OK...
I hated Thomas Hardy's
Far from the Madding Crowd. I felt like I was reading endless pages describing trees. I wanted to die.
I also confess that I loathed
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. I think I understand now that it was probably an attempt at creating a Dickensian fantasy, but at the time reading it was like chewing cud.
I did not manage to finish
Midnight's Children even though it's been called one of the best books of the 20th century (or similar). Before I'm attacked by anyone, I do think this was probably more because I started reading it just when my new house was finished building and I was moving in etc.. Lots of chaos, so probably wasn't in the right frame of mind.
I am glad I read LOTR. I do think it is an important work to read if you like fantasy. But oh my god, what a boring piece of crap! Being the first has its importance, but it was done better later. I would rather die than read it again.
I am not a hater of classics per se. I've had some marvellous reading experiences with the classics. Notable works include
To Kill a Mockingbird,
Lord of the Flies,
Crime and Punishment and my favourite for many years -
The Outsider.
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is neither atmospheric nor chilling. I didn't hate the book exactly, but it's language was convoluted and annoying. I'll happily pass on any of the author's other works.
I couldn't get past a few pages of
Heart of Darkness by Conrad. In less than one chapter I felt completely bogged down by tedious writing. I'll give it a go at a later time.
I confess that I've never read Dickens, Tolstoy, Austen or Bronte(s). However, I did read
The Moonstone by Collins and loved it.
Quote:
|
Can't/won't read Russian novels. I get bogged down in all the name variations.
|
Completely agree with this. I like Russian literature, but tracking all the different name variations is utterly painful.
I became completely sick of Raymond E Feist (started off as a favourite) because he refused to get off his one-trick pony. I hope that the world of Midkemia is swallowed by an apocalyptic earthquake.
I'm a sucker for gay coming-of-age stories. I would probably read them even if written by Dan Brown.
Forgot to mention - I always enjoyed studying Shakespeare. Don't know if I would enjoy reading it for pleasure, but I found exploring it in a class situation very rewarding.