Books only lying poseurs could claim to like - Page 6

ZodWallop · 02-10-2022, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

Probably you have close to 0.3% of everyone that ever lived.

I'll just assume it is the very best 0.3%

ZodWallop · 02-10-2022, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kandwo

A book I just could not read is War and Peace... If I ever find a version where all the french parts are translated within the text itself (maybe in italics or something), I will definitely give it a go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I highly recommend the Ann Dunnigan translation. In effect she signals that a passage was originally in French by starting off with a word or two and then shifting to English. And aside from that, it’s a very smooth, readable version.

The Signet Classics version of the Ann Dunnigan translation of War and Peace is $1.99. Worth picking up.

Lyndl · 02-12-2022, 04:05 AM

My top (bottom? ) three

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
Moby Dick - Herman Melville

I finished the first, but never made it to the end of the other two

JSWolf · 02-12-2022, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I don’t see how this fits the “lying poseur” element.

Because saying you like books with too much racism seems like a lie.

JSWolf · 02-12-2022, 05:35 AM

Another book to add to the list is Mein Kempf.

DrNefario · 02-12-2022, 12:35 PM

Does anyone claim to like that?

issybird · 02-12-2022, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Another book to add to the list is Mein Kempf.

Knock it off.

ZodWallop · 02-13-2022, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyndl

My top (bottom? ) three

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
Moby Dick - Herman Melville

I finished the first, but never made it to the end of the other two

I read Heart of Darkness, but I know that's one I would have been better off reading in a discussion group.

curtw · 02-13-2022, 12:49 PM

I'm going to have to go with Life of Pi, for the crime of abusing the unreliable narrator trope beyond the limits of human endurance.

(By the way, apropos of other books mentioned here, it's always been my position that The Road is nothing more than a post-modern retelling of The Old Man and the Sea.)

As far as "the Classics" go, anyone who claims they actually enjoyed Last of the Mohicans is the ultimate poseur.

Quoth · 02-13-2022, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curtw

As far as "the Classics" go, anyone who claims they actually enjoyed Last of the Mohicans is the ultimate poseur.

Oddly I've not read that, but his "The Pilot" is a quite good adventure yarn on the English Coast. The real guy story is based on was from Scotland, joined USA Navy, captured a British ship in Belfast Lough at anchor near Carrickfergus (Belfast was tiny then so it was Carrickfergus Lough then) and later he was in the Russian Imperial Navy. British regarded him as a Pirate.

Paperbackstash · 02-13-2022, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I never really _got_ the fuss about Hemingway. I'm going to try The Sun also Rises. I like the subject--the lost (i.e. dissipated?) American generation in Paris in the 20s. I skimmed it so far. The prose is simple and effective, but special? Nope. What looked interesting were the dissipated and bohemian character getting sloshed.

Same! I was hyped to try The Sun Also Rises but his writing style and the characters flattened my enjoyment.

As to Steinbeck, I want to read the rest of his. I loved Of Mice and Men and Grapes of Wrath, but meh on The Pearl

A classic I detest for every reason possible and genuinely don't get the appeal or lasting effect was a newer classic, Where the Red Fern grows *shudders*

I'm usually pickier with melodramatic Victorian prose and found Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde disappointing, but I was surprised that I absolutely loved Frankenstein, and many seem to feel the opposite. Dracula has some boring parts but I loved the first and last quarter. It was fun re-reading it on audiobook production.

Oh, and the Thornbirds! I hated that book and am surprised so many list it as a favorite.

ZodWallop · 02-13-2022, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paperbackstash

Oh, and the Thornbirds! I hated that book and am surprised so many list it as a favorite.

Huh, I enjoyed The Thornbirds.

issybird · 02-14-2022, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Huh, I enjoyed The Thornbirds.

I don’t think The Thorn Birds qualifies in this category; it’s long, but it’s not difficult nor especially boring, unless sweeping family sagas aren’t your thing. They’re not mine, but TB doesn’t seem worse or duller than most; the contrary, in fact.

A factoid that amuses me is that The Thorn Birds and Love Story were written within a few years of each other in New Haven, Conn. while their respective authors were employed at Yale. Was it something in the water?

4691mls · 02-14-2022, 12:03 PM

I read The Thorn Birds many years ago. I don't remember being fond of it but also don't recall it being difficult to read in the way that some of the other books discussed here would be.

Paperbackstash · 02-14-2022, 08:08 PM

Guess it's just me with The Thorn Birds, but I found it dull throughout, flat, and a difficult read. Hated the writing.

02-13-2022, 12:49 PM	#84
curtw Outside of a dog Posts: 877 Karma: 4457646 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston, TX Device: Kindle Voyage	I'm going to have to go with Life of Pi, for the crime of abusing the unreliable narrator trope beyond the limits of human endurance. (By the way, apropos of other books mentioned here, it's always been my position that The Road is nothing more than a post-modern retelling of The Old Man and the Sea.) As far as "the Classics" go, anyone who claims they actually enjoyed Last of the Mohicans is the ultimate poseur. Last edited by curtw; 02-13-2022 at 12:53 PM.

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02-12-2022, 04:05 AM	#78
Lyndl Member Posts: 18 Karma: 1132 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: W Aust Device: Kindle 2i, iPad, iPod Touch, Kindle Touch, Kindle Paperwhite	My top (bottom? ) three One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad Moby Dick - Herman Melville I finished the first, but never made it to the end of the other two

02-12-2022, 05:35 AM	#80
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Another book to add to the list is Mein Kempf.

02-12-2022, 12:35 PM	#81
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,227 Karma: 12029046 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	Does anyone claim to like that?

02-14-2022, 12:03 PM	#89
4691mls Wizard Posts: 2,776 Karma: 30081762 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US Device: ALL DEVICES ARE STOCK: Kobo Clara, Tolino Shine 2, Sony PRS-T3, T1	I read The Thorn Birds many years ago. I don't remember being fond of it but also don't recall it being difficult to read in the way that some of the other books discussed here would be.

02-14-2022, 08:08 PM	#90
Paperbackstash Wizard Posts: 1,666 Karma: 20102554 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Central Florida Device: Oasis 3, PW 3 & 5, Fire HD 8 & 10	Guess it's just me with The Thorn Birds, but I found it dull throughout, flat, and a difficult read. Hated the writing.