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Beyond the Lone Islands

http://dawntreader-island2.blogspot.com

Thursday 17 June 2010

BTT: Old Books or New?


http://btt2.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/now-or-then/

Do you prefer reading current books? Or older ones? Or outright old ones? (As in, yes, there’s a difference between a book from 10 years ago and, say, Charles Dickens or Plato.)

I like to read a mix of current and older books. Even a few 'outright old ones' now and then; although reading only those would get a bit too heavy, I think ;) But I do enjoy reading and re-reading some of the classic novels from the late 18th, 19th and early 20th century. British and Swedish authors especially, but also some of the Russians and the French (in translation). I never read Plato, but I did read (for example) Confessions by St Augustine of Hippo (354-430). I don't think I've read every novel by Dickens, but some of them I've read twice. But then I've been reading for a long time by now... ;)

Currently reading/listening to:


Unseen Academicals (2009) by Terry Pratchett  - No 37 (!) in the Discworld series.

Barn av sin stad ('Children of their City') (1962) by Per Anders Fogelström  - second in a series of historical novels about Stockholm; this one covering the period from 1880-1900.

Curious Myths of the Middle Ages by Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) (a chapter now and then).

6 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

In the last 10 years or so, it seems I read the newer books, simply because I get caught up in reading good reviews in the paper and then want to buy one. I have recently bought some a bit older by Henri Nouwen, he's great! Interesting point about it being such a different experience reading VERY old books, but that's correct!! I think the very old ones need to be a slower read, just because of the wording for one thing. Oh, I see a great looking post below, so you did two today? I will jump right down there now.

MadSnapper said...

I do not buy books, but get all mine from the library. I head straight for the new book section and go through that one first. my biggest problem is i can only read large print books now and i can't always find what i want when i want it. but I do find a lot of both old and new that i love.

Gilion at Rose City Reader said...

Good answer! I tend to go for older books myself, although it's been quite a while since I read St. Augustine! Here is my answer on Rose City Reader.

智宜 said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The Social Frog said...

I love all kinds of books but really enjoy best sellers for the most part. Old books are good but often heavy, slow reads.

www.thesocialfrog.com

Anonymous said...

I love classics!

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