Re-Reading: The Confusion by Neal Stephenson
I'm re-reading The Confusion by Neal Stephenson at the moment. Specifically, Bonanza -The Confusion being made up of two novels: Bonanza and Juncto. I had a hankering for a seafaring yarn about pirates and... er, the sea.
The Confusion is the second of 3 volumes called The Baroque Cycle that follow a dizzying number of characters and events during the period between 1660 and 1714. Mostly these tales revolve around the actions and happenings of Daniel Waterhouse, Jack Shaftoe and Eliza. These first 2 names will be familiar to those who have read Stephenson's previous and only slightly less weighty tome, Cryptonomicon.
I rushed my reading of The Confusion the first time around more than 3 years ago because I knew that Stephenson had already completed the 3rd volume of the series and was desperate to get to it. Also, I was little intimidated by the size of the books.
Not something that bothers me much any more since completing The Baroque Cycle. Indeed, I was overjoyed when I saw the size of Anathem, the latest in the Stephenson canon.
This time around I have the pleasure of being able to take my time and look out the window a little to enjoy the scenery along the way. The detail of the books is amazing and, like Tolkien, they hold up well to rereading - even being something that should be encouraged.
I love films and novels that are able to be watched or read over and over again. My love affair with Pixar began with having only one kids video tape in the house that I could stand - Toy Story 2 - and just watching it over and over with the litties. Instead of growing tired of the film I found more and more to enjoy about it.
With Lord of The Rings it's like revisiting a well known location. Even down to the descriptions of the landscape and paths.
The thing with revisiting a known book is that you don't have to experience it in the same way again. Like standing on your head to enjoy a view from a vastly different angle. Once you have finished the story you can play with ways to enjoy it again - usually after letting it rest for a while. I am considering reading System of the World backwards chapter by chapter. I'll let you know how that works out.
Of course, I have a massive pile of books that I haven't read yet to go through. But it is very relaxing to go back over something you know you enjoy.
This isn't my first rereading of Stephenson as I have gone over Cryptonmicon mroe than once. I'm looking forward to retracing my steps through Le Carré, Lewis and maybe even others that I didn't find so engaging the first read through.
