Most overhyped classic masterpiece?

LDBoblo · 09-20-2009, 12:52 AM

I'm going to be unfair and define "classic" as before 1960. Emphasis on 19th century and earlier I guess. Religious books excluded too. Non-English options welcomed too.

What books from your respective culture/language/region are in your opinion mediocre and over-praised? For what books would honest criticism be considered "blasphemy" and land you a title of "intellectual midget"?

Whose works are so unquestionably masterpieces, despite your opinions to the contrary, that to merely not buy it is an act of cultural treason?

Sparrow · 09-20-2009, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

What books from your respective culture/language/region are in your opinion mediocre and over-praised?

"Moby Dick" - obviously.

Did they have editors when that was published??

montsnmags · 09-20-2009, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

"Moby Dick" - obviously.

Did they have editors when that was published??

...but I loved that book.

I've never been that fond of Henry Lawson...Banjo Paterson, yes, but not so much Henry Lawson.

There...I said it. Mind you, I still remember The Bush Undertaker (<---linky to very short story) fondly, so maybe I'll revisit him.

Cheers,
Marc

jayne80 · 09-20-2009, 04:49 AM

Wuthering Heights

I kept waiting for the actual story to start, It didn't.

Though I love Jane Eyre my friend doesn't.

kacir · 09-20-2009, 06:55 AM

THE worst "Classics"?
Most of the books I was forced to read in High school as a "compulsory reading". Quite a few of those were written by our national writers with a single thing in mind: to promote ideas endorsed by our Communist government, such a collectivisation.

If you want to see what I am talking about, try
Majakovskij http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Mayakovsky

or another gem:
Как закалялась сталь,
(How the Steel Was Tempered) by Nikolai Ostrovsky
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_the_Steel_Was_Tempered
Some books by Nikolai Ostrovsky - http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/o#a2619

Also, do not forget Maxim Gorky http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/g#a348
and Anton Semyonovich Makarenko http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Makarenko

kennyc · 09-20-2009, 07:57 AM

Ulysses - Joyce

Neuromancer (Necromancer

) - William Gibson ( I know, I know it was after 1960 ... still...)

fiver · 09-20-2009, 08:10 AM

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - I know it's blasphemy to bring up any Twain but Huckleberry Finn is just worlds better than this book. I read it for 9th grade lit and I read it again six month ago and my opinion hasn't changed over the last 20 years. I just didn't find it particularly compelling or that interesting.

I remember being singularly bored by Camus' The Plague and only slightly interested in Flaubert's Madame Bovary as well.

I've read plenty of great books - just not these - although I'm willing to give these two the benefit of a bad translation, perhaps?

Michael

Pablo · 09-20-2009, 09:15 AM

"Farewell to arms" by Hemingway (1929).
"The old man and the sea" (1952).
My boss recently recommended me "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1940) and when I told him that I didn't think much of the two books above, he said this one was worth reading.

lilac_jive · 09-20-2009, 09:59 AM

I could not finish Tale of Two Cities. I just couldn't do it.

HarryT · 09-20-2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I could not finish Tale of Two Cities. I just couldn't do it.

Good Heavens! May I ask why? Wonderful book, IMHO. You can't use the excuse that it's too long - it's Dickens' shortest novel

.

Sparrow · 09-20-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Good Heavens! May I ask why? Wonderful book, IMHO. You can't use the excuse that it's too long - it's Dickens' shortest novel

.

Isn't 'Hard Times' shorter?

HarryT · 09-20-2009, 02:09 PM

You're right - it is - "Hard Times" is 360 pages in my printed edition against 430 pages for "Tale of Two Cities". Must be getting my titles mixed up. It's still, though amongst his shorter books. Thanks for the correction!

lilac_jive · 09-20-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Good Heavens! May I ask why? Wonderful book, IMHO. You can't use the excuse that it's too long - it's Dickens' shortest novel

.

Maybe I'll try again. I don't know, the language was just too much for me.

kennyc · 09-20-2009, 03:15 PM

It has a great opening line.

lilac_jive · 09-20-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

It has a great opening line.

Well, yes

09-20-2009, 12:52 AM	#1
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	Most overhyped classic masterpiece? I'm going to be unfair and define "classic" as before 1960. Emphasis on 19th century and earlier I guess. Religious books excluded too. Non-English options welcomed too. What books from your respective culture/language/region are in your opinion mediocre and over-praised? For what books would honest criticism be considered "blasphemy" and land you a title of "intellectual midget"? Whose works are so unquestionably masterpieces, despite your opinions to the contrary, that to merely not buy it is an act of cultural treason?

09-20-2009, 07:57 AM	#6
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Ulysses - Joyce Neuromancer (Necromancer ) - William Gibson ( I know, I know it was after 1960 ... still...) Last edited by kennyc; 09-20-2009 at 07:46 PM. Reason: Fixed Freudian slip on the name.

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09-20-2009, 04:49 AM	#4
jayne80 Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 5837 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: UK Device: iphone 4s, ipad 3, kindle touch,kindle PW, kobo mini, kobo aura	Wuthering Heights I kept waiting for the actual story to start, It didn't. Though I love Jane Eyre my friend doesn't.

09-20-2009, 06:55 AM	#5
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,450 Karma: 10484861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	THE worst "Classics"? Most of the books I was forced to read in High school as a "compulsory reading". Quite a few of those were written by our national writers with a single thing in mind: to promote ideas endorsed by our Communist government, such a collectivisation. If you want to see what I am talking about, try Majakovskij http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Mayakovsky or another gem: Как закалялась сталь, (How the Steel Was Tempered) by Nikolai Ostrovsky http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_the_Steel_Was_Tempered Some books by Nikolai Ostrovsky - http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/o#a2619 Also, do not forget Maxim Gorky http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/g#a348 and Anton Semyonovich Makarenko http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Makarenko

09-20-2009, 08:10 AM	#7
fiver Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 100 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Kindle	The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - I know it's blasphemy to bring up any Twain but Huckleberry Finn is just worlds better than this book. I read it for 9th grade lit and I read it again six month ago and my opinion hasn't changed over the last 20 years. I just didn't find it particularly compelling or that interesting. I remember being singularly bored by Camus' The Plague and only slightly interested in Flaubert's Madame Bovary as well. I've read plenty of great books - just not these - although I'm willing to give these two the benefit of a bad translation, perhaps? Michael

09-20-2009, 09:15 AM	#8
Pablo Guru Posts: 970 Karma: 4999999 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rosario, Argentina Device: SONY PRS-505, PRS-T2	"Farewell to arms" by Hemingway (1929). "The old man and the sea" (1952). My boss recently recommended me "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1940) and when I told him that I didn't think much of the two books above, he said this one was worth reading.

09-20-2009, 09:59 AM	#9
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I could not finish Tale of Two Cities. I just couldn't do it.

09-20-2009, 02:09 PM	#12
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You're right - it is - "Hard Times" is 360 pages in my printed edition against 430 pages for "Tale of Two Cities". Must be getting my titles mixed up. It's still, though amongst his shorter books. Thanks for the correction!

09-20-2009, 03:15 PM	#14
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	It has a great opening line.

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