"The Most Boring Book" I read or tried to read - Page 9

astra · 03-21-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You have to be in the right "mindset" to read the Simarillion. If you read it expecting an "action" story like LOTR then I agree, you're in for a big disappointment. If you regard it, rather like the Old Testament, as being "background history" told in a rather "biblical" style, then it can be very enjoyable, taken in small doses. Certainly not a book to sit down and read from cover to cover.

Agree with you.

reso · 03-22-2009, 04:00 AM

War and peace. I've tried to get into that a few times, but always give up at around page 50, I hear it gets really good after the first few hundred pages though, so I might pick it up again one day

HarryT · 03-22-2009, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reso

War and peace. I've tried to get into that a few times, but always give up at around page 50, I hear it gets really good after the first few hundred pages though, so I might pick it up again one day

Provided you can keep track of who's who amongst the literally hundreds of characters, many of whom have very similar names. My printed edition of it comes with a handy bookmark which has all the "family trees" printed on it!

Sparrow · 03-22-2009, 06:21 AM

If you're struggling with a foreign classic, I think it's worth trying different translations (assuming you're not reading in the original language) - it can make a big difference.
Personally, I struggle with the PD translations from Russian by Constance Garnett; although a lot of people swear by them.

Dr. Drib · 03-22-2009, 12:40 PM

I found The Silmarillion quite palatable if one approaches the work as a Creation Myth.

Don

HarryT · 03-22-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I found The Silmarillion quite palatable if one approaches the work as a Creation Myth.

Yes, I agree. That's why I compared it with the Old Testament.

doreenjoy · 03-24-2009, 03:31 AM

Moby Dick. I quit when I got the chapter titled "The Whiteness of the Whale."

ErwinOtten · 03-27-2009, 03:58 AM

I just can't get through 'Accelerando' by Charles Stross at this moment.
Not that it's boring; there is far too much happening to be boring....
But boy this is real hard-core Sci-Fi. Not the military 'let's built us a galactic empire'-style, but the changes are so rapidly (hence the title :-) ) that it's just hard to keep up.
But I won't put it down, No I will prevail

Maybe a little

, but then again, when you see a boring book as a book you can't get through......

Oh and as an afterthought. I completely agree about the silmarillion, I see that one as Tolkiens own effort to create a bible.

Nate the great · 03-27-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErwinOtten

I just can't get through 'Accelerando' by Charles Stross at this moment.

Skip the first chapter. If that doesn't help, skip the second chapter. The rest of the novel is more conventionally written.

The first part of the novel is also a short story. I think Charles wrote it when he was in one of his experimental moods. The pacing is intended to convey the speed at which the main character receives new info; you are supposed to be overwhelmed. I was; it's an interesting experience.

ErwinOtten · 03-27-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Skip the first chapter. If that doesn't help, skip the second chapter. The rest of the novel is more conventionally written.

The first part of the novel is also a short story. I think Charles wrote it when he was in one of his experimental moods. The pacing is intended to convey the speed at which the main character receives new info; you are supposed to be overwhelmed. I was; it's an interesting experience.

Thanks for the advice. I'm in chapter 6 now so skipping 1 and 2 won't help anymore though

It certainly is an interesting experience, but the Cheshire Cat keeps me thinking I'm reading Alice in Wonderland

mbovenka · 03-27-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, I agree. That's why I compared it with the Old Testament.

Yup. Part of it (the Ainulindalë, 'Song of the Ainur') is just that, a creation myth. Tolkien was writing a mythology, not fantasy as such. The comparison with the Old Testament is quite apt; that's exactly what it was supposed to be in Tolkiens Middle-Earth universe.

Can you guess I love the Silmarillion?

Sparrow · 03-27-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

Moby Dick. I quit when I got the chapter titled "The Whiteness of the Whale."

Very wise.
I staggered on, and regret it

.

RWJ · 03-28-2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

A book can be very good but also mostly boring. And a book can be very bad but not boring.

Oh yes! Dan Brown novels fill this niche for me. They're execrable on a number of levels, but at the cottage a few years ago I went through all of his novels. They're amusing, but the prose is hammy and purple, the characters two dimensional when not one dimensional, the history is ghastly, and the basic premise is usually ridiculous. Terrible, but oddly not at all boring.

lilac_jive · 03-28-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWJ

Oh yes! Dan Brown novels fill this niche for me. They're execrable on a number of levels, but at the cottage a few years ago I went through all of his novels. They're amusing, but the prose is hammy and purple, the characters two dimensional when not one dimensional, the history is ghastly, and the basic premise is usually ridiculous. Terrible, but oddly not at all boring.

Can we be friends?

astra · 03-30-2009, 11:08 AM

I liked to The Da Vinci Code.
Especially I enjoyed reading illustrated edition.

03-27-2009, 03:58 AM	#128
ErwinOtten Addict Posts: 338 Karma: 444 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Netherlands Device: Cybook G3	I just can't get through 'Accelerando' by Charles Stross at this moment. Not that it's boring; there is far too much happening to be boring.... But boy this is real hard-core Sci-Fi. Not the military 'let's built us a galactic empire'-style, but the changes are so rapidly (hence the title :-) ) that it's just hard to keep up. But I won't put it down, No I will prevail Maybe a little , but then again, when you see a boring book as a book you can't get through...... Oh and as an afterthought. I completely agree about the silmarillion, I see that one as Tolkiens own effort to create a bible. Last edited by ErwinOtten; 03-27-2009 at 04:01 AM.

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03-22-2009, 04:00 AM	#122
reso Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	War and peace. I've tried to get into that a few times, but always give up at around page 50, I hear it gets really good after the first few hundred pages though, so I might pick it up again one day

03-22-2009, 06:21 AM	#124
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	If you're struggling with a foreign classic, I think it's worth trying different translations (assuming you're not reading in the original language) - it can make a big difference. Personally, I struggle with the PD translations from Russian by Constance Garnett; although a lot of people swear by them.

03-22-2009, 12:40 PM	#125
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,614 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I found The Silmarillion quite palatable if one approaches the work as a Creation Myth. Don

03-24-2009, 03:31 AM	#127
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	Moby Dick. I quit when I got the chapter titled "The Whiteness of the Whale."

03-30-2009, 11:08 AM	#135
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	I liked to The Da Vinci Code. Especially I enjoyed reading illustrated edition.