Are there books too sentimental or emotional to read?

[Dustin]

I saw The Lost Years of Merlin at a used book store a few weeks ago and picked it up simply because it was the first (as I recall) real fantasy book I read and I wanted to have it on my shelf again.

However I haven't touched it since knowing that it will only taint the fond memories I have of reading it, all those years ago.

Does anyone else keep books that are emotionally off limits, for the same or other reasons?

[Geoff]

I can totally see where you are coming from. Its nice to have certain books in your collection, even if the desire to re-read them isn't there.

[Tamahome]

The film 'Magic Mike'?

[Random]

I absolutely adored the Dragonlance books when they came out. Read the first three trilogies if I remember right. I still have the books on a shelf, but I haven't been able to get myself to reread them. I don't want to destroy those memories. :)

[Dustin]

There's also my stack of twenty-five or so Goosebumps books. I'll probably keep those till they break down into atoms even though I could use the space.

Lots of memories there. Back when getting one of those every few weeks was the greatest thing in the world. Going to a Borders and digging through the stack of fifty to figure out which one I wanted this time. Then reading half of it before I got home. Good Times.

[Aidan]

A big one for me is Mortalis by R.A. Salvatore. Salvatore was one of the authors that really resonated with me as a teenager, like so many others. For me, however, it was the Drizzt books, but his DemonWars series that really captured my heart. I adored those novels and consider Mortalis to be one of my favourite books of all time. That being said, I'm also aware that I've read too much widely and become more critically aware of what I'm reading, to be able to go back and read Mortalis with the same innocence and enthusiasm. Nostalgia would be there, but I'm afraid the flaws in a lot of Salvatore's writing would bother me too much, marring my memories of the book.

It's an interesting discussion.

[Keidy]

The biggest nostalgia series for me is Animorphs by Katherine A. Applegate. These books have been worn to the bone when I had them. Unfortunately when I moved I put them all in a box for storage and they got damaged by a small basement flood. I really want to repurchase my lost series, maybe in e-book format so I won't have that problem again but I'm not sure I want to actually re-read the series. It's most likely from the same problem that you all don't read those select series you chose, because you don't want to ruin the very fond memories that came when you first read the books.

[Aloha]

There's nothing that I won't read because of sentimental value, and fear of destroying a pure memory. In fact, I wish I could find the things I had great memories of. I'm on the lookout for a giant size collector's edition of Tarzan that I had in elementary school. I remembered it most fondly because there was a section on how to draw Tarzan. Being a kid who moved around a lot, it got thrown away during a move. So far, no comics store has it. I have to search online to see what exactly that issue is .

[Kevin]

Aidan wrote: "A big one for me is Mortalis by R.A. Salvatore. Salvatore was one of the authors that really resonated with me as a teenager, like so many others. For me, however, it was the Drizzt books, but his ..."

Yeah, its the book that was really emotional for him to write. He always says that its his favorite book he has ever written. Its because he wrote it when his brother, Gary was dying. Also the cover art for the book reminded and looked so much like his brother Gary.

[Kevin]

Keidy wrote: "The biggest nostalgia series for me is Animorphs by Katherine A. Applegate. These books have been worn to the bone when I had them. Unfortunately when I moved I put them all in a box for storage an..."

They were my first introducion to science fiction. I read them all in fourth grade, when my teacher told me they were science fiction I did not believe her.

I had a lot of them, which I bought from my school back in 1999, but my dad throw out all my chapter books back in early 2008 while I was in college.

[Keidy]

@Kevin: They were totally my first introduction to science fiction too! Before that it was all Babysitter's Club and a bunch of other strange girly books but Animorphs started me down the road less traveled path to geekdom. Though when I was reading it, I'd have words with anyone who stated it was science fiction too! I just didn't understand what the genre was till several years later as I matured in reading. It was also the time before the internet. I doubt I'd be as clueless about it in this day and age of technology.

[Ulmer Ian]

I was introduced to scifi with the Norby books by Asimov and his wife that they wrote in the 80s. Actually rereading those books would be fun. I would be a bit scared to reread the I, Robot series or other 50s Asimov. Foundation is fine, but I wonder if the rest still holds up.

But mostly I simply don't reread books, what with there being so many new books to read.

[Jakub]

My fantasy adventures started with A Wizard of Earthsea and my sci-fi endeavours began with A Planet Called Treason. And I must admit that I like to re-read them from time to time.

[Charlie]

the original Black Company series. I havent read it since I was like 12. First fantasy book I ever read. Never read the newer stuff and still cant do it.

[Charlie]

My first scifi was Ray Bradburys Martian Chronicles.

[Doc]

I don't have these issues, but I know my wife won't read or watch Bridge to Terabithia again. She loves the book, but it hits her too hard.

Doc

[Liam]

@Random Yeah, the 2nd trilogy, the twins trilogy, I remember crying during that. Powerful....or maybe I was an overly emotional 14-year-old. :)

@Doc no doubt, Tarabithia is an incredible and faithful adaptation! The film kills me every time.

One of my sentimental favorites of times past would have to be the Choose Your Own Adventures. :) Or, maybe... Huh, I might have to stick with the first 2 Dragonlance trilogies myself. Or, Watership Down?

[Liam]

Oh wait, "off limits" level of emotion... Yeah, Watership Down, and Cormac McCarthy's The Road.

[Alan]

Podkayne of Mars really hit me in the gut when I was a teen, because the book left her barely clinging to life. Imagine how much worse it would have been if Heinlein had gotten his way in the editing process, and I had read the original version where she died.

[Karen]

Dean, I have The Belgariad on my shelves too. Haven't reread, but I refuse to get rid of them.

Also, Star of the Guardians by Margaret Weis. I reread them in high school and college, but am afraid of what will happen if I read them again. Most of the Expanded Universe Star Wars books were ruined for me on reread.

[Mark]

Kevin wrote: "Keidy wrote: "The biggest nostalgia series for me is Animorphs by Katherine A. Applegate. These books have been worn to the bone when I had them. Unfortunately when I moved I put them all in a box ..."

Kevin wrote: "Aidan wrote: "A big one for me is Mortalis by R.A. Salvatore. Salvatore was one of the authors that really resonated with me as a teenager, like so many others. For me, however, it was the Drizzt b..."

Same here, I firmly believe Animorphs was what turned me into a laser rather than a sword at an early age (I loved the character Ax, the alien)

As far as too emotional, I would have to go with Flowers for Algernon.