"The Most Boring Book" I read or tried to read - Page 5

pilotbob · 03-16-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

The Hobbit. Bored me into a coma.

Alot of people say that. But I really enjoyed The Hobbit. I read it as a young teen. It made me all the more want to read LOTR which was awesome... and people say it was very boring too.

Oh well, to each his own this thread proves.

BOb

MobileTechReview · 03-16-2009, 01:38 PM

Fortress of Solitude by Johnathan Lethem. And I grew up in Brooklyn during the era covered in the book!

DixieGal · 03-16-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

BBC made a rather nice four part mini-series over this book. I don't think I'd ever want to read it though.

I got as far as the sick old woman putting her last piece of coal on the tiny brazier, then decided I didn't care. It was a "filler" class for my last undergrad semester, needed the credits and category in a time slot that my job allowed, so "Victorian Fiction" was my only choice. I think by the time we got to it, I was just full to the top of my head of Austen, et al.

The book was in the Grand Shelf Cleaning a few weeks ago. It's the library's problem now!

Ea · 03-16-2009, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

The Hobbit was so coma-boring that I refused to read Lord of the Rings. Had the entire set sitting on the shelf (my wife's). Never touched it.

They're very different. The Hobbit is a sort of children's style, where LOTR is in an adult, could even be said, 'high', style. It's a legend from nobler, grander times. Tolkien also loves writing descriptions, and I can understand that for some it feels longwinded. For me, it all just adds to the richness of the tale.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 03-16-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

They're very different. The Hobbit is a sort of children's style, where LOTR is in an adult, could even be said, 'high', style. It's a legend from nobler, grander times. Tolkien also loves writing descriptions, and I can understand that for some it feels longwinded. For me, it all just adds to the richness of the tale.

Are they on e-books in Mobi format?

Ea · 03-16-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Are they on e-books in Mobi format?

It's certainly obtainable, but not legally. Unfortunately the heirs and copyright owners haven't wanted it published in electronic form.

pilotbob · 03-16-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Are they on e-books in Mobi format?

I'm pretty sure Tolkien's books are not available as ebooks.

BOb

astra · 03-17-2009, 06:56 AM

I was not overimpressed by The Hobbit. Kinda boring. I read it when I was what? 22? I read The Hobbit after reading LOTR a couple of times. I re-read LOTR a few more times after that.
They are very different.
Probably in 10 years time, if I live that long, I will re-read The Hobbit, LOTR, Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.
Btw, I liked Unfinished tales a lot more than Silmarillion. Silmarillion was a bit boring as well. At least the beginning. Reminded me of the Bible that I never finished, although tried 3 times.

shadowwolf36 · 03-17-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You didn't like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? That's treason. Seize him. Toss him out an airlock after reading him Vogon poetry.

I know, I really tried to like it -I did since it was on the list of 1001 books to read before you die but as much as I love science fiction and fantasy, I just couldn't slog through it....now mind you, I was doing it as an audio book rather than physically reading it but I did promise myself to try reading it to see if was better that way....

xianfox · 03-17-2009, 07:23 AM

The most boring book as of late I've read is The Calling by Jacob Israel. I see lots of glowing reviews on Amazon, but I thought it was very poor. The author sold it as an ebook (pdf) a few months before it was available in print.

Ea · 03-17-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowwolf36

I know, I really tried to like it -I did since it was on the list of 1001 books to read before you die but as much as I love science fiction and fantasy, I just couldn't slog through it....now mind you, I was doing it as an audio book rather than physically reading it but I did promise myself to try reading it to see if was better that way....

Hitchhiker's Guide was originally a comedy radio series. Douglas Adams developed in it into the book trilogy later.

shadowwolf36 · 03-17-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

Hitchhiker's Guide was originally a comedy radio series. Douglas Adams developed in it into the book trilogy later.

Interesting...like I said, I will give the printed version a try...could be the reader of the audio book that turned me off....who knows.

CCDMan · 03-17-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

"My Life in the Shipyards" was a rivetting one.

One I am reading now - a sort of real life thing is great "Uncommon Carriers"

pomposity · 03-17-2009, 01:05 PM

Two 'most boring' contenders, I think:

1) Moby Dick

2) Handbook of Mammalian Body Masses

- can't decide between the two

JSWolf · 03-17-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Middlemarch. I couldn't get through it. But, I faked it on the exam and passed. You know, society, Victorian thoughts and lifestyles, sucks to be poor, limitations of womens' freedom, patriarchal hierarchy, etc. I doubt it was an A paper, but I do remember being surprised that I could bullsh!t well enough to pass. Can't recall a single character's name now, nor the author, nor do I want to. It is really dreadful.

And this has to do with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy how?

03-16-2009, 01:38 PM	#62
MobileTechReview eBook Reader Junkie Posts: 136 Karma: 19205 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas Device: Kindle Oasis 3	Fortress of Solitude by Johnathan Lethem. And I grew up in Brooklyn during the era covered in the book! Last edited by MobileTechReview; 03-16-2009 at 01:44 PM.

03-17-2009, 01:05 PM	#74
pomposity Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 2414 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: sony 505	Two contenders Two 'most boring' contenders, I think: 1) Moby Dick 2) Handbook of Mammalian Body Masses - can't decide between the two

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03-17-2009, 06:56 AM	#68
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	I was not overimpressed by The Hobbit. Kinda boring. I read it when I was what? 22? I read The Hobbit after reading LOTR a couple of times. I re-read LOTR a few more times after that. They are very different. Probably in 10 years time, if I live that long, I will re-read The Hobbit, LOTR, Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. Btw, I liked Unfinished tales a lot more than Silmarillion. Silmarillion was a bit boring as well. At least the beginning. Reminded me of the Bible that I never finished, although tried 3 times.

03-17-2009, 07:23 AM	#70
xianfox Ebook Addict Posts: 225 Karma: 2136 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin, USA Device: Onyx BOOX Note Air 4C, Palma	The most boring book as of late I've read is The Calling by Jacob Israel. I see lots of glowing reviews on Amazon, but I thought it was very poor. The author sold it as an ebook (pdf) a few months before it was available in print.