I love falling down a literary rabbit hole (burrowing might be more apt). I love that even that term is literary. My burrowing is often author based, just reading anything by a specific writer I can check out from my library.
A few years ago I read my way through most of Roald Dahl’s novels, short stories, and biographies. That was entertaining and endearing and all around time well spent. I highly recommend it.
My latest rabbit hole adventure is still continuing. It began with a puzzle my husband picked up at the Goodwill Outlet of covers of classic adventure books. I had only read/watched the movies of a few of these titles. I don’t want to have a shelf full or a puzzle full of books that I’d not read (might mean I’m a literary legalist) so I’ve added them to my “Want to Read” shelf on Goodreads and am working through them.
So far, I’ve read Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, Treasure Island, Around the World in 80 Days (which I loved!), Peter Pan, Captains Courageous, and On the Far Side of the Mountain (I’d read the first, never the sequel). I’m slogging through listening to The Pillars of the Earth.
This morning I finished James Hilton’s Lost Horizon published in 1933. I’m getting the Frank Capra movie (released a mere 4 years later, evidence of authorial success, I’d wager!) at the library shortly.
The book is great. My copy was less than 200 pages, so it was pretty quick. The first chapter is abrupt, but once the introduction is out of the way, it’s a great read. The story feels a little likes a Jules Verne but less science heavy.
I’m anti-spoiler to a fault, so all I can say is please read it, but I will share one super cool thing you may not know that Hilton started…
Shangri-La! You’ve heard of places being described as an oasis or a retreat as “Shangri-La.” That term is straight from this book. Hilton started it. It’s his creation. I always thought it was based on ancient religion, and it is, sorta, but the name itself is entirely from his creative mind.
Camp David, the presidential retreat was originally named Hi–Catoctin when it was built in 1938, but was named “Shangri-La” by FDR in 1942 after this book and kept the name for 9 years until Eisenhower renamed it after his son.
There’s several other historical references to Shangri-La you’ll have to look up later on Wikipedia after you read it. Enjoy the rabbit hole and all it’s off shooting tunnels! I’m so amazed, and I bet James Hilton would be too, when a written idea breaks away and reaches far beyond its original media.
How about you? Any recommendations for future rabbit holes?
manageable mess 