|
Most of the books mentioned (that I have read) are long and highly detailed. That makes tem hard for many readers.
I bounced off of LOTR the first time I attempted to read it. Didn't make more than 100 pages. The second time, I decided to read the last book first, figuring that the flow ought to be going by then. It was, and I plowed though it easily. The I went back to the second book and plowed though it, and finally the first book, which was still a bit of a slog for me, but I made it through. The next time, I read it in order, and it wasn't difficult because I already knew the flow, and could pay attention to all the details, rather than being overwhelmed by them.
Catch-22 didn't bog me down, but I already understood where the author was coming from, from personal life experience. I could then pay atttention to the details without losing the flow of the story.
Atlas Shrugged is an unpleasant book, by design. Even if one agrees with the politics, it's still unpleasant. Lots of details, all unpleasant. Definitely a slog, wih little payoff at the end. Still, it might make you think. Maybe...
Moby Dick I read once, 35 years ago. It was there, and i wanted to read something new. Made it to the end, but I have felt no need to re-read. It's depths are not my depths...
The common thread is the highly layered details. I think that is what causes people to bounce off in this face-paced age.
(As an aside, I tried reading a 1919 bestseller, Java Head. I gave up after the first ten - yes ten - pages were solely used to describe an eleven year old girl's bedroom...Talk about boring, this was a best seller?)
|