I've been busy re-reading some favorite books. Some discussion of Moscow to the End of the Line prompted me to dig it out and take another look at it. It's one of those books that I bought on a whim because it seemed interesting, but I had never heard of it or its author before. I'd give you a synopsis of the book, except nothing really happens. I don't think I could sum it up in a way that would make any sense. It's more like an extended monologue. In any case, it was just as good on a second reading, though I am more curious now about the translation, and how much I am missing by reading it in English. Note to self: learn Russian. "Everything should take place slowly and incorrectly so that a man doesn't get a chance to start feeling proud, so that a man is sad and perplexed." "Minute by minute I am getting happier, and if I start to get foul-mouthed, it's only because I'm happy." Last week, I was really sick, and so, embarked on a reading of Watership Down. This is my comfort book, and I read it every couple of years. In case you don't know, this book is about bunnies. =) Actually it's about quite a lot of things. Life, death, politics, love, friendship, loyalty, fear....and bunnies. My copy is battered and torn, and starting to smell moldy, but in the good way that only old books can achieve. At one point, I owned 3 copies, but have given the others away, keeping the oldest and most battered for myself. Why, when I had a perfectly good brand-new copy, would I give that away, and keep the one that is probably going to fall apart in another couple of years? In this case, the physical book is just as important as the story it contains, a link to my past...reading it again brings back happy memories. "There is nothing that cuts you down to size like coming to some strange and marvelous place where no one even stops to notice that you stare about you." "Not all strange things are bad." Also started on a re-reading of The Master and Margarita, but I bought The Dark Tower today and all other reading is going to have to go on hold until I finish it...in fact, most of my life is probably going to have to go on hold until I finish it.