On reading and re-reading

Some famous English writer from the 20th century whom I've never read -- was it G.K. Chesterton, perhaps? -- said once that re-reading was essential. We should, he said (if it was him), re-read one old book for every new one.

Now, I go back and forth on this one. Sometimes all I do is re-read old books; sometimes I power through five or six new ones. It depends on my mood, and on what's on the horizon. (And sometimes on what my travel schedule is -- I've read ever so many books on Amtrak. Fewer now in airport terminals, because I tend just to pay for wifi.)

Earlier this year, I was re-reading a few novels by P.G. Wodehouse. I also had Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood -- a highly suitable one for someone who is living alone in a new city. And I also have re-read a few novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery, that pillar of Canadian literature for children everywhere. Oh, and in this year of bailouts, I also, I must admit, re-read Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged.

What do I get out of this? Comfort. These books are old friends, and I know generally where they are going. Continuity. Reinforcement of values. Oh, and sometimes I have changed as a person since I last read them, and I get something more out of them than I did before.

Do you re-read your old favourites, dear readers? I hope you do. It's a tremendously soothing, satisfying practice.

A mission statement

I can't not write. Even after abandoning and ruthlessly deleting my various previous weblogs, the urge is there.

I am therefore starting up this new site.

What will it be? A collection of book reviews -- nothing more, nothing less. (Well, maybe a little more. There always tends to be mission creep in these enterprises.) I have a stack of books on my bedside table, and some of them will spur me to write something and to share it with the world.

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Unlike its predecessors, this blog will not be political --I know what I believe, I know what my friends believe, and we're not for turning.

To quote Agent Bedhead's excellent bio section:

In summary, I vote Republican, but please don’t ask me about it. This isn’t a political blog and I have no desire to argue that irrelevant crap with you, who will never change your ways or beliefs. My mind is not so deluded to think that I can change the world by arguing politics online, and I won’t entertain your need to push people’s buttons. Go argue elsewhere, jackass.

Well, with one caveat -- I have quite enjoyed arguing politics online, and I don't think it irrelevant or crap. It just is explicitly outside the focus of this particular forum.

Any political comments will be ruthlessly deleted. Along with any I simply do not like.

Is this hypocritical, given my longish comments elsewhere? Yes. I reserve the right to be hypocritical in my own space. If you want editorial freedom to hold forth, create your own. It is, after all, a free country. (And these sites are free!)

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So keep your eyes on this space -- my first book review/reaction will go up... well, whenever I feel the urge.

I suspect it will be soon.