# Finding a diamond in the junk drawer (Rediscovering books)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-diamond-in-the-junk-drawer-rediscovering-books/537169>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 24, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-diamond-in-the-junk-drawer-rediscovering-books/537169 "2010-04-24T01:06:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-diamond-in-the-junk-drawer-rediscovering-books/537169/21 "2010-04-29T21:56:13Z")

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> [@Reno\_Nevada](#):
>
> For me it was **Ivanhoe**. I first read it when I was too young, probably eleven or so. I remembered almost nothing from it; it completely baffled me. I decided to try it again when I was thirty, figuring I could now struggle through it–I was astonished at how \*fun \*it was.

Fun, and funny, too, in spots - not as turgid as other Walter Scott novels I’ve read or attempted. What astounded me as a kid and even more now as an adult was that the heroes of the novel aren’t Cedric or King Richard or even Wilfred himself; the heroes are the lowly and the outsiders - Wamba, Gurth, and, especially, Rebecca. (For those that haven’t read the book, Wamba is a fool, Gurth a swineherd, and Rebecca a despised Jew.) In fact Rebecca is the true center of the story - makes Rowena seem shallow and silly.

I will admit that I haven’t yet finished rereading _Moby Dick_, but the chapters I have gotten through are a lot more entertaining and brilliant than I remember from high school. I ain’t trying _The Scarlet Letter_ again, though - once was enough.

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**Author:** ![Lily\_Milliner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8edcca/32.png) [@Lily\_Milliner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lily_Milliner)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-diamond-in-the-junk-drawer-rediscovering-books/537169/22 "2010-04-30T01:13:25Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> I vaguely remember those… Was she the one who lived in an upside-down house?

Yep, that’s Mrs. Piggle Wiggle! The neighborhood kids use her dining room chandelier (which sticks up out of the floor, of course) as a pretend campfire.

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**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-diamond-in-the-junk-drawer-rediscovering-books/537169/23 "2010-04-30T03:13:09Z")

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The Great Gatsby - I really didn’t care for it when it was assigned in high school (I didn’t hate it, I just didn’t see the deal). I re-read that a few years ago and it was a whole different book. I hadn’t lived enough when I was 15 to connect to that book at all.

That book also suffers when it’s taught by someone who is uncomfortable with discussing class issues.

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