"Popular" Books You Did NOT Enjoy!

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Registered: 03-26-2003
"Popular" Books You Did NOT Enjoy!
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Fri, 03-11-2005 - 10:58am

Sue Roon brings up an interesting topic..."popular" and/or "classic" books that YOU just did NOT enjoy!


Let's talk about your list of "those" books!


And how do you feel about disliking "beloved" or "popular" books?

Avatar for dhayes4440
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Registered: 03-31-2003
Sat, 03-12-2005 - 7:23pm

Nini & Sue: I couldn't agree more with your comments re the "popular" book trade. They do write with a formula or so I have read...(no pun intended). I try to remember that even people that read Grisham, et al, must learn something from these books.

I am a PD James fan & have learned to like Elizabeth George altho' I do believe that George writes with a formula, but she seems to be maturing. Shreve's "...Passion" book was another of hers that I enjoyed. Didn't this question provoke alot of discussion? I've enjoyed hearing everyone's opinion. dee

Avatar for scrappy_ams
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Registered: 04-04-2003
Sat, 03-12-2005 - 9:10pm

The first book that came to mind is Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. I was surprised at how much I disliked this book considering how much I loved The Poisonwood Bible, but I felt like if I had to read one more sentence about moth love I was simply going to scream! Quite frankly, it has made me VERY hesitant to read anything else by her.

Scrappy

Scrappy
Avatar for ninipanini
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Registered: 03-31-2003
Sat, 03-12-2005 - 9:34pm

I've never read anything by Kingsolver. In general, I really stay away from books that have been on the best seller list in the last 5 years. I don't generally read stuff when Oprah recommends it. I've already read some of her "classics", though.
ninipanini

ninipanini
Avatar for dhayes4440
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Registered: 03-31-2003
Sun, 03-13-2005 - 7:18pm

Please reconsider reading Barbara Kingsolver. I liked Prodigal Spring, but I'll admit it was slow. I liked the diverse characters especially the two seniors (ugh, I hate that word!). I really related to them especially the older lady. She was great.

Beside The Poisonwood Bible, Kingsolver's earlier books about the little Indian baby left with the young woman (forgive my memory)are heartwarming. Every mother will love these books. Poisonwood was probably the best "serious" book by her. I believe it was purposely downplayed in the press, because there was alot of controversial information about our government's role in African politics/policies. The "Prodigal Spring" focused on environmental issues (moths!)& again I think it was considered controversial & liberal therefore it didn't get much press, well any press really. Kingsolver is a "tree-hugger" as the conservatives call us! She is an interesting woman. dee

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Registered: 01-04-2004
Mon, 03-14-2005 - 9:37am

I usually like "classics", although I haven't read many recently. I've liked all of the Austen and Bronte books I've read and also some Dickens and Hawthorne. I've never been able to get into Hemingway at all. I've tried a few times and hated myself for it. I used to read quite a bit of Danielle Steele, but then started to not be able to get into her books.

One modern writer that I know a lot of people like, but I don't, is Nicholas Sparks. I read some of Message in a Bottle a while back and couldn't stand it. I also read The Notebook right around when the movie came out (I still haven't seen it). I loved the story and the plot, but there was just something about his writing that I couldn't stand. I got through the whole book because I wanted to see what happened, I did like the characters and story, but I pretty much just skimmed to find out what went on.

I also used to love Anne Rice. I read almost all of the vampire books until I started one of the later ones. I don't remember the name of it, but it had the Vampire Lestat and I think he was meeting with God or something. I never even made it halfway through the book, I just couldn't stand it.

Paula

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Registered: 01-10-2005
Mon, 03-14-2005 - 10:27am

There have been several "popular" books that I really didn't like. At the top of my list was THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. I also hurled Stephen King's THE STAND across the room. I have no patience for authors who use injuring or killing an animal to manipulate the reader's emotions! And lastly, there's poor Saul Bellow's HERZOG. I know it's supposed to be a literary masterpiece, but I just couldn't read it. I tried and tried and tried --and finally gave up.

I must say I never feel guilty about not liking a book. My particular favorite color is blue, but I don't feel guilty because it's not orange. Same with books. I also realize that different kinds of books serve different needs at different times. When life is too stressful, when a relationship is going poorly, maybe that's exactly the time you need to sit down and relax with a Harlequin romance -- where everything turns out exactly right. And I always have to keep in mind WHEN the book was written, because books reflect the society in which we live at the time the book is written. For instance, books written in the 60's, when we were struggling with racial and women's issues might seem preachy when we read them now, but at the time they were written, they were pertinent and timely.

The only thing I USED to feel guilty about was not finishing a book. I'm getting better about that. If it fails to engage me after a couple of sessions, I just stop reading, realizing this book isn't for me. At least for now. Maybe I'll pick it up again at another time; maybe I won't. See, I'm getting better; I really am!

Lena

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Registered: 01-22-2005
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 4:10pm

Where are you on the "I'll give my true opinion without guilt" scale?

Well, I know I put people's noses out of joint with our RLBC 'cos I tell them if I didn't like the BOTM & why, which they find very rude & surprising.
Sorry, tact is not my strong point & I prefer to know where I stand, rather than pussyfooting around & talking a load of rubbish in the name of being polite & politically correct.
If the scale was 1 for keeping my trap shut or lying & 10 for just telling it like it is, then I'm a very blunt 10...

The Woman Challenge - May 10-July 4, 2009 - womenshealth.gov - Join
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Registered: 04-06-2004
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 6:07pm
OMG, when I read your post the first book I thought of was Catcher in the Rye. I couldn't get past the first chapter! I found Ernest Hemingway boring and John Steinbeck boring AND kind of icky in an indescribable way. And I always feel like I'm admitting some personal failing by saying so. :)
Avatar for cl_ladibbug
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-16-2005 - 7:41pm

Welcome, Mans Hurrell...


Do we call you "Mans"?

Avatar for ninipanini
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Registered: 03-31-2003
Thu, 03-17-2005 - 8:36am
I also barely got through Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook. Lucky it was short. I bought it for .25 at the Goodwill and it was one of the worst ways I've ever spent a quarter.
ninipanini
ninipanini