I heard a fascinating program on the radio the other day, an interview with a book critic who had invited readers to tell her about books they’d always tried to read but couldn’t finish. She got responses of everything from Wolf Hall (a current bestseller) to Ulysses (I could have predicted that one!).
I know we all have a book like that. It’s a classic, one of the novels everyone loves…except us. A story we are told we ought to like, because it’s wonderful, and it is….but not to us. Books that sound just up our alley, but turn out to be dead ends. Books we admire but don’t enjoy. Books we feel too guilty to give away, but somehow, on our shelves, only gather dust.
For me, it’s Atlas Shrugged. It’s not because it’s politically controversial. I like controversy, and I’d read it whether I agreed with it or not, just to see what it’s all about. Except I can’t. I don’t know why. I just can’t.
On the other hand, what about the books you thought you’d hate but turned out to love? Books that seemed too hard, too long, too turgid, too dull? But suddenly…you’re hooked! For me, that book was the first Dorothy Dunnett Lymond Chronicle book, Game of Kings. It’s long, it’s hard…it intimidated the heck out of me. My friends raved. Still, I hesitated, year after year. But finally I found my way into it. And I fell in love. My inner landscape is forever changed, because of this magnificent series and, of course, the man himself, Francis Crawford of Lymond.
How about you? What classic did you never master, never learn to love as everyone said you should? (Please just classics! Let’s don’t undermine anyone who’s still alive, trying to hang on to the confidence to write.) What book did you think you would hate–but ended up loving?
Kathleen: Thanks for your post.
Among the authors I’ve read but don’t care for, I suppose the one most relevant to the modern romance field is Jane Austen. And God knows I’ve tried to like her!
I remember starting “Dr Zhivago” when I was a teen. I only got a few chapters into it. Nothing wrong with the novel; it was just over my head. Maybe when I get the time . . . .
I read “Dune” when I was new to science fiction and would read anything in the genre. Today I’m much pickier. Despite Frank Herbert’s attempts at profundity, this novel is just one long, dull power trip. Feed it to the sand worms.
I got through one Norman Mailer novel when I was in college. You couldn’t pay me to read another. Wait, maybe if you offer me enough . . . .
I suppose the required-reading-list novel I felt the most disgusted by is Charles Bukowski’s “The Naked Lunch.” How anyone could deem that thing literature is beyond me.
I could go on in this vein, but I think this will do. As for novels I didn’t think I’d like but did—gosh, offhand I can’t think of a single one.
Thanks for letting us vent some steam. Keep up the good work!
LOL, Mary Anne! I love your choices! I do think you’re right about timing being important. A book can say nothing to us at one age, then speak all kinds of profound things later. (or vice versa! )
But wow…Norman Mailer. How could I have forgotten him? The only reason he’s not on my list, I guess, is that no one ever told me I *would* like him! LOL.
Can’t think of a book that I just knew I would not like, but did –
can’t think of one. I try not to have an opinion one way or another,
just take it as it comes! One book I just haven’t been able to start
is Gone With The Wind, although I still have hopes of reading it at
some point. One book that I started back in the day, when everyone
was recommending it, was Peyton Place. I absolutely hated it!
I don’t think I finished the first chapter! I did something that goes
completely against the grain: I threw it away!!
Pat Cochran
Pat, I’m actually one of the people who love GWTW and urge other people to read it! LOL…how annoying, right? But I never tried Peyton Place. I remember the movie, I think. Didn’t it have some blond hottie like Troy Donahue? Was the book similar? Or…maybe I should ask someone who didn’t toss it away! Yikes! That is extreme! Must have been pretty awful!
Gah — I will never make it through Heart of Darkness! I can’t do it, and that thing is barely pushing 100 pages long!
Oh, Irene, that one is a definite thumper. But I hear you have had a little trouble with Catcher in the Rye, too. 😉
Dante’s Inferno had to read it for class if it wasn’t for summaries to put it in plain english I would have never got through the book. Another is Jane Austen I love her stories and have watched countless movies based on them but just cant seem to get into her books.
I was given “Heart Of Honor” by Kat Martin, I have never really got into the Historical romance novels but I end up like this book and had to read the other two in the series.
Pam, I struggle with Dante’s Inferno, too. I have a copy by my bed and keep telling myself I’ll finish it. I love it…in theory! 😉
I do really truly love Jane Austen, though, and all the movies they’ve made, too. They are characters for the ages, aren’t they?
I haven’t read Heart of Honor, but that’s a great recommendation for it. Just might have to hunt down a copy! Thanks so much for sharing!