thoughts PRIOR to rereading

[Arch of the Covenant]

I haven't read the first or second trilogies since my first reading decades ago. I've got fond memories of them, obviously, but I've been focused on other reading and almost never read a book a second time.

But now that I'm knee-deep in the 3rd trilogy, I am going to dive back in. I thought I'd post my memories and recollections here before rereading, just for fun.

...

I remember most of the characters, the general sweep of the story, and certain specific events that made a big impact on first reading. I am really looking forward to Lord Fouls Bane to go through Covenant's first introduction to the Land again. That chapter where he is translated over and gets addressed by Foul and Drool always stuck out in my mind. And the slow but steady revelations of the nature and character of the Land and its people are going to be a treat.

I don't remember being offended or scandalized by the rape scene. It was just a scene, not an advocacy for violence the way some reviewers seem to have taken it, and Covenant spends most of his time being anti-heroic anyway. It's the way it gets handled that's interesting.

I remember a similar impression my wife had when we were watching an episode of the Brady Bunch with our young kids (on DVD!) and Greg was *smoking*! She wanted to turn it off so our kids wouldn't see it, but I kept it on so they could see the whole episode. They needed to see how Greg and his family HANDLED the smoking issue. It was a way to learn. SRD used this as a device to highlight the initial culture clash (among other things), and I was never for a moment turned off from reading the rest of the book.

Whoops -- lunch is over. More later...

[wayfriend]

Hi AotC.

I'm a re-reader. I never understood how people can think re-watching a movie is normal, but re-reading a book is weird. I certainly enjoy it -- as long as enough time has gone by. Anyway ...

I predict you will be delighted by the parts you for forgot about.

I predict you will have new insights into the parts you didn't.

I sorta kinda envy you your journey.

[Vraith]

Hi AotC.

I'm a re-reader. I never understood how people can think re-watching a movie is normal, but re-reading a book is weird. I certainly enjoy it -- as long as enough time has gone by. Anyway ...

I predict you will be delighted by the parts you for forgot about.

I predict you will have new insights into the parts you didn't.

I sorta kinda envy you your journey.

Heh...on the one, especially cuz re-reading is far more likely to give new notice than re-watching.

on another...wouldn't it be damn cool if we could "re-read" with memories and "re-read" without? I wonder what would happen??? [ok, i'm way off-topic here, but I don't care.] But it might be amazing to say something like
"I've read it for the first time 3 times, and second time only twice, but third time 10 times..."

especially if you could further alter and compare:
" the first first time I read it I....
"the second first time reminded me of a thing from my 4th third time...

[Arch of the Covenant]

I never understood how people can think re-watching a movie is normal, but re-reading a book is weird. I certainly enjoy it

It's just that there are so many other things to read -- hard to justify going back. Unless it's really good and deep.

I sorta kinda envy you your journey.

I envy me.

I am looking forward to Mhoram's introduction, the bloodguard, etc. Those were such crisp characters with so much more in store for them, it will be wild to re-experience their relative innocence.

One thing I'll be particularly looking out for is Covenant's debate within himself as to his unbelief and its implications. I'm thinking of writing a story or two of my own that may tap into that concept.

The Illearth War is probably what I'm looking most forward to -- it was my favorite. Hile Troy enacted what Covenant wouldn't -- a real fight for the Land. Of course, he was blind (yuk) to the dangers of power and resolution. One of my favorite characters. I have been surprised reading reviews on Amazon (and some posts here) saying they didn't like this book or Hile Troy's character. So I'm wondering if I'll change my opinions this next time through.

The Wounded Land is a close second to IW, and there seems to be wide consensus on that. TOT is going to be wild -- I must have slept through most of it because I can't remember much at all. For instance I had no recollection whatsoever of Nom. And I can't really remember anything specific about the last book, except the end. Pretty sad considering these have been some of my favorite books.

I will venture to say that part of my problem is this whole internet age. It's very easy to get caught up in the web, computer games, etc, and leave the world of novels behind. When I did return to reading some years back, it was in the context of a typical book group, and the books were generally the type of critically-acclaimed fiction you'd see promoted in bookstores. Good stuff for the most part, but I only got them to agree to a sci-fi book once (Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson). And even then, something as epic as a trilogy (or three) would have been way out of scope.

But the Lord of the Rings films have done much to legitimize the genre, and the eReader market might be doing much to boost things too, so here's hoping to see a big boost here when the last book comes out.

[peter]

The second reading of a book is always going to be coloured by the first, and may well result in a better reading experience thereby. It is not by any means always the case that the first read of a book will be the prime one. Try *The Dictionary of the Khazars* by Milorad Pavic as an example.

[Zarathustra]

Arch, lots of others are currently rereading in preparation for the grand finale. I've posted some of my impressions in at least two threads (here and AATE forum). Let us know how it goes for you. I'm fascinated with the process of experiencing the story all over again, how it changes for me over time. At this point, I don't really see things in the text that I've never seen before; no new insights. It's more a journey of self-exploration, noting what works for me and what doesn't, and how my opinions have changed. For instance, I've always thought The Illearth War was my favorite, too, and dreaded slogging through The Power that Preserves. But this time I liked TPTP better. And it's always been a toss up for me between the 1st and 2nd Chrons, but halfway through TWL I'm really enjoying how much SRD's writing skills have matured, and how much more his narrative is focused than the often meandering, slow start to LFB.

[Krazy Kat]

the often meandering, slow start to LFB.

The passage when he was explaining Covenant's medical symptoms and medication, all in slow clunky sentences. I think SRD may have left that in to show both the reader and himself the process of writing and with it the development and emergence of the story.

Tolkien had mentioned in the extensive foreword to TLOTR that he had made some minor and major mistakes, but felt the need to leave them in unaltered.

[Zarathustra]

Actually, I was talking about his adventures in the Land; I liked the medical info in ch1. His journey with Atiaran and then Foamfollower are tedious and boring. The Celebration of Spring is the only significant event that has anything to do with later books or character development. Everything important about Atiaran had already happened once he raped her daughter, and nothing important about Foamfollower happens until Soaring Woodhelvinin. I do acknowledge, however, it says something about Atiaran for her to help Covenant after her daughter was raped, but this one point doesn't carry the entire journey to Revelstone.

[Iolanthe]

His journey with Atiaran and then Foamfollower are tedious and boring. The Celebration of Spring is the only significant event that has anything to do with later books or character development.

I think that the finding of the dead Waynhim was also an important occurrence during the journey to Revelstone. I found that part quite interesting, especially Atiaran's "talking" back. Foamfollower's method of propelling the boat also introduces us to another facet of the magic of the land.

[Krazy Kat]

To be honest, I really can't remember much at all about my first read. The only part that grabbed me was the battle of Soaring Woodhelven - weeks later. I've spoke about this on another thread. The griffin with an ur-vile on it's back piqued my imagination. The deciding factor to continue reading into The Illearth War. I was convinced from that moment on, that there was something special just below the surface - or more accurately - in the higher conciousness.

So I'm sure to agree with you that Covenant's journey to Revelstone must have been a slog for me as well.

[dlbpharmd]

The journey with Foamfollower to Revelstone is the best part of LFB, IMO.

[michaelm]

I am re-reading the first and second chronicles right now (I'm near the end of The Illearth War), and if I recall correctly, I think it was over 25 years ago that I last read them.

It's been interesting re-reading them, and a few things stand out:

1. It's amazing how familiar the books are to me - that is probably testament to the quality of Donaldson's writing

2. I have not had to reach for a dictionary or puzzle over any words or phrases, which I think I did the first time I read them. I think that is probably a combination of a generally increased vocabulary, and having added the words directly to my vocabulary the first time around

3. Compared to previous readings, I think I am finding the books lighter going in general. Donaldson probably represented the more difficult end of literature to me at the time I originally read them, but since that time I have read much more 'difficult' works, and so that element of the books is totally missing this time (which is a good thing!)

4. This is something like my 4th time reading them, and I think I see the wholeness of the Land and the characters in it much more. Perhaps an introduction to them is a lot of information to take in all in one go, but familiarity makes for a much more comfortable whole than before.

[ussusimiel]

I'm currently doing a kind of a reread. I just finished The Wounded Land. I was interested to note this time how well paced this book is. Lots and lots happens and yet it never feels like a fantasy-action novel. I think that this is partly because of how well SRD portions out the amount of information that Covenant and Linden get about their situation. The non-stop action actually helps with this. They are rarely ever relaxed enough to be able to sit down and talk about stuff with Sunder or whoever.

It's also interesting to see how little Covenant knows about Linden by the end of the book. It was the same for us as first-time readers. She is still an intriguing mystery going into The One Tree. Top-class plotting and storytelling!

u.

[wayfriend]

Bump for Emayl, who has some work to do.

[DrPaul]

For me one of the most interesting aspects of re-reading is finding out how I've changed, and how differently I think, compared to when I read the books previously, as I find myself reacting differently to particular scenes and themes in my most recent re-read to what I did in previous readings.

[Skyweir]

Niiiccee .. I like this a lot. Its the introspective nature of the process that appeals to me. I also am a re reader .. re reading my faves is always a fascinating journey where I find things I missed and relive the fantasy I loved.

Nicely described Dr Paul

[booktrunk]

For me one of the most interesting aspects of re-reading is finding out how I've changed, and how differently I think, compared to when I read the books previously, as I find myself reacting differently to particular scenes and themes in my most recent re-read to what I did in previous readings.

Snap.

Going to start a re-read soon, and these days with dogs, work, tv, the Internet, I will struggle to dedicate the time it deserves so looking forward to seeing how it goes.