classic books you didnt like
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As far as The Stand goes, each to their own. Jane Austen I don't get the big deal.
Who lmew? I read the Satanic Verses to see what all the hullabaloo was about. I have always felt that if they hadn't made so much fuzz over it it would have just slipped off the table unnoticed after awhile. Not anything special at all. I've read Midnights Children (that was him, right?) too but gave up after that. Other authors more worthy of my time out there.I think his books, particularly The Satanic Verses, are considered modern classics. That one is the only one I've sort of enjoyed, and The Enchantress of Florence was okay, but I haven't had much luck with others. I really thought I'd like The Ground Beneath Her Feet, too, because it's about rock and roll. No dice. I've tried that one three times and abandoned it each time
- Pretty much all books I had to read at school for Dutch (which resulted in a 4 when I was questioned about them, which was still better than I expected)
- The Old Man and the Sea
- Lord of the Rings
- Moby Dick I think, I know I started it once but can't remember why I put it away
From King I couldn't get going with Dolores Claiborne. As everyone's (everyone?) so enthusiastic about it maybe I should try again. A couple of other books also didn't do much to me, although I finished those (the Tommyknockers is one), that might be the same. Something with being a little older maybe. I liked Insomnia and Needful Things better the second time I read those when I was 30-32. First time I was maybe 16, at that time I found the first half of those books extremely tedious.
- The Old Man and the Sea
- Lord of the Rings
- Moby Dick I think, I know I started it once but can't remember why I put it away
From King I couldn't get going with Dolores Claiborne. As everyone's (everyone?) so enthusiastic about it maybe I should try again. A couple of other books also didn't do much to me, although I finished those (the Tommyknockers is one), that might be the same. Something with being a little older maybe. I liked Insomnia and Needful Things better the second time I read those when I was 30-32. First time I was maybe 16, at that time I found the first half of those books extremely tedious.
This is one that really grabbed me the second time around. I think maybe the first time it wasn't so much that I didn't like Dolores Claiborne, but that I liked Gerald's Game a lot better.
I got to see him speak and he was really fascinating. I am sorry that doesn't translate to his writing.
Buncha jerks, not likin On The Road. Heh heh...
There's some Dickens I've tossed--frustrated, bored, and...meh. But then, there's a couple Dickens that kicked my azz.
Over the past year I sorta tortured myself and pigged out on 19th century lit. Got sick of just getting whiffs of the good stuff, all the build-up and little payoff.
Gave The Plumed Serpent a toss. Started out good, with the bullfights and all, then Lawrence just lost me with all the ritualistic dancing crap. Bleh.
Uncle Stevie? Tell yez, there's a whole phase of King I can't stomach. The post-booze, pre-Van era (cept fer Roland), all those 'tormented women' books. Gerald's Game, Delores Claiborne, Rose Madder (you can toss Lisey's in with the bunch). Don't hate me for it, it's not an anti-woman stance, it's an anti-'your favorite writer pulls a complete 180' stance. Just my opinion, of course, which don't amount to a hill of derf in this derfilicuous world...
There's some Dickens I've tossed--frustrated, bored, and...meh. But then, there's a couple Dickens that kicked my azz.
Over the past year I sorta tortured myself and pigged out on 19th century lit. Got sick of just getting whiffs of the good stuff, all the build-up and little payoff.
Gave The Plumed Serpent a toss. Started out good, with the bullfights and all, then Lawrence just lost me with all the ritualistic dancing crap. Bleh.
Uncle Stevie? Tell yez, there's a whole phase of King I can't stomach. The post-booze, pre-Van era (cept fer Roland), all those 'tormented women' books. Gerald's Game, Delores Claiborne, Rose Madder (you can toss Lisey's in with the bunch). Don't hate me for it, it's not an anti-woman stance, it's an anti-'your favorite writer pulls a complete 180' stance. Just my opinion, of course, which don't amount to a hill of derf in this derfilicuous world...
Oh, and The Bible. Yeesh, everybody tells the same damn story.
Eek, I'm goin straight to hell fer that one.
Eek, I'm goin straight to hell fer that one.
Huckleberry Finn.
It's billed as the definition of the Great American Novel, but it's unbelievably boring, and my focus tends to wander as I read.
It's billed as the definition of the Great American Novel, but it's unbelievably boring, and my focus tends to wander as I read.
Green Eggs & Ham. My willing suspension of disbelief just couldn't turn those green eggs loose, no-siree-bucko. All the other ones rock the mountains. Grinch...what a wuss, hey? Wimps out at the end! Boil that dust-spec! Pilgrim's Progress...yeah, okay, don't recall any realistic bad guys in that one. Dog-nappers...cat burglars...sex fiends. All pretty much black and white...the book had the smell of hard use, though, all those freshly-washed hands handling that hardback, licking fingers, turning pages. Honey and locusts. Sugar and spice. Piss and vinegar.
I'm curious DJ, did he have have security personnel present when he spoke? I was just wondering if has some sort of security entourage that travels with him. I would think he would have to.
You know, he may have, but I didn't see them. I didn't see any people that looked like undercover cops or security. And I was sitting right in front of him about 10 rows back, so very good view. He was really funny and so interesting. I enjoyed his talk very much.
Oh man, Ethan Frome. Yeah, let's kill ourselves with a sled. That'll work.
Middlemarch- None of the characters made me want to care
Les Miserable- Hugo went off on some wild tangents and the plot clunked with predictability.
The Portrait of a Lady- Dry and uninspiring.
To be cont...
Les Miserable- Hugo went off on some wild tangents and the plot clunked with predictability.
The Portrait of a Lady- Dry and uninspiring.
To be cont...
were so alike yet so different. that's what I love about this site. people can differ and yet respect each other opinions. for instance I absolutely love Old man and the sea. so much deeper than just catching a fish. I also love red badge of courage. but im totally in agreement with catcher in the rye and wuthering heights. I couldn't even finish citr. maybe I should , it might change my mind but I forced myself thru over half of it so I guess I gave it a solid try. moby dick I liked. nothing great but I liked it. last of the mohicans im with you on. ugh. the other ones I haven't read. there is an audiobook version of old man and the sea. some people said after hearing that they liked it much better. just a suggestion.
Might give it another try. With some maturity, my thoughts do change.
The Nameless
M-O-O-N - That spells Nameless
The shining. The bulk of it just bored me. I know saying that is like blasphemy around here but that's the way it is. I guess I don't really care for books with a very small amount of characters that get the bulk of the focus. That is one of the reasons I never got passed page 50 of misery.
Its interesting. I actually swallowed wuthering heights whole. Thought, and still think, it was a great book. Adore her poetry too. Am not as fond of Charlotte and Anne as i am of Emily Bronte though even if i had no problems reading them. Had more problems with Jane Austen though. But my mother loved her....... But have big problems with Hemingway. Like Steinbeck and Conrad but have problems with Fitzgerald, Kerouac and Salinger.
Sometimes I run into problems when I expect too much. This is what I call Crocodile Dundee Syndrome. I call it that because of this friend of mine who went to see it (way back when it was new) and came back raving about how Paul Hogan was a genius and it was the funniest movie he (my friend) had ever seen. Well . . . I went to see Crocodile Dundee, and it was okay, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had come in without all the buildup.
Maybe the reason you don't get what the "big deal" with The Stand is, is because there isn't any big deal. It's just a story, not unlike many others. Of course, that's not a perspective you're going to get on this forum (except that you just did), and we all know you can't un-ring a bell, but you're probably not the only person to be disappointed -- not because a particular story isn't all it might be -- but because it couldn't possibly be everything everyone has told you it would be.
Or maybe not.
I dunno.