Thursday, October 02, 2008

Booking Through Thursday!

What, in your opinion, is the best book that you haven’t liked? Mind you, I don’t mean your most-hated book–oh, no. I mean the most accomplished, skilled, well-written, impressive book that you just simply didn’t like.
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?

7 comments:

  1. 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.

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  2. I have three titles; come take a look at my response.

    BTW: I have a book giveaway too!

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  3. 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.

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  4. Movie 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.

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  5. Marie- Unbearable is no good!

    smilingsal- 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!

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  6. 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.

    I get the importance of Heart of Darkness but it was a snooze fest for me.

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  7. 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!

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