Holds up?

Are there any books you loved when younger that you re-read years later only to find that it didn't hold up for you the second time around?

I haven't ever returned to a book but it seems a lot of people I've talked to feel this way about On the Road. Just got me thinking...

I have been embarking on a re-reading of all of J.D. Salinger's books this year, fearing that they would not hold up for me. I have been pleasantly surprised to find that not only did Franny and Zooey hold up extremely well, I actually appreciated it MORE as an adult than as a teenager. I am curious to see if others, especially The Catcher in the Rye, will hold up as well.

Just went through three Vonneguts again and they definitely did not hold up. What I remembered as eye-opening, genius and forceful writing now appears to be moderately good science fiction versions of the same plot redeployed with obvious social and political statements.

>3 shawnd:, shawnd - Its funny you should say that. I had a similar experience reading Player Piano late last year. It wasn't a re-read, but I expected genius and I was sorely disappointed. I tend to read Vonnegut mostly as a "funny" writer, but this book was neither particularly funny nor particularly insightful. Then again, I think it was his first, so perhaps I should be more generous.

>4 fannyprice:, I'm going to force myself to re-read all of them, so thanks for letting me know I've got more of the same...I'll steel myself. By the way, LOL on your profile page pic. FWIW, I also am in Arlington, Aurora Hills is my main branch.

I used to love North to Freedom, but today I find it tedious and preachy. *sigh* Some things should live in one's memory.

I re-read The Catcher in the Rye again about a year ago, and it did not hold up for me! When I was in high school, I adored that book - going back and reading my diaries from that time (always fun! highly recommended!) I can tell when I had just finished it b/c my writing would mimic the book's style. So I was disappointed that I now find Holden utterly annoying and unsympathetic.

I first read On the Road in my mid-20s, and I bet that I would have loved it when I was 15, but couldn't stand it when I did read it.

Eddings I loved the belgariad in my teens but it was really trite last time I read it.

I'd be wary of going near Martin Amis's The Rachel Papers again. It was genius when I read it at the age of 17, I doubt I'd feel the same way 20 years later.

Not a book but a TV series my flatmate brought a Fraggle Rock DVD, I remember loving it as a child, but as an adult didn't do anything for me.

Another bit of my childhood lost...

But that's normal isn't it? People change as they get older and one of the things that change is your outlook on life and your attitudes towards things. What you liked then is not what you will like now.

spicycat, I remember fraggle rock and it terrified me when I was a child! I don't know why - I loved the Muppets.

My siblings were obsessed by Fraggle Rock - it lead to the great pear and garlic pie episode which our mother reminds us of when she feels we need taking down a peg or two.

I think the Muppets have a more adult humor, when you see them as an adult there is this whole extra dimension that went wizzing over your head as a child! I always perfered the muppets. I never got into Seasame St though.

I re-read Brave New World recently. It's been a good 15 years since I read it for high school English class and now I realize just how perfect it is... for a high school English class. It is as if Mr. Huxley wrote it specifically with a sophomore's term paper in mind.