Wow what a wonderful feeling to read this and for somebody to articulate what I haven’t been able to put words into. Indeed, “books are like people; sometimes you just meet them at the right or wrong time.”
We are so used to picking up books and forcing our way through them with a "must finish" mentality, even if we're not connecting or "feeling it" somehow. It took me forever to realize, maybe this isn't the moment; you can try again. I much prefer to meet a book at the right time!
Oh that's so interesting to document, a sort of there and back again. I love what you said at the end, that we fall for the myth of progress even irt our own growth/development as people. As someone who naturally romanticizes the past (not mine but everyone else's lol), it's a good reminder that time is relative; we aren't necessarily better or worse than we were, just different. Also, we can recognize when real growth/healing happens and not condescend or patronize our younger selves and the things they treasured.
I love how this essay itself is a wrinkle in time. It’s a lovely audiobook, which is how my son and I enjoyed it when he was about 10. Thank you for this beautiful rumination.
It was really hearing so many people's responses (negative) in the present to 'Catcher in the Rye' that really hooked me on this idea. I hear this a lot about Tolkein as well.
I love this perspective! I had a similar (though maybe opposite experience) with A Wrinkle in Time. When I was teaching, I had many students who loved the book so I kept trying to read it but never could get through it. Then my daughter downloaded the audio and listening to it with her as she was totally taken in, I loved it! Right book, right time, right company!
Wow. I am not sure I have had relationships like this with a book but I have definitely had that with movies. Certain films I used to like as a kid became films I really didn't like as an adult and vice versa. Tarkovsky's Solaris adaptation, for example, was a tedious movie I could not get through when I was a teenager but now I find it to be fascinating, a picture that never fails to hold my interest. Indeed, it is amazing how time can change your perception of a work.
Than again, we do not have the wonder of an 8-year old anymore. And neither do today’s 8-year olds, I’m afraid. Maybe we should be asking those kids if there is anything that gives them wonder now?
I think the wonder is there waiting. Maybe it’s just gone dormant in a lot of kids. And maybe that’s the case for adults as well. Do we lose our sense of wonder or just neglect it?
Yes, I fear that a sense of wonder can indeed be lost. Maybe not forever, but certainly buried alive and rescued only by miracle. What else would you conclude when “children” are piled up with literal, dirty, soul-draining woke literature?
Wow what a wonderful feeling to read this and for somebody to articulate what I haven’t been able to put words into. Indeed, “books are like people; sometimes you just meet them at the right or wrong time.”
We are so used to picking up books and forcing our way through them with a "must finish" mentality, even if we're not connecting or "feeling it" somehow. It took me forever to realize, maybe this isn't the moment; you can try again. I much prefer to meet a book at the right time!
I agree. I always used to never quit a book but now I park it right away if it doesn’t feel right. So many books so little time!
Oh that's so interesting to document, a sort of there and back again. I love what you said at the end, that we fall for the myth of progress even irt our own growth/development as people. As someone who naturally romanticizes the past (not mine but everyone else's lol), it's a good reminder that time is relative; we aren't necessarily better or worse than we were, just different. Also, we can recognize when real growth/healing happens and not condescend or patronize our younger selves and the things they treasured.
I really love the way you put this, Peter, the last sentence especially. Now, if I could only get better at regularly doing this!
I love how this essay itself is a wrinkle in time. It’s a lovely audiobook, which is how my son and I enjoyed it when he was about 10. Thank you for this beautiful rumination.
Thanks so much for this.
My favorite line from this book is “Love is not how you feel. Love is what you do.” 🥰❤️
Oof. Right in the heart
Brilliiant
I've been thinking about this for the last few weeks. Funnily enough, this came at the right time for me.
It was really hearing so many people's responses (negative) in the present to 'Catcher in the Rye' that really hooked me on this idea. I hear this a lot about Tolkein as well.
Ooh, I hope I am not gonna come to hate Catcher now. I remember it being pretty great when I read it in school.
I still absolutely love it. I find it to be a genuinely heartbreaking book that has really taught me a lot over time.
I love this perspective! I had a similar (though maybe opposite experience) with A Wrinkle in Time. When I was teaching, I had many students who loved the book so I kept trying to read it but never could get through it. Then my daughter downloaded the audio and listening to it with her as she was totally taken in, I loved it! Right book, right time, right company!
Exactly! There really is something to the "right time" or perfect timing for a book.
Wow. I am not sure I have had relationships like this with a book but I have definitely had that with movies. Certain films I used to like as a kid became films I really didn't like as an adult and vice versa. Tarkovsky's Solaris adaptation, for example, was a tedious movie I could not get through when I was a teenager but now I find it to be fascinating, a picture that never fails to hold my interest. Indeed, it is amazing how time can change your perception of a work.
This is so cool because my younger daughter just watched it and felt the same way--I wonder how she’ll feel rewatching it in a few years.
Yes I have had this experience many times with books I've read at different points in my life.
Than again, we do not have the wonder of an 8-year old anymore. And neither do today’s 8-year olds, I’m afraid. Maybe we should be asking those kids if there is anything that gives them wonder now?
I think the wonder is there waiting. Maybe it’s just gone dormant in a lot of kids. And maybe that’s the case for adults as well. Do we lose our sense of wonder or just neglect it?
Yes, I fear that a sense of wonder can indeed be lost. Maybe not forever, but certainly buried alive and rescued only by miracle. What else would you conclude when “children” are piled up with literal, dirty, soul-draining woke literature?