Like, for movies–I can acknowledge that Citizen Kane is a tour de force and is all sorts of wonderful, cinematically speaking, but . . . I just don’t like it. I find it impressive and quite an accomplishment, but it’s not my cup of tea.
So . . . what book (or books) is your Citizen Kane?
I read this question this morning and thought about it all day. I was going to answer The Lovely Bones but that one I just downright hate and don't think it's a good book whatsoever. So I looked at my LibraryThing ratings and discovered a better answer: A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking.
I know this is an important book, heck it keeps getting republished and updated. I had to read this for a program in college. Every semester a book was picked and we would discuss it at a colloquium. Big to do! They were a lot of fun but this one (along with Godel's Proof come to think of it) went right over my head. I tried to read this book and learn from it but I'm pretty sure my eyes glazed over and I didn't really read it, just thought I was. I liked the pictures, how horrible is that. I guess I've never been too into science so it wasn't surprising to me that I didn't really like it. But I do recognize that this is an important book.
What book made your eyes glaze over?
I had a really hard time answering this question and skipped it, but I was thinking of saying My Michael by Amos Oz- very literary and well-put-together but almost unbearable.
ReplyDeleteI have three titles; come take a look at my response.
ReplyDeleteBTW: I have a book giveaway too!
I have the same problem with reading science - I'm interested, but it usually goes right by me. Which is a good argument for sticking to fiction, I guess.
ReplyDeleteMovie wise, hands down it's Casablanca. That one's easy. With books I'd have to go for most classics. The Scarlet Leter, 1984, and anything by Jack London. I get why they exist and why they're important. I also get drowsy just thinking about them.
ReplyDeleteMarie- Unbearable is no good!
ReplyDeletesmilingsal- I'll be sure to pop over!
jlshall- Yeah it just doesn't do it for me and sadly also with a lot of history too! :( I thought I hated non-fiction when I was younger but I've taken a liking to memoirs and books like Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point. I guess I know my tastes better now :D
taren- I've never seen Casablanca, I think I should though, even just so i can say i have! I didn't really like the Scarlet Letter either and haven't read 1984 or anything by Jack London, safe for now!
Mine are Animal Farm and Heart of Darkness. I've read Animal Farm twice (never for a class, just because I couldn't understand why I didn't like it) and still didn't like it.
ReplyDeleteI get the importance of Heart of Darkness but it was a snooze fest for me.
amee- Someone gave me Animal Farm many years ago I have yet to read it. Books that are a snooze fest should just go right into the trash! Books make me tired as is and that just makes it worse!
ReplyDelete