09-20-2009, 12:52 AM | #1 |
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Most overhyped classic masterpiece?
I'm going to be unfair and define "classic" as before 1960. Emphasis on 19th century and earlier I guess. Religious books excluded too. Non-English options welcomed too.
What books from your respective culture/language/region are in your opinion mediocre and over-praised? For what books would honest criticism be considered "blasphemy" and land you a title of "intellectual midget"? Whose works are so unquestionably masterpieces, despite your opinions to the contrary, that to merely not buy it is an act of cultural treason? |
09-20-2009, 03:31 AM | #2 |
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09-20-2009, 04:36 AM | #3 | |
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Quote:
I've never been that fond of Henry Lawson...Banjo Paterson, yes, but not so much Henry Lawson. There...I said it. Mind you, I still remember The Bush Undertaker (<---linky to very short story) fondly, so maybe I'll revisit him. Cheers, Marc |
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09-20-2009, 04:49 AM | #4 |
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Wuthering Heights
I kept waiting for the actual story to start, It didn't. Though I love Jane Eyre my friend doesn't. |
09-20-2009, 06:55 AM | #5 |
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THE worst "Classics"?
Most of the books I was forced to read in High school as a "compulsory reading". Quite a few of those were written by our national writers with a single thing in mind: to promote ideas endorsed by our Communist government, such a collectivisation. If you want to see what I am talking about, try Majakovskij http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Mayakovsky or another gem: Как закалялась сталь, (How the Steel Was Tempered) by Nikolai Ostrovsky http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_the_Steel_Was_Tempered Some books by Nikolai Ostrovsky - http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/o#a2619 Also, do not forget Maxim Gorky http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/g#a348 and Anton Semyonovich Makarenko http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Makarenko |
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09-20-2009, 07:57 AM | #6 |
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Ulysses - Joyce
Neuromancer (Necromancer ) - William Gibson ( I know, I know it was after 1960 ... still...) Last edited by kennyc; 09-20-2009 at 07:46 PM. Reason: Fixed Freudian slip on the name. |
09-20-2009, 08:10 AM | #7 |
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - I know it's blasphemy to bring up any Twain but Huckleberry Finn is just worlds better than this book. I read it for 9th grade lit and I read it again six month ago and my opinion hasn't changed over the last 20 years. I just didn't find it particularly compelling or that interesting.
I remember being singularly bored by Camus' The Plague and only slightly interested in Flaubert's Madame Bovary as well. I've read plenty of great books - just not these - although I'm willing to give these two the benefit of a bad translation, perhaps? Michael |
09-20-2009, 09:15 AM | #8 |
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"Farewell to arms" by Hemingway (1929).
"The old man and the sea" (1952). My boss recently recommended me "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1940) and when I told him that I didn't think much of the two books above, he said this one was worth reading. |
09-20-2009, 09:59 AM | #9 |
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I could not finish Tale of Two Cities. I just couldn't do it.
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09-20-2009, 01:55 PM | #10 |
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09-20-2009, 02:03 PM | #11 |
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09-20-2009, 02:09 PM | #12 |
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You're right - it is - "Hard Times" is 360 pages in my printed edition against 430 pages for "Tale of Two Cities". Must be getting my titles mixed up. It's still, though amongst his shorter books. Thanks for the correction!
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09-20-2009, 02:45 PM | #13 |
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09-20-2009, 03:15 PM | #14 |
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It has a great opening line.
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09-20-2009, 03:19 PM | #15 |
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