I feel like such a failure...

You certainly aren't a failure in life because you haven't read that particular book.

I did enjoy it, but I do think that you really do have to distance yourself from the modern idea of feminine roles in order to see the real statement that Jane Austin was making at the time to her audience. The independent nature that she gave Lizzie, the latitude that Mr. Darcy allowed his daughter, and allowing her to choose to marry or not was unheard of at the time. While it seems ridiculous to us now, perhaps we can view this book and author as one of the reasons our role has changed in society. (Can you tell I was an English major too? )

The one "classic" author I could not stomach was Charles Dickens. We had to read Great Expectations for one class and I absolutely hated that book. I had to force myself awake. I hated all of the characters. I hated the story. I hated the writing style. I hated everything about that book.

Yeah, I had a problem with "The Stand" & the Tolkein trilogy. Got thru them them but......never again! From now on, ONLY what I enjoy!!

My bane book is Moby Dick. I've read it three times now trying to enjoy it, but I just can't do it!!

My first attempt at LotR failed as well - but I reread it freshman year in college after the first movie came out and absolutely loved it! It was probably because I first tried to read it in....fourth or fifth grade or something like that.

Eh? You feel like a failure for not having interest in a book? I should feel like a complete waste of space then....

I've never liked reading literature very much. Especially anything longer than a short story. I never read books I was assigned in school or college, I just got the cliffnotes, or skimmed over the chapter summaries in the end and usually was enough. Strangely I read obsessively about technology or engineering topics, or if I am in need of specific info. If there's a drive for it, i.e. I'm designing a water cooling system for my computer, I will have read about 3-4 textbooks worth of info on fluid and thermo dynamics and still be starving for more. Science articles are half and half, I'll read the ones I find interesting, but anything else will look like gibberish to me.

Poems and short stories I like very much. But it's usually because they have very powerful imagery and you can get through one before you lose any interest. Maybe I just have short memory .

It's fascinating how many different views there are of the same books! Jane Eyre, for example -- I'm not a great appreciator of the classics, but oh boy, do I love Jane Eyre! If I'd been Miss Bronte's editor, I would have slashed the thing to bits, drastically reducing the time spent in the orphanage, tightening the time at St. John's, and cutting the last chapter off completely -- but still... such a great story.

Oh, when timid Jane stands up and looks Rochester in the eye and says something to the effect of, "If God had gifted me with great beauty like Blanche Ingram's, I would make it as difficult for you to leave me now as it is for me to leave you." Wow! When I first read that, I had never in my life had the courage to profess love to anyone -- but Jane did it, and oh, how I admired her!

I noticed somebody brought up Faulkner, and I must admit, I can't read him, either... so dense with excruciating detail! I could feel my life slipping away moment by moment as I struggled through. Steinbeck I managed, though -- I read Cannery Row, and it's great, but yes, again, there's a density issue.

Bruce, it's true that The Stand is tough, because of course it's an early work, before King got as blindingly brilliant with the language as he later became... and also because it's so blessed LONG! But by golly, I read it -- the longer version, too, the one with a few hundred extra pages that his publisher had originally made him cut out! And y'know what? It was such a powerful story that, years later, I READ IT AGAIN! It's so ultimate, and so intimate, too. It deals with the most important stuff there is to deal with. And the main character, Stu Redman -- he's got to be the most honorable man in literature since Atticus Finch.

I read Moby-Dick! And I loved it! It's a good one for reading out loud, doing voices and all... and it's in first person, which I love. I don't think I've ever read a book in first person that I didn't enjoy.

Y'know, if you just can't read Moby-Dick, you should at least see the movie. It's outstanding, Gregory Peck as Ahab. It should have been filmed in black-and-white, but it's great nonetheless.

Cata-mint, I tried to read The Unbearable Lightness of Being too, because the title intrigued me -- but oh boy, are you ever right about that one! I absolutely cringed from it, got maybe ten pages in and gave up on it forever. Blecch!

I have never read Ulysses, though in Dublin, I walked in the famous footsteps of its hero. The reason I've never read it is that I once saw something on PBS, a filmed stage play written by Joyce, in which the actress delivered a lengthy monologue while using a chamberpot onstage. Ever since then, I just haven't been able to get interested in James Joyce.

Now Hemingway -- I haven't read much of him, but what I've read is fascinating. He's someone I need to seek out and catch up on.

I love Chandler and Hammett and all those stylized noir types -- but I cannot stand Mickey Spillane, who is often categorized with them. Not sure why I react that way.

Speaking of noir -- I also love Dennis LeHane, Steve Hamilton, and Lee Child, all of whom have a bit of that terse, hard-edged style. They might be a good choice for those who don't like getting bogged down in needless detail or overblown prose.

(By the way...Dennis LeHane's Shutter Island is one of the most compelling books I've ever read. I can't recommend it highly enough!)

But my current favorite writers are Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, both together and separately. They write very, very intelligent books full of historical elements and speculative science and -- oh, I can't even begin to do it justice! If you've seen the wonderful movie, "National Treasure," that's a very Preston-&-Child kind of story (though they did not write it). Are there any other Preston & Child readers out there?

And how does everybody feel about Shakespeare? I actually started reading him at age ten, believe it or not... and sure, it's hard reading because of the archaic structure and poetic style -- but it's so worth it! My gosh, he was great! Especially Hamlet. You read Hamlet and you're just stunned when it hits you how influential it's been, how many of the phrases and conventions that are fundamental to our language came straight out of that play. Shakespeare rocks!

Okay, I'm writing a book myself here. Sorry! But it's a great thread, a great topic... thanks for starting it, LG!

Originally Posted by lookingglass

For the 6th time in my life I've attempted to read Pride and Prejudice and I can't get through it.

Here's what happens, I decided that it's something that I really need to do, so I go pick up a copy. I'll start to read and then I find my mind drifting. It's not the book, I know this because the prose is written beautifully. It's not the characters, I know this because I like them. I think it's the subject matter. I simply just don't find an emotional connection with women striving to get married.

I've deiced to never go back this time. I'm going to sell my copy, and just move on with my life.

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Now now, don't be like that. I have two copies of P&P i can throw at you, in fact i have all of Jane Austens novels

I thought i was never going to get through HP:7, but i'm only now 90 pages from the end!!!

Don't give up!

Here's one sentence from Joyce's Ulysses. The whole, entire, lengthy book is like this, I kid you not. Talk about headaches!

"Cornfide. Wha gev ye thon colt? Pal to pal. Jannock. Of John Thomas, her spouse. No fake, old man Leo. S'elp me, honest injun. Shiver my timbers if I had. There's a great big holy friar. Vyfor you no me tell? Vel, I ses, if that aint a sheeny nachez, vel, I vil get misha mishinnah."

My bane is Beowulf
I have a wonderful copy in both the original and the translated (same book).
I love the story of Beowulf, but I simply cannot get myself to read it firsthand.

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

Here's one sentence from Joyce's Ulysses. The whole, entire, lengthy book is like this, I kid you not. Talk about headaches!

"Cornfide. Wha gev ye thon colt? Pal to pal. Jannock. Of John Thomas, her spouse. No fake, old man Leo. S'elp me, honest injun. Shiver my timbers if I had. There's a great big holy friar. Vyfor you no me tell? Vel, I ses, if that aint a sheeny nachez, vel, I vil get misha mishinnah."

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Oh my gosh. Really? Is there... y'know, a PLOT? And if so, how do you follow it?

Y'know, that Joyce quote makes me think of Kerouac for some reason. I had a hard time getting through On The Road, but it was worthwhile for moments like this famous passage:

"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!' "

Yeahhh.

I took a class in college that revolved around LoTR. I absolutely loved it! At the time, we had to do a project in another class about some type of media that changed the world. Our group did our project on LoTR. We had an awesome slideshow, music playing softly in the background, hand outs, etc. We got an A+

However, I've tried and tried to get through Of Mice and Men again (had to read it in high school), and I hate it. I also can't read Lord of the Flies, hated that book too.

I'm pretty good at speed reading, so it doesn't take me too much time to get through a particularly dreadful book. On the other hand, sometimes I forget I'm actually reading a good story, and have to keep checking myself to make sure I'm not speed reading, otherwise I'll miss out on all of the great detail!

Anyway, you're not a failure, you just know what you like.

Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

...And how does everybody feel about Shakespeare?...

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I've never read Shakespeare (and I have a bachelor's degree in English). I always dodged Shakespeare, although I've seen the plays and know the stories. I always took things like Milton and Joyce instead. Even my daughter's studied Shakespeare in third grade (simplified version).

Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

Oh my gosh. Really? Is there... y'know, a PLOT? And if so, how do you follow it?

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I think there's a plot, but I simply cannot read this book.

Here's page 720 from Ulysses, exactly as written, more in English but just as unreadable:

"could sit on it properly he kneels down to do it I suppose there isnt in all creation another man with the habits he has look at the way hes sleeping at the foot of the bed how can he without a hard bolster its well he doesnt kick or he might knock out all my teeth breathing with his hand on his nose like that Indian god he took me to show one wet Sunday in the museum in Kildare street all yellow in a pinafore lying on his side on his hand with his ten toes sticking out that he said was a bigger religion than the jews and Our Lords both put together all over Asia imitating him as hes always imitating everybody I suppose he used to sleep at the foot of the bed too with his big square feet up in his wifes mouth damn this stinking thing anyway wheres this those napkins are ah yes I know I hope the old press doesnt creak ah I knew it would hes sleeping hard had a good time somewhere still she must have given him great value for his money of course he has to pay for it from her O this nuisance of a thing I hope theyll have something better for us in the other world tying ourselves up God help us thats all right for tonight now the lumpy old jingly bed always reminds me of old Cohen I suppose he scratched himself in it often enough and he thinks father bought it from Lord Napier that I used to admire when I was a little girl because I told him easy piano O I like my bed God here we are as bad as ever after 16 years how many houses were we in at all Raymond terrace and Ontario terrace and Lombard street and Holles street and he goes about whistling every time were on the run again his huguenots or the frogs march pretending to help the men with our 4 sticks of furniture and then the City Arms hotel worse and worse says Warden Daly that charming place on the landing always somebody inside praying then leaving all their stinks after them always know who was in there last every time were just getting on right something happens or he puts his big foot in it Thoms and Helys and Mr Cuffes and Drimmies either hes going to be run into prison over his old lottery tickets that was to be all our salvations or he goes and gives impudence well have him coming home with the sack soon out of the Freeman too like the rest on account of those Sinner Fein or the freemasons then well see if the little man he showed me dribbling along in the wet all by himself round by Coadys lane will give him much consolation that he says is so capable and sincerely Irish he is indeed judging by the sincerity of the trousers I saw on him wait theres Georges church bells wait 3 quarters the hour l wait 2 oclock well thats a nice hour of the night for him to be coming home at to anybody climbing down into the area if anybody saw him Ill knock him off that little habit tomorrow first Ill look at his shirt to see or Ill see if he has that French letter still in his pocketbook I suppose he thinks I dont know deceitful men all their 20 pockets arent enough for their lies then why should we tell them even if its the truth they dont believe you then tucked up in bed like those babies in the Aristocrats Masterpiece he brought me another time as if we hadnt enough of that in real life without some old Aristocrat or whatever his name is disgusting you more with those rotten pictures children with two heads and no legs thats the kind of villainy theyre always dreaming about with not another thing in their empty heads they ought to get slow poison the half of them then tea and toast for him buttered on both sides and newlaid eggs I suppose Im nothing any more when I wouldnt let him lick me in Holles street one night man man tyrant as ever for the one thing he slept on the floor half"

For anybody who wants to read the rest of the book:
http://botheration.org/ulysses/index.html?pg=721#page

wow, I just tried to read that and my eyes kept skimming over it. At least I now know to avoid it in future

Carolpetunia I loved Jane Eyre too, but always thought she was kinda nuts for going back to him after the whole crazy wife thing was revealed. And the last chapter really ruined it for me too. It was like the author was really close to writing a powerful and slightly tragic book, but chickened out to make everything end happily ever after. I half expected mr rochester to suddenly regrow a hand overnight.

I love this quote from P&P and the scene that follows, it always makes me laugh:
Mr Darcey- "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

I couldn't read Dune or Left Hand of Darkness.

I only own a few books because I don't like "owning" books that I can't finish.

Katie

Oh my gosh! So all these years, when I've gotten so frustrated with people who don't seem to have any idea how to use punctuation... apparently they're all literary geniuses in the style of James Joyce!

Catamint, y'know, I really didn't mind what happened in that last chapter, I usually can't resist a happy ending... I just felt like it was better left for us to imagine, y'know? They were together again, and that was all we needed to hear.

You thought she shouldn't have gone back? Gosh, I would have gone back to Rochester in a heartbeat! He'd lied, but he'd lied for honorable reasons, understandable reasons. And more to the point: a man like Rochester, so deep, so brilliant, so intense... after him, Jane would have been bored silly with any ordinary guy!

And of course, she had saved him, and that's the somewhat unhealthy fantasy for a lot of us, isn't it -- to be the one woman who can reach down into the darkness and save a man from his personal torment.

So have you seen any of the movies of Jane Eyre? Which is your favorite? Me, I go with George C. Scott, hands down. He played the living daylights out of Rochester!

Originally Posted by valanhb

You certainly aren't a failure in life because you haven't read that particular book.

I did enjoy it, but I do think that you really do have to distance yourself from the modern idea of feminine roles in order to see the real statement that Jane Austin was making at the time to her audience. The independent nature that she gave Lizzie, the latitude that Mr. Darcy allowed his daughter, and allowing her to choose to marry or not was unheard of at the time. While it seems ridiculous to us now, perhaps we can view this book and author as one of the reasons our role has changed in society. (Can you tell I was an English major too?

)

The one "classic" author I could not stomach was Charles Dickens. We had to read Great Expectations for one class and I absolutely hated that book. I had to force myself awake. I hated all of the characters. I hated the story. I hated the writing style. I hated everything about that book.

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I LOVED Great Expectations! I was an English minor in college so one of my attempts at reading Pride and Prejudice was for a class. When I admitted that I couldn't get through it my professor just laughed.

As for the people who couldn't get through Lord of the Rings, I reread those every few years. They are just amazing to me.

My next expedition into the classics is Les MisÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]rables. For some reason I've never read that all the way through.

Oh, and for the James Joyce people here's my theory. He was always into money making schemes, so I thought that Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man was just that.

I've never attempted to read it.. I outta go to half price books or something and try and read it.... I'm a Harry Potter nut.. I'm more of a mystery, suspense, magic, fiction, things like that..

Originally Posted by angelkitty

I've never attempted to read it.. I outta go to half price books or something and try and read it.... I'm a Harry Potter nut.. I'm more of a mystery, suspense, magic, fiction, things like that..

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Right now I'm reading some Agatha Christie books. I've always loved her, and with over 70 novels she's a good standby for the summer.

Originally Posted by lookingglass

Right now I'm reading some Agatha Christie books. I've always loved her, and with over 70 novels she's a good standby for the summer.

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I feel soo sad with the last Harry Potter book already out, and I've read it.. I feel like I've got no inspiration waiting for another fun book to come in the distant future.. It's so pathetic,, I KNOW..