Deathbed Reading

[Guest]

If this seems macabre, well toss it up to my being Mexican and a lover of libros.

I cannot recall the book or author, but I recall a scene: An old nun lies dying in her convent's infirmary. It's unknown whether she has days, weeks or a couple of months left. Someone asks her, "If you could know the exact hour of your death, what would it mean to you?" In the context of the book the inquirer is expecting an answer to do with faith, prayer and good works.

The smart old lady answers, "Oh, then I would know what books to read."

I put this to AH people: What book(s) would you read?

Perdita (will answer anon)

 

[SlaveMasterUK]

If I could read only one more book, it would be a tough choice.

I would love to read Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy from beginning to end. The second book is in my opinion the best, but makes no sense without the first, and of course the end of the tale is not complete until the very last page of the third book - so the whole trilogy has to be read at once. And the ending is so good it made me cry :,-) (I'm an old romantic at heart)

Or maybe I would want to read Against a Dark Background by Iain M. Banks, because it is such a fantastic story, if a little dark.

But, being of a nervous disposition, and undoubtedly in a state of pure panic about my approaching death, I might choose to read The Last Continent by Terry Prattchet - a very relaxing story, easy to read, and easy to become lost inside the comedy and forget whatever worries are about me at the time.

ax

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Probably something I hadn't read before. Right now I have JG Ballard's Cocaine Nights waiting for an opening.

 

[Chicklet]

Dragon's Milk was always really comforting to me during childhood, so I'd probably want to read that one once more.

 

[Quasimodem]

Perdita,

If by your question you mean that death would wait until I had finished the book, I would chose L. Ron Hubbard’s “Battlefield Earth.”

I have never been able to force myself to read further into it than the eighth page.

 

[Quasimodem]

Watching the movie would work, too.

About five minutes past the opening credits and I fell asleep.

 

[Guest]

Macabre humor, Quaz.

Perdita

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Depends on whether we're reading to prepare ourselves for the Reaper or whether we're just reading one last book for pleasure before we go.

If the latter, it would probably have to be a book we'd read before in case it turned out to be a stinker. I'd probably go for poetry of some sort. An anthology. More bang for the buck.

If we're trying to get ready for the big Sleep, I think I might pick up some pop book on cosmology. They put things in perspective in a wonderful way.


---dr.M.

 

[Guest]

To be clear, but of course feel free to diverge: I took the nun's answer in context (and I will try to recall the source) to mean for pleasure, vs. preparing for death.

It shouldn't surprise anyone who knows me - I would choose Shakespeare. Depending on the time I was given I would read (in order from low to high priority): The Winter's Tale, Richard II, Hamlet, Antony and Cleopatra, and King Lear. If only time for one, then Lear.

If no Shakespeare was available: Anna Karenina and as many Chekhov stories as I could fit in.

Strange, but I think I would not feel compelled to go to poetry.

Perdita

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I know that everyone expects me to say "Harry Potter" now...

So I won't. Ha! Your labels won't stick on this Swede! Just when you thought you knew me...

If I knew how little time I had left, I would want to make that time as nice as possible, so I would read something FUNNY. Something that makes me laugh. Something that will make me go with a smile on my lips. Pratchett.

 

[Guest]

Flicka, you and Cleopatra (that other empress):

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety."

Perdita

 

[oggbashan]

Shakespeare, Chaucer and Milton would be my obvious choices. I love reading them aloud to myself.

But those are too obvious so I would choose Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience (Tyger, Tyger burning bright) or Donne's love poetry.

For "modern" authors I would select Christopher Fry "The Lady's Not For Burning" and Jean Cocteau "La Machine Infernale". The latter in French.

Og

 

[oggbashan]

Second Thoughts

Above were all poetry or drama.

I have unusual tastes in fiction so you might not have heard of some of these:

Richard Powell: Pioneer, Go Home! (made into an Elvis Presley film ); Don Quixote U.S.A.

Thorne Smith: The Night Life of The Gods; The Bishop's Jaegers.

Conan Doyle: The White Company and Sir Nigel

Louis L'Amour: Flint.

A E W Mason: At the Villa Rose.

Raphael Sabatini: Bellarion.

At the speed I read they should last an uninterrupted day.

Og

 

[The_Fool]

Something by Neal Gaiman, Charles De Lint or Guy Gavriel Kay. Hell if I know why. In whatever order I pull them off the shelf...

 

[pop_54]

Ha

I'm with Svenska on this one lover, I'd probably gather the entire Spike Milligan collection together and have a bloody good laugh to go out on.

I would tell one of my silly jokes but this is a serious thread

pops...........

 

[MathGirl]

ISomething that will make me go with a smile on my lips. Pratchett.

Dear Svenska,
By introducing you to Terry Pratchett, I think I did my good deed for the year. Possible the decade.
MG

 

[Guest]

The Travelling Vampire Show or Island by Richard Laymon. I like fast paced, entertaining, in your face stuff and there is no way I'd change a habit of a lifetime on my deathbed.

I've read most of the English classics... Shakespeare, Dickens, the Bronte sisters, Jane Eyre, etc etc, but they rarely take me to that other place, which is pure escapism.

Lou

 

[Medieval-Man]

Well... this is a great question, I wuoldn't read a book, I would red 1 sonnet, and it would be enough,

John Donne's Holy Sonnet "Death be not Proud" would be it, it would honestly be comforting, and enough beauty and truth in his words to walk me to the other world feeling safe.

Meddy

 

[Guest]

Meddy, lad: Ask your mom what she would read. Pose it so you need not reveal Lit. I'd love to know her answer. Perdita

 

[Medieval-Man]

Alright, and I'm going to post the poem and the meaning behind it, as to the Movie and Play, "Wit." (which I highly reccomend, it's brilliant)

Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for, thou art not soe,
For those whom though think'st, thou dost overthrow.
Die not poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee,
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Thou art slave to Fate, chance, kings and desperate men,
And Dost with poyson, warre, and sickness dwell,
And poppie, or charms can make us sleepe well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleepe past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more, Death thou shalt die.


Now, note how it seems to be a valiant struggle with death... well, that's wrong. It's an acceptance, that death is just a pause, just a small stop before you move on, not a climactic end, just a step in the right direction (Or left, depending on personal preference).

(I will ask... once she wakes up)

Meddy

 

[Quasimodem]

More on BE

Now that I come to think of it, L. Ron Hubbard’s “Battlefield Earth” - either book or movie - would be ideal for those final moments.

It would make you welcome death.

 

[Medieval-Man]

My mom says she has been on heer death bed before (which is true, she's had 2 major heart attacks, one where defibrilators were needed) and she couldn't read, she was too depressed.

Also, if I wanted to sleep through death, I would read Adler's "How to read a book" the college text, simply because one night I had blatetent insomnia, and reading just the first page put me to sleep. (I pity college students)

Meddy

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Med. You are a remarkable young man (important to be told these things I recall). I love "Wit" and the poem. So sorry about your mom's health; be good to her (I'm sure you are).

affectionately, Perdita

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Dear Svenska,
By introducing you to Terry Pratchett, I think I did my good deed for the year. Possible the decade.
MG

You have most definitely improved your karma. You'll be a cat in your next life.

 

[MathGirl]

You have most definitely improved your karma. You'll be a cat in your next life.

Dear Svenska,
Gosh, I can hardly wait. Yummy Friskies canned liver, visits to the vet, fleas, being fixed, etc. Sounds....... heavenly.
MG