--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I sort of half read Thomas Hardy's 'The…" description: "\"I sort of half read Thomas Hardy's 'The Mayor of Casterbridge.' It was assigned in 10th grade, and I just couldn't get into it. About seven years later..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ff/suzanne-collins-60_about_i-sort-of-half-read-thomas-hardy-s-the-m_2654418.jpg" --- # I sort of half read Thomas Hardy's 'The Mayor of… ![“I sort of half read Thomas Hardy's 'The Mayor of Casterbridge.' It was assigned in 10th grade, and I just couldn't get into it. About seven years later, I rediscovered Hardy and consumed four of his novels in a row.” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ff/suzanne-collins-60_about_i-sort-of-half-read-thomas-hardy-s-the-m_2654418.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ff/suzanne-collins-60_about_i-sort-of-half-read-thomas-hardy-s-the-m_2654418.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ff/suzanne-collins-60_about_i-sort-of-half-read-thomas-hardy-s-the-m_2654418.jpg) > “I sort of half read Thomas Hardy's 'The Mayor of Casterbridge.' It was assigned in 10th grade, and I just couldn't get into it. About seven years later, I rediscovered Hardy and consumed four of his novels in a row.” [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early exposure to literature may not resonate, but later life experiences can unlock appreciation, leading to deep engagement. **In simple terms:** Later life can change literary taste. Key Takeaway Revisit past works with fresh perspective. Themes education growth literature Mood reflective hopeful Type literary personal development When to use this quote - high school curricula - adult book clubs - self‑study Key Concepts developmental psychology reading motivation Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevented initial interest? - How did later experiences reshape perception? A Different Perspective Not everyone will connect with a text at first glance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mayor/) [Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [A half-read book is a half-finished love affair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/a-half-read-book-is-a-half-finished-love-affair/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Uncertain whose the narrowest span,--the clown unread, or half-read gentleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/uncertain-whose-the-narrowest-span-the-clown-unread-or-half-read/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [I have so many books that are sitting around half-read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/i-have-so-many-books-that-are-sitting-around-half-read/) [Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/) > [It takes me about a week and a half to read the typical book. I don't know how many ten-day spans I have left.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kalfus/it-takes-me-about-a-week-and-a-half-to-read-the-typical-book-i-don-t/) [Ken Kalfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kalfus/) > [“I couldn't see killing myself if I had a book that was only half-read: Fountainhead, Catcher in the Rye, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-couldn-t-see-killing-myself-if-i-had-a-book-that-was-only-half-read/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [“The room was much as he had left it, festeringly untidy, though the effect was muted a little by a thick layer of dust.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-room-was-much-as-he-had-left-it-festeringly-untidy-though-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Ballycumber (ba-li-KUM-ber) n. One of the six half-read books lying somewhere in your bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/ballycumber-ba-li-kum-ber-n-one-of-the-six-half-read-books-lying/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“We late-lamented, resting here, Are mixed to human jam, And each to each exclaims in fear, ‘I know not which I am!’ ” —Thomas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-crombie/we-late-lamented-resting-here-are-mixed-to-human-jam-and-each-to-each/) [Deborah Crombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-crombie/) > [“Haunting the library as a kid, reading poetry books when I was not reading bird books, I had been astonished at how often birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenn-kaufman/haunting-the-library-as-a-kid-reading-poetry-books-when-i-was-not/) [Kenn Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenn-kaufman/) > [“When I mentioned to a friend I was writing a book about eggs he told me to be sure to mention how in Thomas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-birkhead/when-i-mentioned-to-a-friend-i-was-writing-a-book-about-eggs-he-told/) [Tim Birkhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-birkhead/) > [“The Convergence of the Twain Thomas Hardy, 1840 - 1928 (Lines on the loss of the “Titanic”) I In a solitude of the sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-convergence-of-the-twain-thomas-hardy-1840-1928-lines-on-the-loss/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“West Country novelist Thomas Hardy almost did not survive his birth in 1840 because everyone thought he was stillborn. He did not appear to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mason/west-country-novelist-thomas-hardy-almost-did-not-survive-his-birth/) Phil Mason > [“I The moving sun-shapes on the spray, The sparkles where the brook was flowing, Pink faces, plightings, moonlit May, These were the things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/i-the-moving-sun-shapes-on-the-spray-the-sparkles-where-the-brook-was/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“During any prolonged activity one tends to forget original intentions. But I believe that, when making a start on A Month in the Country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-carr/during-any-prolonged-activity-one-tends-to-forget-original-intentions/) [J.L. Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-carr/) > [ “Stilletos of a frozen stillicide \[...\] In the lovely line heading this comment the reader should note the last word. My dictionary defines it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/stilletos-of-a-frozen-stillicide-in-the-lovely-line-heading-this/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) ## More by Suzanne Collins > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [A furious Peeta hammers Haymitch with the atrocity he could become party to, but I can feel Haymitch watching me. This is the moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/a-furious-peeta-hammers-haymitch-with-the-atrocity-he-could-become/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“The same goes for the other captured tributes, Johanna and Enobaria.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-same-goes-for-the-other-captured-tributes-johanna-and-enobaria/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“I want to interrupt the taping and beg Finnick’s forgiveness for every false thought I’ve ever had about him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-want-to-interrupt-the-taping-and-beg-finnick-s-forgiveness-for/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I pound on the glass, screaming my head off. Everyone ignores me except for some Capitol attendant who appears behind me and offers me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-pound-on-the-glass-screaming-my-head-off-everyone-ignores-me-except/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Because it doesn't matter anymore, and because I'm so desperately lonely I can't stand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/because-it-doesn-t-matter-anymore-and-because-i-m-so-desperately/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Then I dive into my tent before I do something stupid like cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-i-dive-into-my-tent-before-i-do-something-stupid-like-cry/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“¡Es que no quiero que me conozcan! ¡Ya me están quitando el futuro! ¡No pueden llevarse también lo que me importaba en el pasado!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/es-que-no-quiero-que-me-conozcan-ya-me-est-n-quitando-el-futuro-no/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“I act delighted, but I have zero interest in these Capitol people. They are only distractions from the food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-act-delighted-but-i-have-zero-interest-in-these-capitol-people-they/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Mostly we just add to the piles of rainbow glass that's been blown off the exteriors of the cany-colored buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/mostly-we-just-add-to-the-piles-of-rainbow-glass-that-s-been-blown/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [You're punishing him over and over for things that are out of his control. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't have a fully loaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/you-re-punishing-him-over-and-over-for-things-that-are-out-of-his/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But the significant difference between Thirteen and the Capitol are the expectations of the populace. Thirteen was used to hardship, wheras in the Capitol,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-the-significant-difference-between-thirteen-and-the-capitol-are/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) [Explore all 1,709 Suzanne Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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