The lost joy of reading aloud

[theatokos]

One of the best things about having a child and nursing is being able to do a lot of reading aloud. It took seeming ages to finish all 800+ pages of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. A chapter or three daily made that book last for months, which was both good and bad. However, I believe I am spoiled. That novel had sumptuous prose. Reading it out loud was a feast for the mouth and ears. While many books are great to read, few it seems are a delight to read out loud.

Currently I'm re-reading the Alan Moore's Promethea series (graphic novel). This too is exquisite. The design (separate from the art, which is fine) is mind-blowingly fabulous. Plus, the story line gets me fired up. A feminist hero! At last! I think this time I may not mind so much the Kabbalistic lessons in books 3 and 4. But I can't read this out loud.

To Bennett I decided to read Heros and Heroines of Tlingit-Haida Myth. I would say these are only serviceable retellings. They feel cold and weak after Jonathan Strange. Plus, the reteller, Mary Beck, keeps trying to compare the myths and characters to Greek mythology. It's only marginally effective.

Thinking about stories out loud, are there any books that you would recommend reading aloud? Major points for language, but plot and story are also important.

Comments

[queen-of-wands.livejournal.com]

Promethea definitely won't work aloud. I love Just So Stories for reading aloud but that might not be the sort of adult literature you're looking for.

[jesamin.livejournal.com]

No idea what to suggest but when Joel was courting me, he read me Valley of the Dolls (a guilty pleasure of mine) and The Lovely Bones.

[(Anonymous)]

Your so titled friend Future Guv gave me a book that I have just started reading, which is quite excellent. And it just so happens I was thinking that this book would be fabulous to read out loud, how's that for timing. The book is called Ahab's wife or The Star Gazer by Sena Jeter Naslund.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Dood, don't you have a livejournal now? You drive me crazy woman!
If you finish it before August, perhaps I can snag it when we're in Juneau?

[livingdeadpan.livejournal.com]

I haven't tried it yet, but I'm looking forward to reading the Master and Commander series to the boys when they're older.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Is that spaceship sucking up a whale??

The Magic Pudding is a good read aloud book. The Tlingit myth book blew. So... into the sell pile it goes!