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Comment by jdmoreira | Hacker News Reader

Those that read 'The Book of the New Sun' will know the feeling

I love reading books that I don't understand and not understanding them. As long as I know there is something there, which I could either look up what others have pieced together online, or reread carefully myself. Funny thing is looking that stuff up or figuring it out is optional, I still enjoy the read where I'm in the dark enough that sometimes I move on. And look back fondly on the book. Gene Wolfe books are very good for this style of reading.

I feel guilty mainly when I run into someone else who says they love the book, and I am totally unable to have a meaningful conversation about it because to be honest I didn't understand or retain much from it. And I end up looking like a poser a lot of the time I'm sure, and maybe I am in some way. But I still read and enjoyed it!

I find that some of the books i don't understand come to me very slowly over time. I'll just have some insight one day and out of the blue I'll think "oh like that one thing in zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance", 20 years after i read it (or similar).

As for looking like a poser - most people will respond well to "tbh I didn't really understand what I read, tell me more and I'll keep it in mind if I revisit" (or "help me understand this other thing I have some concrete memory about", etc). Some jerks will scoff or dismiss you, most people I've encountered are pretty open to a good discussion even after it's been revealed.

Exactly what I was thinking. I'm really looking forward to when the second read-through will call to me and what I'll get out of it then

The unreliable narrator doesn't help either.

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