In one of the book clubs I’m in, we’re reading Gone With the Wind this month. I tried to read it in high school, and due to procrastination, I only made it about 800 pages. I almost wasn’t going to attempt to read the book again – I LOVE the movie and have seen it enough times to know the story and characters.
However, I decided to give the book a second chance, and I’m glad I did. I don’t know if I’m enjoying it more because it’s not an assignment this time or because I started well in advance of the book club deadline. Or maybe I appreciate the writing and storycrafting more because I’m writer too. Or maybe I like the book better because I’m older and wiser, with more life experience, than as a teen. Whatever the reason I’m glad I’m giving this book another shot.
What book(s) did you struggle reading as a teen, but now you enjoy as an adult? Or vice versa? What have you read recently that you surprisingly enjoyed?
Share with:
It's hard to appreciate great literature in high school, isn't it? 🙂
I always struggled through the Anne of Green Gables books, and to this day I still haven't revisited them. I love the movies so much that the books were sort of a letdown for me. But who knows, maybe I'd be pleasantly surprised if I gave it a shot again.
I HATED the Great Gatsby. I took a college class on modern american lit, and they dissected it to pieces. It ruined the story for me. I decided to read it again, and while it's still not my favorite I appreciate the writing WAY more than I used to.
I have never even attempted GONE WITH THE WIND, so kudos to you!
I had a hard time choking down Faulkner as a teen ~ but now I quite enjoy his writings. So much to learn (and not always good, sometimes it's a cautionary tale, lol)
I grew up reading in Spanish, so to me the classics were Gabriel Garcia Marquez "100 Years of Solitude" and "Love in Times of Cholera". I never really got into "100 Years of Solitude" until I was an adult. Now I can't seem to not find aspects of life that relate to it. The other one was "Don Quixote" I re-appreciated that later tool
I love GWTW…it is my favorite book of all time. There are few books from college I didn't like the second go around: Washington Square and The Jungle.
I loved Gone With the Wind, but I read it as an adult too. I think the hardest book for me in high school was The Grapes of Wrath, but as an adult I appreciate it much more. 🙂
I had this exact experience with 1984 by George Orwell. I read it in high school and hated it. Then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn't hate it. And when I reread it as an adult, I was astounded by the genius of it! It's funny how our literary tastes change as we age.
ONLY 800 pages? Dude…
But I'm with you. Sometimes books just need a second chance.
Sarah – I liked the Anne of Green Gables books as a teen, but I agree with you – if I were to go back and read them now, I think I'd like the movies better too.
Jolene – I think I read the Great Gatsby, but I can't remember. I wish I'd kept better track of what I read when I was a teen/young adult.
Ali, Silvina, Jessica – I've never read Faulkner, Don Quixote, or Grapes of Wrath. I thought I was doing pretty good reading a classic like Gone with the Wind again :), but I'm now I'm thinking I've got a lot more to add to my classics list.
Pam – Glad to know someone else has read and finished Gone With the Wind. That 1000+ pages seems a bit daunting right now. 🙂
Shallee – I really think it's true our tastes change with age. As a teen I used to love books with lots of description, but now I find myself skimming the description in older books.
Elana – I love that – sometimes books just need a second chance. There have been a number of books I've started and hated, but kept reading anyway and ended up liking in the end.
I'm with Elana. I know a few women that say it's their favorite, and I've heard it's long, but I'm a little scared about the 800 pages thing and you still weren't done. LOL! How many pages is it, if you don't mind my asking? You've sparked my interest and I may just give it a go. 🙂