Week 2 November 9-15 - Nonfiction Journeys - This week choose a book that reflects a journey for its author or for the reader or both. This can be a physical journey, an emotional, psychological or spiritual journey or a combination of these. Any nonfiction title that leaves its author/protagonist and/or reader in a different place at the end from the start point is good for this challenge.
There has been no book in my life that influenced me as much as Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig.
This book is the story of a journey, a motorcycle ride by Pirsig and his son and some friends; and this book is a book I first discovered when I was on a journey, away from home, working in Yellowstone Park; and this book took me on a journey, a journey into the world of philosophy and life meaning, that continues to this day.
That said, I have never (not one single time!) recommended this book to anyone who actually read the whole book and came back to me and said they loved it. Never. Most people who tried reading it quit. Those who did read the whole thing said they hated it, said it was condescending or too in-the-head or boring. So be it. It's perfectly fine. Not every book is for every person.
Hosted by Frances. Frances is a poet, essayist and reviewer. Her novel The Winchester Codex was published in 2024. She lives in London with her husband and Suki the Golden Doodle. Her blog can be found at volatilerune.blog It covers books she happens to be reading – both fiction, non-fiction and poetry. She especially enjoys biographies of writers and artists.
I think it's so interesting that this book influenced you so greatly and yet didn't have the same effect on anyone you recommended it to. And you make me curious to read it, but with some apprehensiveness!
ReplyDeleteWhy are books or poems you read that are part of your personal journey so special? They change as you change! I read a poem decades ago, fresh out of college and ready for a very big decision in my life. I thought as a young person...that's a nice poem. Now when I re-read it, it brings tears to my eyes. It is a work of literature that has not forgotten you, was always there for you and now comforts you in the person you have become,. I'm sure that is what you feel for Pirsig's book. I will put your "special" book on my TBR 2028 (...after my poetry year!)
ReplyDeleteA fellow I know in Australia claims this is his favourite book of all time.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this since college. I think I still have my dog-eared copy!
ReplyDeleteI love that the book took you on a journey that continues today. Hooray! It's the joy of reading and everything else.
ReplyDeleteI read this book long ago in my callow youth. I can't claim that it had a profound effect on me but I do recall that I enjoyed reading it at the time and that it did cause me to think perhaps more deeply about certain decisions that I made during that period of my life.
ReplyDeleteI read that book 'Zen etc... many many years ago - but i remember nothing of it. I just know i read the whole thing!
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard of it for many years and will have to do something about reading it at some point.
ReplyDeleteI read this as a teenager and can't remember much about it now, but I know I found it fascinating, although I definitely didn't understand all of it!
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