Book review. Throwback to old days!
- Beebs52
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Book review. Throwback to old days!
I know I shall be called a philistine or low rent or tacky, but, John Updike, Rabbit, Run, is a miserably bleak, creepily misogynistic (yes!), did I say bleak?, naval-gazing piece of shit.
Thought I'd go old school, re-read things I thought I'd read way back. Pulitzery shit. Shit being the operative word.
Perhaps I had already relegated this one to the one-holer with Catcher in the Rye and other overrated novels...and just forgot. My bad.
If I could get a refund on a Kindle book I would. But, that would require me caring enough.
minus stars, no, not in the realm of star rating at all
Now I need some literary genius to tell me that he has crafted a character so well that I've given up prematurely and will miss redemption. My gut reaction tells me I am right.
Thought I'd go old school, re-read things I thought I'd read way back. Pulitzery shit. Shit being the operative word.
Perhaps I had already relegated this one to the one-holer with Catcher in the Rye and other overrated novels...and just forgot. My bad.
If I could get a refund on a Kindle book I would. But, that would require me caring enough.
minus stars, no, not in the realm of star rating at all
Now I need some literary genius to tell me that he has crafted a character so well that I've given up prematurely and will miss redemption. My gut reaction tells me I am right.
Well, then
- Ritterskoop
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
Classics I think also suck:
The Great Gatsby - wrecked excess is bad, 'm kay?
anything by Faulkner - in love with the sound of his own voice - I shouldn't say anything by him because I only read "The Bear," but it was tediouser than a political thread on this Bored
I know it makes me a bad Suthrener, but I loathed A Confederacy of Dunces. The writing was pretty good but nothing happens and there is no one to root for.
I'm sure there are more but that's my quick list. Avoid them.
Recommended a hundred times: Tom Robbins' Jitterbug Perfume. Just trust me.
The Great Gatsby - wrecked excess is bad, 'm kay?
anything by Faulkner - in love with the sound of his own voice - I shouldn't say anything by him because I only read "The Bear," but it was tediouser than a political thread on this Bored
I know it makes me a bad Suthrener, but I loathed A Confederacy of Dunces. The writing was pretty good but nothing happens and there is no one to root for.
I'm sure there are more but that's my quick list. Avoid them.
Recommended a hundred times: Tom Robbins' Jitterbug Perfume. Just trust me.
If you fail to pilot your own ship, don't be surprised at what inappropriate port you find yourself docked. - Tom Robbins
--------
At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. - attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
--------
At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. - attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
- Beebs52
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
I just finished The Nix, by Nathan Hill, new book. Loved it.
Well, then
- ghostjmf
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
I agree that Rabbit is awful. I chalked it up to me having zero interest in privileged-WASP ennui. I agree that the character of Gatsby is a big jerk.
I liked Catcher & all Salinger's stuff when I read it but recent articles about Salinger in real life have me creeped out (he had a one-night-stand with his model for Esme the minute she was legally old enough, then ditched her literally the next day; she writes philosophically about it, but I am aghast).
Never read anything by Faulkner but know many synopses. Never read Dunces.
My contribution to this thread is that Henry James is literally unreadable. By me anyway. Not only can I not figure out what is happening in his famous supposedly-spooky novel but I Don't Care.
I liked Catcher & all Salinger's stuff when I read it but recent articles about Salinger in real life have me creeped out (he had a one-night-stand with his model for Esme the minute she was legally old enough, then ditched her literally the next day; she writes philosophically about it, but I am aghast).
Never read anything by Faulkner but know many synopses. Never read Dunces.
My contribution to this thread is that Henry James is literally unreadable. By me anyway. Not only can I not figure out what is happening in his famous supposedly-spooky novel but I Don't Care.
- Beebs52
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
You hit it. I end up not caring which is a book's death knell.
Well, then
- kroxquo
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
If someone can explain what Finnegan's Wake is about, or even what it is, I would commend them. I've always believed that this was an example of the emperor having no clothes.
You live and learn. Or at least you live. - Douglas Adams
- Bob Juch
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
I've often thought that many books, art, and films have been declared to be great because someone thought, "I have no idea what the hell that's about. It must be great."
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.
- Beebs52
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
Yes! Ulysses, any Faulkner, on and on...Bob Juch wrote:I've often thought that many books, art, and films have been declared to be great because someone thought, "I have no idea what the hell that's about. It must be great."
Well, then
- Beebs52
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
Ayn Rand. Anthem. Massive dump. Dint read Finnegan's Wake, but the more peeps suggest things the more detritus pops up in my head.kroxquo wrote:If someone can explain what Finnegan's Wake is about, or even what it is, I would commend them. I've always believed that this was an example of the emperor having no clothes.
Well, then
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
I don't pretend to understand Faulkner, and maybe I don't even like him and I haven't read him for several years. However, he was one of the authors I read to broaden myself when WWTBAM hit and I am very glad I did.Ritterskoop wrote:Classics I think also suck:
The Great Gatsby - wrecked excess is bad, 'm kay?
anything by Faulkner - in love with the sound of his own voice - I shouldn't say anything by him because I only read "The Bear," but it was tediouser than a political thread on this Bored
Every once in awhile, I would run across a paragraph or so in his works that I absolutely loved. Those passages spoke to me as no other author has.
- Beebs52
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
My Faulkner claim is a research paper I wrote in HS (!) on him. Read a slew of his stuff, got an A, can't remember one bit of what I read or wrote, other than the teacher liked what I had to say. I just remember feeling it was like injecting a math problem with deeper meaning or something.Spock wrote:I don't pretend to understand Faulkner, and maybe I don't even like him and I haven't read him for several years. However, he was one of the authors I read to broaden myself when WWTBAM hit and I am very glad I did.Ritterskoop wrote:Classics I think also suck:
The Great Gatsby - wrecked excess is bad, 'm kay?
anything by Faulkner - in love with the sound of his own voice - I shouldn't say anything by him because I only read "The Bear," but it was tediouser than a political thread on this Bored
Every once in awhile, I would run across a paragraph or so in his works that I absolutely loved. Those passages spoke to me as no other author has.
Well, then
- Ritterskoop
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
I love Rand (she makes me think) but I get why she is not for everyone. And that doesn't mean I think people who don't like her don't like to think. It may be somewhat like I far prefer Christopher Hitchens to Richard Dawkins - they make similar arguments about deities, but Dawkins is just so unbelievably rude to believers that it's a huge turnoff. It's not necessary. Hitchens didn't do that. So Dawkins makes me think but he makes me mad, too, and Rand is like that for lots of folks. Also her positions are just so extreme.
Someone just last night also recommended The Nix, and also I think The Nightwing or The Nightmare or something like that.
Someone just last night also recommended The Nix, and also I think The Nightwing or The Nightmare or something like that.
If you fail to pilot your own ship, don't be surprised at what inappropriate port you find yourself docked. - Tom Robbins
--------
At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. - attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
--------
At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. - attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
- Beebs52
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
Fountainhead, etc were okay. Anthem was just ham handed and poorly written.Ritterskoop wrote:I love Rand (she makes me think) but I get why she is not for everyone. And that doesn't mean I think people who don't like her don't like to think. It may be somewhat like I far prefer Christopher Hitchens to Richard Dawkins - they make similar arguments about deities, but Dawkins is just so unbelievably rude to believers that it's a huge turnoff. It's not necessary. Hitchens didn't do that. So Dawkins makes me think but he makes me mad, too, and Rand is like that for lots of folks. Also her positions are just so extreme.
Someone just last night also recommended The Nix, and also I think The Nightwing or The Nightmare or something like that.
I really enjoyed The Nix. Long, character and story driven, interesting take on 60s by a younger author.
Well, then
- Beebs52
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- Ritterskoop
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
Yes. French Resistance.
If you fail to pilot your own ship, don't be surprised at what inappropriate port you find yourself docked. - Tom Robbins
--------
At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. - attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
--------
At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. - attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
- Ritterskoop
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
Anthem is more of a screed, yeah. If I understand what that word means.
At least it is short.
At least it is short.
If you fail to pilot your own ship, don't be surprised at what inappropriate port you find yourself docked. - Tom Robbins
--------
At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. - attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
--------
At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. - attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
-
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
I am probably one of the few people who has read Faulkner while in a deer stand.Beebs52 wrote:Spock wrote:I don't pretend to understand Faulkner, and maybe I don't even like him and I haven't read him for several years. However, he was one of the authors I read to broaden myself when WWTBAM hit and I am very glad I did.Ritterskoop wrote:Classics I think also suck:
The Great Gatsby - wrecked excess is bad, 'm kay?
anything by Faulkner - in love with the sound of his own voice - I shouldn't say anything by him because I only read "The Bear," but it was tediouser than a political thread on this Bored
Every once in awhile, I would run across a paragraph or so in his works that I absolutely loved. Those passages spoke to me as no other author has.[/quote
My Faulkner claim is a research paper I wrote in HS (!) on him. Read a slew of his stuff, got an A, can't remember one bit of what I read or wrote, other than the teacher liked what I had to say. I just remember feeling it was like injecting a math problem with deeper meaning or something.
- Beebs52
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
It' s good. I read it. Kristin Hannah I think.Ritterskoop wrote:Yes. French Resistance.
Well, then
- Beebs52
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
That seems poetic.Spock wrote:I am probably one of the few people who has read Faulkner while in a deer stand.Beebs52 wrote:Spock wrote:
I don't pretend to understand Faulkner, and maybe I don't even like him and I haven't read him for several years. However, he was one of the authors I read to broaden myself when WWTBAM hit and I am very glad I did.
Every once in awhile, I would run across a paragraph or so in his works that I absolutely loved. Those passages spoke to me as no other author has.[/quote
My Faulkner claim is a research paper I wrote in HS (!) on him. Read a slew of his stuff, got an A, can't remember one bit of what I read or wrote, other than the teacher liked what I had to say. I just remember feeling it was like injecting a math problem with deeper meaning or something.
Well, then
- Bob Juch
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Re: Book review. Throwback to old days!
Next time read The Deerstalker.Spock wrote:I am probably one of the few people who has read Faulkner while in a deer stand.Beebs52 wrote:Spock wrote:
I don't pretend to understand Faulkner, and maybe I don't even like him and I haven't read him for several years. However, he was one of the authors I read to broaden myself when WWTBAM hit and I am very glad I did.
Every once in awhile, I would run across a paragraph or so in his works that I absolutely loved. Those passages spoke to me as no other author has.[/quote
My Faulkner claim is a research paper I wrote in HS (!) on him. Read a slew of his stuff, got an A, can't remember one bit of what I read or wrote, other than the teacher liked what I had to say. I just remember feeling it was like injecting a math problem with deeper meaning or something.
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.
- Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.