The 10 Worst Books

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

Hrm - can I think of 10 bad books?

1 - Lord of the Rings. I did actually scream in frustration when Gandalf came back after apparently dying.

Gandalf did die. Its part of the christian imagery in the book; each of the christ figures in the book (Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn) wins a victory over death...

Sigh, anyway, I quite like the Lord of the Rings, but to each their own.

--
Bill

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

Gandalf did die. Its part of the christian imagery in the book; each of the christ figures in the book (Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn) wins a victory over death...

Sigh, anyway, I quite like the Lord of the Rings, but to each their own.

--
Bill

Dang. Never saw that. Kinda puts the series in a new light....

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Hmmm .... well, I know I'm going to get in all sorts of trouble for this, however, my top two worst books, based on body count alone, would have to be The Bible and The Koran. And, yes, I've read them both.

So shoot me.

Actually by those standards, the Communist Manifesto might have them both beaten. The Body count that the communism racked up in the 20th century (Between Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and others) probably approaches 100 million. It is very hard to get either Christianity or Islam anywhere near that figure without casting a very broad net (i.e., blaming everything done by anyone connected in any way to one of those religions on the religions).

--
Bill

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Dang. Never saw that. Kinda puts the series in a new light....

Oh yeah, though not as obvious as C.S. Lewis's Narnia, Tolkien definitely built his Christian ideas into the story.

Aragorn is Christ the King, returned to rule justly.
Gandalf is Christ the Prophet, who warns and encourages the faithful.
Frodo is Christ the Sacrifice who saves mankind through offering his own life so that the people of Middle Earth might live free.

Gandalf is also essentially an angel (though you need to read additional materials to learn that).

I could go on and on... but I won't .

--
Bill

[CleverClothe]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Hmmm .... well, I know I'm going to get in all sorts of trouble for this, however, my top two worst books, based on body count alone, would have to be The Bible and The Koran. And, yes, I've read them both.

So shoot me.

I was going to shoot you. Then I saw the Guinea Pirate and was overwelmed by the cuteness. You live for one more day.

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Yep ... and if that's all any one of those three books said, I doubt I'd have a problem with any of them. But, seriously, I don't think any of the three are all that well written either. I realize that is a wholly personal opinion, but, as such, I'll stand by it.

You know, all three were primarily written to provide information and teach lessons, not win awards.

[Laz116]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

I treasure the bible for the good things it teaches us.....mainly the 10 commandments.

[Possible ignition of flamewar on]
Wow... really?

I would probably go for some of the more loving commandments of the new testament like "love thy neighbour" instead. I have difficulty understanding why people would choose justice instead of compassion. Judgement instead of forgiveness.

Can't really see how the christian message corresponds with the old testament and it's vengeful god.

But maybe that's just me.
[flaming off]


On topic:

I thoroughly hated Pillars of the earth by Follett. I thought the setbacks would never end. And I have trouble with antagonists being described not just as evil, but evil incarnate. It's not enough that the antagonist rapes and pillages, we have to read about how his favourite hobby is torturing cats etc.

Black vs. white is seldom interesting literature imo.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Laz116

I thoroughly hated Pillars of the earth by Follett.

Wow - that's one of my all-time favourite books.

[vivaldirules]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Wow - that's one of my all-time favourite books.

Harry, can you comment on the accusation that the antagonist is unrealistically evil? Would you disagree or did it not bother you? I'm curious because I have this book "in the queue" on my Reader.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Harry, can you comment on the accusation that the antagonist is unrealistically evil? Would you disagree or did it not bother you? I'm curious because I have this book "in the queue" on my Reader.

He's not going to win any "Mr. Nice Guy" awards, but "unrealistically evil"? No - he certainly didn't come across that way to me. I found it to be an utterly absorbing book; one of the few that I "couldn't put down".

[radius]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Comme dirait un plombier " L'égoût ça se discute pas".

Wow, 11 pages later and nobody has laughed yet? Sorry yvan, but *I* liked your joke...

[lilac_jive]

I can usually enjoy any book at all, if I come in with reasonable expectations.

That being said, the worst book I can think of is "The Iron Tree" by Cecilia Dart-Thornton.

Read some of the reviews on amazon (I know I wrote one) if you want to get an idea.

[Greg Anos]

Have I made the list yet???

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Have I made the list yet???

You have a book? Elucidate us!

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Have I made the list yet???

You haven't finished the story yet!

(And it certainly wouldn't be on my list of worst books, anyway )

[zelda_pinwheel]

sir sir, you're looking at the wrong list.