on back-to-back reading here
I
wonder if these plays will impart the same pleasure now - age and experience or
time has a way of changing one’s preferences, one’s perspective…
The Picture of Dorian Gray remains one of my
favourite novel for the message it imparts.
I’ve
read all his short stories, a few of
his sonnets, ballad, and De Profundis. The latter revealed a sad
and weak side of the sensitive author. He was also born in the wrong era.
I didn’t get around to reading most of his essays, and a lot of his poems, etc.
Though
huge (almost 2 inches thick!) and hard cover, it is surprisingly lightweight!
But the print is too small to read comfortably now - this is where e-readers score over print. Nevertheless, it sits
proudly and worth every penny.
I also enjoy the single-minded focus and logic of the
story and of the detective work.
()()()()
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle
This
is a box set of 2 volumes, and I have All 4 novels and all 56 stories, back to
back or more literally, cover to cover!!! (the marks of reading are visible on the spine and covers ;-P) Just could not put
it down. I consider this character the best sleuth among all I’ve read, and
Doyle’s suspense consistently the best. He generally has very few characters,
and spins the mystery around those handful….unlike Agatha Christie who collects
oh so many characters in every single story.
One
peeve, though, is that the complete picture is not painted and a vital clue is
mentioned towards the end, thus preventing the reader from participating. But
the story still holds one’s attention to the very end.
I
liked the TV series where Jeremy Brett plays Holmes – a bit over the top, but
like I said, the stories are so compelling ….
This
box set is actually my 2nd or replacement buy. I had lent my
original collection (a leather-bound complete works) to a friend and it never
came back!
So what are your thoughts?
I think i should improve my reading habits
ReplyDeleteWell, I wish you a lifetime of happy reading and hope you pass on the passion to your little one, Shilpa 🌹💗🌹
DeleteI haven’t read all of Oscar Wilde, but have enjoyed what I read. I haven’t read much Conan Doyle.
ReplyDeleteI grew up on (and still prefer) writers from the UK, Jane 🌹💗🌹 I'm sure the school/academic curriculum of that time had a considerable role to play.
DeleteI love reading in my mother toungue, I've only read few books in English. But I've read translations of some by both authors and it was enjoyable. I've watched both the tv series, the UK and the USA version of Sherlock, very engaging indeed
ReplyDeleteGood translations are a great source of enhancing one's reading sphere, Nin :-))) I love to watch any Holmes' serial or movie, too - there have been quite a few productions!
DeleteDon't lend your books to friends. They seldom come back.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Master A! Learned the hard way ;-P
DeleteInteresting and fun topic! Hubby says, "You're a compilation of the books you read and the people you meet." Guess I'm not much. Loved the author Walter Farley's "The Black Stallion" as a child. As an adult, I read for information rather than for pleasure. So, I tend to read articles rather than an entire book. But, love hearing about other's experiences reading novels.
ReplyDeleteWise hubby, Anita, but you are an exception :-))) Will check on your book...I do like The Black Beauty, though. I used many of the lighter reading material as 'breaks' between more serious reading ;-P
DeleteI seen to have gone off reading, I can sit on a beach or beside a pool and read for hours but at home I dont seem to get the energy to think about it. Yet I love a good book with a good story usually romance.
ReplyDeleteI can understand, Margaret! I don't do much serious reading myself now - just light reading....need to read before I sleep ;-P
DeleteCrafting and reading equally fight for my time in the evenings! I don't think I have ever read Oscar Wilde, but I have read every single one of the Sherlock Holmes stories and there is non better! Your entire description rings true in my heart, with one exception would be Jeremy Brett was not the best Holmes in my mind, but that series was written well. I much prefer the older b&W series with Leslie Howard. The stories are a bit simplified, but I felt the character better portrayed.
ReplyDeleteI am fortunate enough to have trustworthy friends to lend to, but perhaps this is because we generally exchange books and so each hold something of the others. Incentive for a re-exchange 😁
Oscar Wilde's writing is very witty and he brings In a fresh perspective, cocking a snook at high society of the time. You might enjoy it 😃
DeleteI absolutely agree, Emily, which is why I said Brett is 'over the top', but the Holmes' stories/plotline (as well as the character itself) are so compelling that one tends to overlook and excuse 😉😄
💕