Reading for the Second Time!!!

Reading is an activity that enriches our minds and broadens our horizons. When we read for the second time, it's like embarking on a new journey with a familiar friend. We notice details that we might have missed the first time around.

The second reading allows us to delve deeper into the story, understand the characters better, and uncover the hidden meanings and themes. It gives us a chance to reflect on our initial impressions and see if they have changed.

Moreover, reading for the second time can enhance our comprehension and retention skills. We become more familiar with the language and writing style, which makes it easier to follow the plot and absorb the information.

In conclusion, reading for the second time is a rewarding experience that can bring new insights and a deeper appreciation for the book. So, the next time you pick up a favorite book, don't be afraid to read it again and discover something new.

Update October 2018

I truly have a penchant for a good apocalypse! If that seems like a self-contradictory statement, allow me to clarify: I really enjoy someone else's apocalypse. On a bookshelf I've set up on this site, I've listed sixteen books that I've read and classified as being in this genre. So, what is it about the end of the world as we know it that gets my heart racing? It's likely the fact that, like many others, I wonder how I would feel and how I would behave if this were to happen to me. And what would everyone else do, those who are still alive? Would everything descend into violence and anarchy, or would the survivors manage to salvage some dignity and order from the doom and impending annihilation? After all, it's the ultimate story - The End.

Nearly four years ago, I was persuaded to give this book a try when I was already an avid reader of Stephen King novels. I knew from the blurb that the tale would force me to confront my aversion to all things paranormal - I simply can't accept that such things are possible - but the persuasive powers of friends who had read this book were too strong, and I caved in.

When I attempt a really long book, my preference is to seek out an audio copy, and since I'd decided to go all out on this one - the full-length version - that's exactly what I did. And what an adventure it was! Looking back on it, I still think it's a superb story that is somewhat marred by the inclusion of The Prince of Evil, but I know many people will wholeheartedly disagree. Anyway, in my opinion, it remains a great book with the positives far outweighing the negatives. Is it my favorite apocalyptic tale? No, I'm afraid not - as good as this one is, that particular honor currently belongs to either The Road or Station Eleven.

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January 2015

The first thing I have to say is that this is not my typical reading material. I'm not a big fan of horror or tales featuring paranormal activity. The second thing is that this is a massive book; I listened to it on audiobook - all 47 hours and 47 minutes of it - brilliantly read by Grover Gardner. And the third thing is that it might take me a while to fully process how I feel about this story. It's an epic tale that never once left me bored or wishing I were elsewhere doing something else, but there are elements that I'm not so sure about.

For those who haven't come across this piece, here's a quick plot summary...

Set in 1990 (it's a revision of the original version, which was set 10 years earlier), it tells the story of a group of characters who are among the 0.6% of the American population left standing when a government facility unleashes a killer flu bug. That's probably enough - I really wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone yet to experience this behemoth of a novel.

What I liked about it:

- Like every King novel I've read to date (a relatively small number, to be honest), the characterisation is outstanding. Each member of the large cast is endowed with a personality that is both believable (well, mostly) and has enough individual characteristics to set him/her apart from the others. To be able to maintain this for the length of this tome was quite an achievement. My personal favorite has to be The Kid - 'Don't tell me, Happy Crappy, I'll tell you' - whose spiel had me laughing out loud. Surely the best cameo performance in literary history!
- I liked the apocalyptic beginning of the story, and for the first third, I thought this was how the whole thing would play out; like a longer version of The Road, but with a beginning and an ending... and maybe a little Random Walk thrown in for good measure.
- The introduction of a sociologist as a member of the cast was a stroke of genius. Glen Bateman was a voice of reason. He was able to rationalize what was happening, provide context to actions, and predict various scenarios, describing how things might unfold. Moreover, as the story became increasingly biblical (yes, biblical - it's been suggested that King's story is based on The Book of Job or The Book of Revelation), he offered words of wisdom and provided one or two references, ensuring we didn't miss the point.
- You have to admire the fact that the author was able to sustain a narrative and hold the attention of the reader/listener for what amounts to, in written form, approximately 1200 pages. It's just incredible.

What didn't sit so well with me:

- There is a significant paranormal element to this book, and while I concede this is a very personal view, I had to struggle to overcome the feeling that the whole thing was just too unbelievable. No matter how wild and wonderful the story, I can usually adopt a stance of 'yes, that's possible'. Here, I had to consciously refocus and push on despite my doubts. Perhaps I just lack the imagination or wit to be able to accept this component and move on. Maybe I'm just not attuned to fantasy novels. Strangely, the only other audiobook I've listened to of a similar length is 1Q84, and I had no such problem with the surreal nature of that story.
- It felt a bit uneven. In some places, it got bogged down, and nothing significant happened for quite some time. There came a point where I felt that the tension - essential for maintaining the reader's interest - had diminished and all but disappeared. However, the penultimate section of the book was riveting and probably the best part of the whole thing. Then it slowed down again and somewhat drifted to the finish.

So, what's my overall verdict? I know the story will stay with me for a long time - it's such a big, impactful piece. I can also see why it has such a cult following. It kept me entertained for weeks as I lived the adventure through the eyes of those involved. Yes, I do have some reservations, but I'd be amazed if any book of this size didn't strike a false note or two. I believe the positives are many, and the negatives are just a petulant reaction to reading a different kind of fiction. It has to be a 5-star show.

The Crow had one of the most powerful book beginnings that I have read!

Without any delay, it immediately immersed me in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity had disappeared and only a few remained for the great confrontation between good and evil!

What disappointed me was that it filled me with anticipation and expectations for the development of life in the two cities and, of course, for the great confrontation that was being prepared for us. Instead, it spent far too much time on the background and the stories of many (excessively many) characters, and the actual development took place in the last 200 pages.

And when I realized that in 200 pages there would be neither a magnificent battle nor a reference to the way of life of the survivors, I was disappointed.

We are talking about a very good book, but I was left with expectations. In the end, as in all of King's books, the book is disappointing and you want to tear up every page of it!!

And since this was probably the last great book that I read this year, I want to say a few words about the community.

I decided in 2018 to dedicate more time to books, and although I had a very difficult year with two surgeries, I enjoyed hundreds of reviews, I learned about dozens of books and authors whose existence I did not know, I was convinced to explore other types of books, and from where I was reading only fantasy and adventure books, I found myself reading Dostoyevsky and Kazantzakis. My old self would laugh! And all this thanks to the great community of goodreads.

Thank you for the reviews, the comments, the discussions, and I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and that 2019 finds you healthy and with a lot of free time to do what you love!!!

Keep reading!