Rediscovering the classics

[medjay]

I re-read Eyes of the Dragon too last year. It looks like I may end up going through his whole catalogue again before the end of the year. I'm going to revisit Desperation and The Regulators next and I've already read both of those twice.

I've also got Twilight Eyes on my re-read list. It's the only Koontz book that really stuck with me after I read it.

And I'm going to go through all of Joe R. Lansdale's Hap Collins and Leonard Pine books. I could be booked up for the rest of the year (no pun intended).

 

[Effigy]

I read far too quick.

Dark Rivers of the Heart is my Koontz addiction.

 

[SleepingWarrior]

When you find it, give me the title so I can hunt it down

If they call Desperation/The regulators 2, they draw a LONG bow.

Ok...

Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance by Robin Furth.
This one deals with the first 4 books of the Dark Tower series and the short story Little Sister's of Eluria which is in the Everything's Eventual book. This has all of the characters who are mentioned in the 1st four books. A bio is given for almost all and what their part of the story is. This is the official one for the Dark Tower series since King paid this woman to map out everything for him so he would have an easy access to what was previous written without having to remember exactly what he wrote or rereading the old books.


The Stephen King Universe by Stanley Wiater, Christopher Golden & Hank Wagner.
This one has all of King's books grouped by how directly they are connected to the Dark Tower and the rest of King's universe. It has a rundown of the plotline and the major characters in each of the books King has written up to 2001 or so.

 

[Effigy]

Thankyou

I knew I saw it.

Everything Eventual was it.

 

[Ham Murabi]

Though I'm no longer a huge fan of Stephen King, I have read Salem's Lot a couple of times and will read it again. I will read It again (I've read it twice), and I really enjoyed The Stand, though not the unabridged version.
I recently reread all of the Tom Clancy books, and I've read Red Storm Rising at least three times. I pick up more detail on the second read of his books.
I've also read Sarum by Edward Rutherford several times, and it's still great.
Today a friend advised me I should start reading Larry McMurtry. One of his books will be my next purchase.

 

[SleepingWarrior]

I'm a huge fan of Clancy's works. Mainly his Jack Ryan and related novels though.

 

[medjay]

I've got a stack of Robet R. McCammon books I plan to re-read sometime soon: Swan Song, Stinger, The Wolf's Hour, Mine, and Gone South. All of those books were awsome.

I can't understand why none of his stuff hasn't been adapted to the screen yet.

 

[Effigy]

Though I'm no longer a huge fan of Stephen King, I have read Salem's Lot a couple of times and will read it again. I will read It again (I've read it twice), and I really enjoyed The Stand, though not the unabridged version.

the stand unabridged is childs play... the full version fits together so much better.

Clancy I always found as a formulaic single read... second will not pick up anything major.

 

[lilminx]

I plan on re-reading Firedrake's Eye and the sequels to it. I read it in college for a Shakespeare class and couldn't put it down.

 

[Hamletmaschine]

I'm still trying to figure out how "Stephen King" and "classics" belong anywhere in the same neighborhood. Is that like the oxymoron "classic rock" or something?

 

[SleepingWarrior]

I'm still trying to figure out how "Stephen King" and "classics" belong anywhere in the same neighborhood. Is that like the oxymoron "classic rock" or something?

New classics... like they have on TNT, they have those "New classic movies" that are only 3 years old or so, lol.

 

[eagleyez]

i keep re-reading "Henderson the Rain King"

by Saul Bellow

fabulous novel.

 

[Hamletmaschine]

New classics... like they have on TNT, they have those "New classic movies" that are only 3 years old or so, lol.

lol ... yeah, that one's a puzzler, too.

 

[Lasher]

I'm still trying to figure out how "Stephen King" and "classics" belong anywhere in the same neighborhood. Is that like the oxymoron "classic rock" or something?

King is easily the best storyteller of his generation. The problem he has is that early on he was pigeonholed as a horror writer - though how many of his books are actually of the genre is suspect - and he's been damned by being popular.

I think history will be kind to the guy, though.

 

[Hamletmaschine]

King is easily the best storyteller of his generation. The problem he has is that early on he was pigeonholed as a horror writer - though how many of his books are actually of the genre is suspect - and he's been damned by being popular.

I think history will be kind to the guy, though.

Be that as it may, I'm not sure "classic" is the same as "popular."

I guess to me, a classic is something that has stood up and been recognized as having some enduring worth over time. And by "time," I mean more than a few months on the bestseller lists.

 

[sticky_keyboard]

What books do you find improve with age and repeated readings? Any you thought were good but kinda sucked the second time around? Which book can you read over and over and it never gets tired?

Travels With Charley.

I thought it was such a great story when I read it about the time I was 14 years old, young, idealistic and impressionable.

I read it about six months ago and I shouldn't have. It sucks, and it ruined my fond memory of having read it. In fact, I'm not going to go back and read any Steinbeck again.

I don't know how you guys can reread a thriller or who-dun-it once you know that the butler did it. I have never been able to watch The Sting with the same wide-eyed awe that I had the first time I saw it because I knew who the bad guys and good guys really were. More power to you if can do it, I sure can't.

 

[Hamletmaschine]

Re: Re: Rediscovering the classics

In fact, I'm not going to go back and read any Steinbeck again.

LMAO - I agree. Words to live by: Never, ever, go back and re-read Steinbeck.

 

[SleepingWarrior]

Be that as it may, I'm not sure "classic" is the same as "popular."

I guess to me, a classic is something that has stood up and been recognized as having some enduring worth over time. And by "time," I mean more than a few months on the bestseller lists.

It's premature to call any of his works "classic" but I think what people are saying is that in time his works will be considered to be this generations classic work. The guy weaves a great story.

 

[Guest]

If I am ever able to make a living as a writer, best believe I will be writing stories that I like and that I hope other people like. And no, I won't be feeling guilty when I go to the bank to cash my checks.

thats the problem w/ writers now, they write for the masses instead of for themselves. A recipe for failure is what it is.
Don't concern yourself w/ what others might or might not like, do your own thing.

 

[Guest]

King is easily the best storyteller of his generation. The problem he has is that early on he was pigeonholed as a horror writer - though how many of his books are actually of the genre is suspect - and he's been damned by being popular.

no, he is not. Clive Barker and Bradbury are far better and he is not damned for being popular, he is damned for being mediocre.

 

[gravyrug]

.

What books do you find improve with age and repeated readings? Any you thought were good but kinda sucked the second time around? Which book can you read over and over and it never gets tired?

I go back and reread Heinlein regularly. Also, Stephen Brust is worth reading over and over, because there's always something different that stands out. Shari S. Tepper's True Game series is another that I continually find new and important things to think about in.

 

[sunstruck]

I've got a stack of Robet R. McCammon books I plan to re-read sometime soon: Swan Song, Stinger, The Wolf's Hour, Mine, and Gone South. All of those books were awsome.

I can't understand why none of his stuff hasn't been adapted to the screen yet.

I love McCammon. I re-read Swan Song last year. It's just a book who's images stick with me. I actually enjoyed it more as an end of the world tale than the Stand though I love The Stand as well.

I could re-read King forever. Probably will. Same thing with Tolkien, Douglas Adams, Dickens, Austin. This list goes on.

Right now I'm re-reading The Portrait of Dorian Gray because I pulled out my old copy to lend to my cousin for school so she would have my notes.

You know I've never read Slaughter House Five? lol I have it. I keep meaning to, but I haven't. I really need to! lol That's just wrong.

You know, I also re-read Mystery by Peter Straub over and over. I just LOVE that book. I've had to replace my fallen apart copies three times. I never pick up the hard cover because I know I'm only going to tear through it. Same thing with Shadowland. Great story!

 

[Father Maudib]

I love McCammon. I re-read Swan Song last year. It's just a book who's images stick with me. I actually enjoyed it more as an end of the world tale than the Stand though I love The Stand as well.

I could re-read King forever. Probably will. Same thing with Tolkien, Douglas Adams, Dickens, Austin. This list goes on.

Right now I'm re-reading The Portrait of Dorian Gray because I pulled out my old copy to lend to my cousin for school so she would have my notes.

You know I've never read Slaughter House Five? lol I have it. I keep meaning to, but I haven't. I really need to! lol That's just wrong.

You know, I also re-read Mystery by Peter Straub over and over. I just LOVE that book. I've had to replace my fallen apart copies three times. I never pick up the hard cover because I know I'm only going to tear through it. Same thing with Shadowland. Great story!

Perhaps you might find time to brush up on your catechism as well.

 

[sunstruck]

Be that as it may, I'm not sure "classic" is the same as "popular."

I guess to me, a classic is something that has stood up and been recognized as having some enduring worth over time. And by "time," I mean more than a few months on the bestseller lists.

I think Medjay was refering more to your personal list of classics than books actually located in that shelf at Borders. lol

Oh, and I don't care for Steinbeck either.

 

[Illicit Kitty]

As for actual "classics" that never get old, anything by Alexandre Dumas. The Three Musketeers is easily my favorite novel, and I eventually want to read The Count of Monte Christo in the original French. I find his work witty and actionpacked and just fun to read. I seem to have a thing for books about the french revolution because The Scarlett Pimpernil is another one of my favorites and A Tale Of Two Cities is about the only Dickens I can stand.

The modern classics I read over & over happen to be anything by Laurell K Hamilton, and the "His Dark Materials" Trilogy by Phillip Pullman. Pullman mixes religious philosophy, science fiction and fantasy into an incredible series that is disguised as 'young adult'.