Books You Will Never Read

[Raul Urraca]

I've never read Don Quixote all the way through either. There are so many good scenes, but a good half of the book could be cut without losing anything.

[Frater_Tsalal]

Alan Moore: Jerusalem

[Knygathin]

The Worm of Ouroboros I will never read. Instinct tells me it is not to my taste.

Actually, I don't intend to read any literature outside of my present private library, which I now consider to be complete (but for three of four titles that I have not yet been able to find in the desired editions).

I am a slow reader, and like to linger over sentences until I have grasped and integrated their full meaning.
I often stand before my bookshelves, my eyes (and fingers) playing over the books. Stirring myself into ecstasy over all the wonderful worlds hidden inside those books. But I am sometimes filled with panic, standing there - How am I ever going to find time to reread the books (many of which I have only read once)? And more so, how will I ever be able to reread my cherished favorites among them an infinite number of times?! I want to live forever!
In these worst moments of panic, I have to go out for a walk - during which I calm down, and tell myself that I have a whole World collected there on my shelves, or a Galaxy even, it's a whole Universe! And I am NEVER going to be able to grasp everything in it, in its entirety, never going to know and remember every character, exotic location, strange and wonderful concept - they are too numerous, it is all too huge to encompass. But It will be there for me to explore, like Nature always offers new sights and experiences, but never displays everything in its entirety. And then I find some peace of mind, and let go of it.

Over the last few years I added some new authors to my collection (Ligotti, de la Mare, Aickman, Le Fanu, T.E.D. Klein, David Lindsay, Michael Shea, A. E. van Vogt, Arthur C. Clarke, Fritz Leiber, Stanisslaw Lem with his Solaris?, Barry Hughart with Bridge of Birds?, ... ) which was never my intention! I like to limit my focus, and specialize. But I simply could not resist and be without them, a few of which I was led to by ye generous posters here on this site. I am very greatful for this, and at the same time not sure I will be able to handle it all. There is SO MUCH ECSTASY gathered in all of these books - and the human brain is only able handle so much, before it goes insane from overloading. Many sensible, common people, ordinary readers, specialize in one, or a perhaps a couple of writers, become fans and completists for these, and draw a line there. I am only a completist for some of the first few writers I discovered when young (H. P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Jack Vance), ... but there is undeniably so much else great out there, that I never could imagine even as late as ten years ago, and I try to only pick the very best from these new sources.

But NO MORE writers now! So I try to look away from the threads of book recommendations.

[ChildofOldLeech]

Well, seeing how it's been a topic of constant discussion here of late, A Pilgrim Stranger; regardless of author, from the synopsis and similar statements, it could have been written by virtually anyone and I would still be hard-pressed to envision a book that would appeal to me less.

[Kevin]

Quote Originally Posted by Knygathin

The Worm of Ouroboros I will never read. Instinct tells me it is not to my taste. Actually, I don't intend to read any literature outside of my present private library, which I now consider to be complete (but for three of four titles that I have not yet been able to find in the desired editions). I am a slow reader, and like to linger over sentences until I have grasped and integrated their full meaning. I often stand before my bookshelves, my eyes (and fingers) playing over the books. Stirring myself into ecstasy over all the wonderful worlds hidden inside those books. But I am sometimes filled with panic, standing there - How am I ever going to find time to reread the books (many of which I have only read once)? And more so, how will I ever be able to reread my cherished favorites among them an infinite number of times?! I want to live forever! In these worst moments of panic, I have to go out for a walk - during which I calm down, and tell myself that I have a whole World collected there on my shelves, or a Galaxy even, it's a whole Universe! And I am NEVER going to be able to grasp everything in it, in its entirety, never going to know and remember every character, exotic location, strange and wonderful concept - they are too numerous, it is all too huge to encompass. But It will be there for me to explore, like Nature always offers new sights and experiences, but never displays everything in its entirety. And then I find some peace of mind, and let go of it. Over the last few years I added some new authors to my collection (Ligotti, de la Mare, Aickman, Le Fanu, T.E.D. Klein, David Lindsay, Michael Shea, A. E. van Vogt, Arthur C. Clarke, Fritz Leiber, Stanisslaw Lem with his Solaris?, Barry Hughart with Bridge of Birds?, ... ) which was never my intention! I like to limit my focus, and specialize. But I simply could not resist and be without them, a few of which I was led to by ye generous posters here on this site. I am very greatful for this, and at the same time not sure I will be able to handle it all. There is SO MUCH ECSTASY gathered in all of these books - and the human brain is only able handle so much, before it goes insane from overloading. Many sensible, common people, ordinary readers, specialize in one, or a perhaps a couple of writers, become fans and completists for these, and draw a line there. I am only a completist for some of the first few writers I discovered when young (H. P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Jack Vance), ... but there is undeniably so much else great out there, that I never could imagine even as late as ten years ago, and I try to only pick the very best from these new sources. But NO MORE writers now! So I try to look away from the threads of book recommendations.

Well said. How about some photos of this library of yours?

[Raul Urraca]

I'm quite with you, Knygathin. I have a similar sort of panic myself.
Slow, savory reading with plenty of rereading seems to be the best. A few books you know well are infinitely better than a bunch of books you're only vaguely familiar with. A man of one book is a formidable thing!

[ToALonelyPeace]

I love many 'questionable' writers, and I always find out the questionable parts after the fact. Celine's deep anti-semitism and involvement in fascism is something I've only found out. In the end, I count myself lucky to read Journey and Installment Plan before I know. The Celine I imagined as an absolute misanthrope, a defeatist, a raving mad dog turned out to be a paranoia coward blinded by anti-semitism. I wonder if he went mad after writing himself out...

Since I usually dislike reading outside a vacuum, I try to avoid living authors, lest I unintentionally support a fascist group or a cult.

[Cnev]

Come to think of it, it's been a while since I've actually finished a book to completion. I made it halfway through Solzhenitsyn's The Gulag Archipelago and never finished it because of time restraint. I also read about 4 pages of Jünger's On Pain and lost interest due to the intrusion of real life responsibilities. Will I ever read a book of fiction to it's completion again? I don't know if I can say. At this rate I might be able to when I retire or no longer care. I mostly wish for the latter. I find myself more interested in browsing this site for interesting things to satiate numb, forgotten desires for reading and regrowth of imagination, knowing full well that I'll never touch them in practicality. The child is grown, the dream is gone, as it was once said.

I'll never read anything from Ayn Rand, though. that's for certain.

[miguel1984]

Quote Originally Posted by Frater_Tsalal

Alan Moore: Jerusalem

I want to read Jerusalem, since I am a big Alan Moore fan, but I am terrified by the sheer size and scope of it. And I intend to reread Voice of the Fire first.

[Frater_Tsalal]

Well, I did try to read Jerusalem, but bailed after around 250 pages or so, for various reasons. Maybe I'll try again one day, but for now, er, no...