I remember reading a book written by Thomas Wolfe when I was in college. You Can't Go Home Again was published posthumously in 1940. I might have checked it out of the college library at the end of a term to take home to read on vacation.
I struggled through the whole book and on the last page I turned to someone and acknowledged that I had no idea what I had just read. It might have been my age but still...I did not like the book and would not try to read it again. That man did love his words and used all of them but not necessarily in the right order. (All you intellectuals will find me wanting in that.)
Danielle Steele has always been a favorite of women. I remember the women in my real estate office talking about how they loved her books so I got one and tried. When I realized that I could tell where she stopped at the end of the day and then picked it up the next, I did not read anymore. Maybe they are better now but, no, I did not like it. I did not think she is a good writer,
Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevskyy was not a favorite of mine but then I was not accustomed to Russian authors. I read this book at a very young age too so there is that. It was depressing.
Later I read Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky and found it interesting but that first Russian book was no fun. I did not like it.
I later read War and Peace and loved every minute of it.
I did not like The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans. I was the only person alive that thought it was not a good book. I thought that the author was forced to add 100 more pages to the end and his heart was just not in it. I did not like it.
I have a hard time reading Amy Tan.The last one, Valley of Amazement was not my favorite. It felt contrived I thought. I don't know why but she does not fit in my reading world.
I have struggled through so many book that were simply over my head because I thought I should make myself read to learn.
And in many case, I have learned to love the book and about the subject. A Beautiful Mind is one that simply fascinated me and I still think about. There was a lot of discussion on math theories and I liked that.
The book Cleopatra a Life by Stacy Schiff though was not one I would read again even though I was fascinated by and loved the book. The author loved remote words and I spent a lot of time looking up the meaning for those words. Actually it was kind of fun...hard but fun.
What book have you set down forever or read all the way through and the wondered "What was that all about?"
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I did not like The Time Traveler's Wife. Everybody else did but I didn't.
ReplyDeleteI have not read it...thank you for the heads up.
DeleteAs I Lay Dying - William Faulkner
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness...I always think I should have read all of Faulkner's book but just never did. You have relieved my conscience! :) I wish you would come back and tell me why.
DeleteThis is Superb. I want to tell you how much I appreciated your clearly written and thought-provoking article.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteAugust for me was a month of started and abandoned books so I can relate! So many don't suit me but then there are the gems too.
ReplyDeleteIt is worth the search though isn't it. I find that I depend on friends with similar taste to send me ideas. However, my like for some unusual books are not my friends cup of tea. I just finished The Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I would rank it as among the best I have EVER read.
DeleteI'm with you on Danielle Steele.
ReplyDeleteI never understood the fascination with The Hobbit and the Trilogy. I read the Hobbit and started on the Trilogy and put it down.
Then there are those authors I read and wonder why. Anything by Michael Crichton, for example.
I did love the Hobbit but then I do have a fascination with adult fairy tales. I think I did read most of the trilogy. As for Michael Crichton, no idea. I am not reading him now though. Thank you.
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