S&C: Got to read it twice

[Bob]

When I first heard of the New Sun series on The Sword and Laser podcast I wasn't sure if I would like the book. I've tried to read fantasy but never really get into it. An example is I can't stand reading the Lord of the Rings books. I've tried them five or six times and can never get very far, but it might be because of the Tolkien and not the story. I did enjoyed the movies. As I've read The Shadow of the Torturer I keep looking for all these things everyone at Sword and Laser keep talking about, but I think I missed many of them. As it's been said here many times I think The New sun books need to be read several times to see all the things Wolfe has hidden throughout the stories to truly get it all. I'm going to read The Claw of the Conciliator after I read something a little lighter. The Shadow of the Torturer was a great book that deserves more recognition. I can now say I am a Gene Wolfe fan!

[Larry]

Oh it definitely needs a re-read or two. I've read it multiple times and each time I've picked up more. It's one of the cool things about the book imho.

[Ed]

I think it's been pointed out that Gene Wolfe has said (in a letter to Neil Gaiman), "My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure." Certainly Wolfe does his best to write what he considers to be "good literature."

[Tamahome]

Sometimes even taking notes just to keep the plot & characters straight helps.

[Chris]

Severian himself even says as much, at the end of the sequence:

"Have I told you all I promised? I am aware that at various places in my narrative I have pledged that this or that should be made clear in the knitting up of the story. I remember them all, I am sure, but then I remember so much else. Before you assume that I have cheated you, read again, as I will write again."

[Jlawrence, S&L Moderator]

Totally agree. My copy of Shadow & Claw is filled with underlines and notes in the margin from this re-read. Noticing so many things I didn't the first time -- a lot of them thanks to the great observations in this discussion group.

[Tamahome]

Adrienne wrote: "I can't bring myself to write in books, so I bought some little Post-It notes to keep track of impo..."

I just emacs a text file on my mac.

[Dan]

The first time I read Shadow and then got to that Appendix at the end I felt like it was something I wish I read before the rest of the book. With the way it is now, I think it's placed there almost as a challenge to read the book again. It's almost like it says "Okay, you've finished reading. But here's something that might change the meaning of everything you read in the book. Now... read again?"