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| The Storming of the Bastille |
Whether I will
re-read a book depends on the middle. Having a good beginning and a good end
are just half the battle if the journey between is mediocre. I read and re-read
my favorite trilogy: The Lord of the Rings
because it is about a quest, a battle against evil, and every bit of it is
essential to the ending.
Upon finishing Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities, something unique
happened. I mean, other than the fact that I bawled my eyes out, which rare
enough in itself. But as I turned the last pages, I wanted to sit down and read
the whole thing again. Right there. Right then. Several times. I’ve actually had to force myself not to do so, in the month since,
because I have other things to do.
What about it
appealed so deeply to me? That’s not exactly the best question. The best question is: what about it appeals to hundreds of millions of people worldwide? According to Wikipedia, it’s the number one bestselling fiction book of all time, with
approximately 200 million sales. (Fun fact: Lord
of the Rings takes second places with 150 million – The Hobbit fourth with 100 million.) This book obviously appeals to
more than just one blogger in Appalachia. It caters to more than just Americans.
There is something about this book, and Rings,
that speak to the depths of human desire. It touches on themes that transcend
culture and time.
