Quote:
Originally Posted by Darqref
I like reading these threads, because most people at least attempt to explain why they like or dislike the book(s). This allows me to calibrate how much I agree or disagree, and lets me judge whether I'll like or dislike a particular book or author. It can be just as valuable to consistently disagree with someone as consistently agree.
For my contribution, I really dislike Stanislaw Lem's Solaris. I read it as part of a class many years ago, and found both the book's concept and execution intensely depressing. It's possible that the execution was an artifact of the translation, but when I read it, I didn't even realize it was originally written in a different language. I've never been able to bring myself to read anything else by this author, even though he's considered one of the classic Eastern European SF writers. I just shudder, and put it down again.
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Slightly OT:
Yes, I agree with you on this.
I think people who live a purely negative life or who live to concentrate on finding the negatives in life are the kinds of people who don't enjoy self-analysis when they think of the reasons why they dislike something. Also, some people feel threatened, perhaps by their own fragile egos.
Threads such as this can sometimes join a community (when handled properly and when "maintained" by other Moderators and by this moderator).
Some people seem to forget that we can, indeed, look at horrible books and wrong-headed authors and - GET THIS! -
HAVE FUN IN THE PROCESS AND ALSO MAINTAIN A CIVIL ATTITUDE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
There seems to be an attitude among some people that "negativity" breeds contempt, but I feel differently and am more open-minded about the concept than to simply consign a thread such as this to the dung heap of popular opinion.
LET'S ALL HAVE FUN.
Now: I disagree with you about some of Stanislaw Lem's work, especially his
Ijon Tichy Series in the books
The Futurological Congress, and
Memoirs of a Space Traveler. For me, these books are hilarious.
Don