6 Months Vacation: What do you Read?

Left to live...

Holy Bible - Douay Rheims ed

Summa Theologica by St Thomas Aquinas

Preparation for Death by Saint Alphonsus Maria De Liguori.

Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

I'd re-read my favourites (and then go back to my TBR pile):

Moby-Dick
Three Kingdoms
War and Peace
Anna Karenina
In Parenthesis
Iliad
Odyssey
Aeneid
Metamorphosis
The Mandarins
The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge
The House of Mirth
Aubrey/Maturin

If I had 6 months left to live, I'd spend it writing.

In either case (long vacation or imminent death) I'd try to read everything still unread from my favourite authors.

I would check over my personal library and consolidate all my TBR lists and start from there. I would make sure I mix it up with fiction, fantasy or sci-fi, biography, history, religion, classics, children's books, poetry and plays. I would then figure out exactly how many weeks I have and begin composing my list. That is for vacation.

If I were dying I would probably concentrate more on rereading all my favourite books and not worry about new reads as much. I would also have to figure out where all my books would be going after I passed on. I still have not figured that one out.

Some titles for me would include:

War and Peace
Moby Dick
Lorna Doone
Lark Rise to Candleford
The Country Child
The Diary of Anne Frank
The Pilgrim's Progress
The Christian Year
Way of a Pilgrim
Middlemarch
Age of Innocence
The Hobbit and LOTR Trilogy
Harry Potter books
Little Women
A Little Princess
Wuthering Heights
A Christmas Carol
A Child's Christmas in Wales
Old Christmas (Washington Irving)
Poetry of Longfellow, Hopkins, Frost, Christina Rosetti and Tennyson.

And as much Dickens, Hardy and Shakespeare I can squish in! Also some Bradbury too. I would also pick out a biography or 2. Maybe one on Dickens or the Brontes and then the letters of Jane Austen. Yeah, that sounds pretty decent! It also probably reflects a large part of what I will be reading in 2018! :)

If I knew I was dying I'd reread the 8 short pieces Damon Runyon wrote when he was in the same boat. They're collected under "Written in Sickness" in Runyon First to Last. They're not at all morbid, but if you read "The Doctor Knows Best" you'll never see your medical expert in quite the same light again.

I would probably read nothing in my TBR pile. I would instead spend my final six months traveling the world and spending my retirement savings that I will now (in this hypothetical) never enjoy.

Six months off work... well, I've no intention of returning to employment, so if I were to start keeping a record of my reading I could answer that query accurately toward the end of April, life permitting. I don't expect I will keep any such record, but I'll probably read more of T. F. Powys, and more of Arthur Benson: will finish (most likely tomorrow) Andrew Michael Hurley's Devil's Day, and will read the remaining half of the Lyttelton/ Hart-Davis correspondence; will complete Brocard Sewell's life of John Gray, and will at least make significant progress through the seven volumes of Lockhart's life of Scott, and will most likely read the rest of James Hurnard's curious long poem The Setting Sun. By when I've come to the end of one or two of those I'll have embarked on something else, probably completely different.

With six months left me, a pleasant idea would be to read the whole of Landor's prose, with occasional excursions into a few shorter works by other hands. T. F. Powys' Soliloquies of a Hermit and Seton Peacey's Crutch are the only certainties that come to mind, but if time could be found for Charles Morgan's Sparkenbroke and Anna Sebastian's The Dreams so much the better.

This exercise does rather make clear why I'm so half-hearted a Folio Society Devotee.

Six months holiday...

If I had as much time as I wanted to read (unlikely: wife, children, garden, whisky etc) in those 6 months, I think I would probably read some of the biggies I have read only once...

Les Miserables
War and Peace

and some of the Russian classics I have not gotten around too yet...

Crime and Punishment
The Brothers Karamazov

and perhaps some Dickens like...

Nicholas Nickleby
The Pickwick Papers

and it wouldn't be complete without...

The Lord of the Rings

>10 EclecticIndulgence:

Unless you have primarily bought the Limited Editions as investments, I would read them, otherwise what would be the point of buying them, leaving them on the shelves, and probably never getting around to reading them?

Once that has been done, I would prioritise Holy Scripture then Tolkien. Next would be history, ancient before modern.

A few years back I was recovering from surgery and was off work for about three months.

I read the entire Bond series while on some pretty strong medication. Those books were the only thing I had to look forward to everyday so I may remember them more fondly than I would otherwise. Not sure. I was in no condition for serious literature.

>12 EclecticIndulgence:

Okay, so if you have have bought them for pleasure only, dive in and enjoy! :-)

>15 EclecticIndulgence:

Absolutely not.

I was merely replying to your call for suggestions?

You asked the question! :-)

>18 EclecticIndulgence:

Yes, if I were in similar circumstances, which I'm not.

>10 EclecticIndulgence:

To me it sounds a good time to read whichever books most repay sustained attention, whichever are furthest from being books that work just or almost as well if you dip into them at long intervals - I doubt Genji would, which is why I haven't yet started the Folio edition myself. The Decline and Fall seems a great candidate, or perhaps at least a multi-volume chunk of the History of England. I'd not myself expect the Bible to deliver of its best read cover to cover in a relatively short period, and the 1001 Nights, though I don't know it well, I'd think would be completely suited to a very broken and occasional reading.

Then, if you're much good at all at having just one book on the go at any particular time, you and I are very different readers ;) Maybe a healthy daily instalment of Gibbon-or-whatever with a side dish of half an hour or so with the fiction that happens most to appeal to you right now, however worthy or unworthy in a literary sense and completely regardless of price?

I'm currently rereading Herodotus' Histories which was long overdue. It's a great volume to initiate further reading...

Travels with Herodotus
Iliad
Odyssey
Byzantium

>20 terebinth:
I'm not sure that six months would suffice for Genji, though dozing your way through it might reconcile you to your own end.

Six months left to live... I’d read mostly favourites, with a sprinkling of books I hadn’t yet got to, some philosophy and some poetry.

For vacation: I’d have to start with re-reads of LOTR, Potter, Straub’s Shadowland, King’s It, most of John Bellairs’ work, then on to unread works of King, Rowling, the first book of the Wheel Of Time series, Dune, maybe some classics such as W&P, Les Mis. Not sure where I’d go from there.

For impending death, I wouldn’t read at all (as much as I love to read); I’d get my affairs in order and maximize time with family.

For a six months vacation or illness that would limit me to spend all day in bed I would read (in no particular order)
Harry Potter
Lord of the Rings
some books of the Perry Rhodan series (I don't think one can read all of them, even reading only them for six months)
The Wheel of Time series
both mistborn trilogies
the complete works of Dürrenmatt, Becht, Goethe and Schiller
and if I still had time afterwards I would try to read all the books I bought and never had time too read

Knowing that I would die in six months and having being fit to travel I would do something like in 'The Bucket List' and try to travel to all the places I have ever wished to visit. While on the airplane/train/bus I would try to read the books on the above list.

Edit:
>24 St._Troy: Why only the first book in the Wheel of Time series?

Vacation - I'd just continue to work my way through my TBR list, though at a faster pace. I doubt I'd take on any huge "project" books for two reasons: I appreciate the feeling of accomplishment in knocking four books off my list instead of one (for example), and I'm close enough to retirement to have slotted The Decline and Fall (and Remembrance of Lost Time, and a few others) into those years.

Six months to live? I, like others, would spend those months in other pursuits.

>25 c_schelle: ">24 St._Troy: Why only the first book in the Wheel of Time series?"

To see if I like it of course! If I did, I'd then add the remaining WOT books to my list.

>27 St._Troy: OK, I misread your post. I really like them and reread them twice. They get a bit long winded in the later books Jordan wrote himself, but Sanderson picks up the threads nicely and brings the series to its conclusion. I only have the paperbacks and would like to get the hardbacks, but they are really expensive in Germany.

>28 c_schelle:

Oh dear, the local library sells those for 50 cents each--3 for a dollar at clearance sales. I miss a lot about Europe, but not the book prices.

>29 LolaWalser: Even the hardbacks? I have trouble finding them below 30€ a book. I got the paperbacks for 5€. The good thing about reading in english in Germany is that book sellers can give me a discount on english books (thalia has up to 20% on foreign books every few weeks).

Edited for typo

>30 c_schelle:

The hardbacks, yes, as those are typically even harder to get rid off than paperbacks.

Secondhand bookshops here may not even take hardcovers of fiction or any popular title. At the library they tell me most of those end up recycled (a portion goes off to prisons, Better Wolrd Books).

I have trouble finding them below 30€ a book

Well, there is medical tourism... why not book-shopping travel. :)

>31 LolaWalser: Sometimes I wish I lived in the US. But currently I'm quite happy to be in Germany, as the university pays me to do my PhD and not the other way round.

I already started planning something like that, but to England rather to the US (which is unfortunately quite a bit more expensive). I can fly to London and then get back by train and take all the books with me that I can carry. I have a solution for new books in the US as my parent's neighbour's mother lives in the US and her son-in-law works for UPS. I would rather search for used books myself though.

>32 c_schelle:

I got my PhD in the US at a university that waived tuition fees and paid me a stipend. It's the usual way, at least in hard sciences.

I don't know how the British book scene compares to North America, regarding prices. Anecdotally, Brits as well as Europeans are regularly amazed at the deals one gets here.

Transporting books is the big problem but from the US at least (not from Canada) you can mail them at a special very low book rate. It takes longer (up to six weeks or so) but I did it twice without loss when I had breaks in Europe and absolutely needed those 600-700 books with me. :)

Six months reading holiday?
Les Miserables
Gibbon's Decline and Fall
finish off the Aubrey/Maturin series
some of the Dickens I haven't read

That should keep me going for starters!

Six months left to live?
>7 UK_History_Fan: and >24 St._Troy: hit the nail on the head.

>33 LolaWalser: I did not know that, I only heard that you have to pay tuition fees. Perhaps it's different in engeneering, in which I'm doing my PhD. On my trips to the UK I have not yet looked to much into books. The only thing I know is from online shops. I was more focused on liquid goods from Scotland and the scenery.

>27 St._Troy: I've got stuck on no. 7 twice, so I'm not sure I want to try again.

>37 EclecticIndulgence: My god. You're in my thoughts. Love (and read) deeply and well in the time you have left. I've really come to appreciate seeing your name in the comments here. Really can't believe this news.

>37 EclecticIndulgence:

I'm just stunned, Chris. I'll not be the only one. Positive thoughts beaming your way for sure, and all the love and warm good wishes you can handle.

>37 EclecticIndulgence: You have just put a whole load of things into perspective. Sending you much love and positive energy.

Chris, my deepest sympathy and sorrow. I trust that you will receive the best possible care over the next six months. My heart feels for you.

>37 EclecticIndulgence: - I'll join in with the positive thoughts you asked for. I'm speechless, sitting in front of the computer not knowing what to say.

>37 EclecticIndulgence: I hope you'll have plenty of love and goodness during the time to come.

>37 EclecticIndulgence: I'm your age and not at all thinking about checking out already. In the short time I've been active on this forum, I always enjoyed your comments. I hope you can find meaning and closure in the time that you have left. Goodbye!

>37 EclecticIndulgence:

I'm so sorry to hear of your illness. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

>37 EclecticIndulgence: I would never take the word of one or two doctors for an absolute truth. Doctors are only humans, and they do not know everything.

Recently, I read about autophagy in the latest book by Jason Fung, MD - a Canadian, and it was interesting and made sense to me.

When I just googled on "Fung" and "brain cancer", I found this:

http://mybraincancerstory.blogspot.se/2016/04/promoting-autophagy-with-aid-of.ht...

Eclectic, there are no words to say how terrible this is. Much love.

Eclectic, there are indeed, no words. Positive thoughts to you.

>37 EclecticIndulgence:

Much love reflected back.

>37 EclecticIndulgence: So sorry to read that news... it is hard to know what to say, just live every day to the full, may they be filled with love and laughter.

>37 EclecticIndulgence: My deepest sorrow. I hope you can spend the following months with your family and friends. Sending you much positive energy.

>37 EclecticIndulgence:

I'm speechless. Un abrazo muy fuerte.

>37 EclecticIndulgence:

Indeed there are no words to express our feelings. I am so very sorry. I will say my next door neighbour was diagnosed with 2 rare forms of brain tumors and lived on for almost 10 years. May your remaining time here on Earth be filled with love and laughter, friends and family, wonderful memories. I do hope you get the chance to read or even browse some favourite reads. Much love.

>37 EclecticIndulgence:

I pray for a miracle for you my friend.

>37 EclecticIndulgence:

Terribly sorry to hear this news - appreciated your contributions to the various discussions. Will have you in my thoughts.

Speechless. Eclectic, don't give up! Please do look into options that might possibly help in any way, such as advanced clinical studies of new drugs etc. My wife's stepfather was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer with metastases all over the place and was given 3 months (at least by 2 different clinics). He entered a clinical trial of a new chemo at MD Anderson (one of world's leading cancer centers), and went on to live almost 4 years, spending time with family and even gaining enough strength to travel the world to see his best friends.

>57 EclecticIndulgence:

So nice to see you! Good luck with the TBR list.

Once when a friend was in hospital I used to go to read to him. If it doesn't bother you to have others read to you, there are people volunteering for that. But I hope you'll read many a book yet yourself.

>57 EclecticIndulgence:

Good to hear from you again, Chris. Perhaps this is the time to discover audiobooks? I appreciate not everything is available in this format but it might help with some of your backlog. I know there are free trials available so maybe it's worth checking.

Positive thoughts and much love.

>37 EclecticIndulgence: I missed this thread the first time around, and was just idly reading through all the suggestions when I hit your update. I’m so sorry. I echo the love and good wishes (and suggestions to get multiple opinions) of others you have also touched during your time on the forums. We are all thinking of you.

I can't do more than second everyone else's good wishes. I wish you well. And check out audiobooks and possible clinical trials if you can.