When I taught the same book year after year, I'd re-read them with a bit more speed but it was the only way I could teach them effectively. My memory was too full of too many details to remember everything each book had to offer the new young readers. However, in my personal reading adventures, I have never re-read a book nor do I think I ever would. There's just too much to read now and the thought of re-reading something while the other books are crying for attention seems just too unkind :-)
Love how you wove memories of Carl Sagan into this piece. I remember watching Cosmos and BILLIONS of stars. I will have to look up the Library at Alexandria. You made a great point in that science is not always fact. It can and should be disputed and discussed with respect.
I LOVE your comment that "Its a nice feeling when you can carve out a comfortable space for someone even if there are some things you might not agree with." A hearty amen to that. It pains me so that we can no longer have sane discussions these days. Doesn't matter what side you're on, the other side is automatically wrong, no ifs, ands or buts. I long for the days when gray areas were okay! And sadly, I do not remember his writing in Omni.
I'm not a big re-reader, either. A. because there are so many books in the world to read! And B. because I'm afraid I won't love my favorites as much as I once did. But you make a great point--it's good when we re-read and don't love the book anymore, because that means we've changed! But back to Sagan--I've always been a fan because of my later mother-in-law, who adored his work. One of the great moments of her life was visiting Cornell and seeing the plaque with his name on it by his office door.
I have and do reread books that I have enjoyed in the past and, in most cases, enjoyed them even more.
When I taught the same book year after year, I'd re-read them with a bit more speed but it was the only way I could teach them effectively. My memory was too full of too many details to remember everything each book had to offer the new young readers. However, in my personal reading adventures, I have never re-read a book nor do I think I ever would. There's just too much to read now and the thought of re-reading something while the other books are crying for attention seems just too unkind :-)
Love how you wove memories of Carl Sagan into this piece. I remember watching Cosmos and BILLIONS of stars. I will have to look up the Library at Alexandria. You made a great point in that science is not always fact. It can and should be disputed and discussed with respect.
“Things are true until they are not.” Love this!
I LOVE your comment that "Its a nice feeling when you can carve out a comfortable space for someone even if there are some things you might not agree with." A hearty amen to that. It pains me so that we can no longer have sane discussions these days. Doesn't matter what side you're on, the other side is automatically wrong, no ifs, ands or buts. I long for the days when gray areas were okay! And sadly, I do not remember his writing in Omni.
I'm not a big re-reader, either. A. because there are so many books in the world to read! And B. because I'm afraid I won't love my favorites as much as I once did. But you make a great point--it's good when we re-read and don't love the book anymore, because that means we've changed! But back to Sagan--I've always been a fan because of my later mother-in-law, who adored his work. One of the great moments of her life was visiting Cornell and seeing the plaque with his name on it by his office door.
So you've got me listening to Led Zeppelin at 6:22am est! No, I don't want to handle the truth all the time. Great thoughts Mark.