I'm finally giving in - Page 4

ziegl027 · 11-26-2010, 08:39 PM

I did like Harry Potter (most of it, anyway), but in general I've been let down by "phenom" books and series. I got about halfway through the first "Twilight" book before I gave up and gave it to my babysitter. I don't get Sudoko, either, and I'm clearly in the minority there.

I think it's a personal taste thing. I don't think the uber-popular books are bad, really, and I'm not much of a snob. I read plenty of junk and watch even more of it. There's lots of fine literature and high Art that I can't stand, too. My tastes apparently just don't run with a large majority's.

kennyc · 11-26-2010, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

I still haven't read Harry Potter ...

There are books?

Rizla · 11-26-2010, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

Apart from the Twilight books two other examples come to mind. I tried the first Potter book and thought it read like a script for a computer game. That odd game they all played zooming around the sky had me giving up. With the DaVinci code I got to the point where I found myself hoping the big albino bloke would kill everyone and everything so the book could end and then I gave up.

I can't agree with you about Harry Potter, but Dan Brown...Ick! I read about 4/5 of Angels and Demons and had to stop. I wanted the protagonist to DIE!

bjones6416 · 11-27-2010, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

There are books?

There are movies?

redbird · 11-27-2010, 07:24 PM

This isn't a series but a popular book -- Eat, Pray, Love. That was on our bookclub list when it first came out and I skimmed it at the store and thought it was dreadfully overwritten. Then it was on the bestseller list, became a movie -- why? I've seen just one reviewer who agrees with me. Could everyone else see past the writing to the story?

bjones6416 · 11-27-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redbird

This isn't a series but a popular book -- Eat, Pray, Love. That was on our bookclub list when it first came out and I skimmed it at the store and thought it was dreadfully overwritten. Then it was on the bestseller list, became a movie -- why? I've seen just one reviewer who agrees with me. Could everyone else see past the writing to the story?

Believe me, I agree with you. I actually read it thinking I would really relate to her...but I didn't. She seemed to be one of those people who felt that the world revolved around her and her feelings. I didn't see the movie, though, and it might have lightened it up a bit.

kindlekitten · 11-28-2010, 02:33 AM

I would like to hear from the OP. have you finished the book yet? what did you think?

NightLight · 11-28-2010, 03:26 AM

The only rational explanation for the popularity of these books is brainwashing. Subliminal advertising. And behavior modification.
The same things that made Anne Rice and VC Andrews bestsellers.

It's the literary equivalent of 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'

astra · 11-28-2010, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

I would like to hear from...

Omg.
Nasty girl.
I have forgotten what this topic was about. Your new avatar is a big distraction.

kindlekitten · 11-28-2010, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Omg.
Nasty girl.
I have forgotten what this topic was about. Your new avatar is a big distraction.

bwahahahahaha! it's my holiday outfit! recycled from last year. you like!?

DuaneAA · 11-28-2010, 11:16 AM

Since no one has mentioned it, I would highly recommend the audiobook version. I have listened to the first three and while I agree the writing isn't the best, the woman they got to read the books has the best voice of any reader I have ever heard. Even in places where the story really drags, I looked forward to my commute simply to listen to her voice. Plus the first person style really works well with audiobooks and it doesn't take long until it feels like Bella is telling her story directly to you.

Here in Fort Worth the audiobooks are available at the public library and I would guess in most other big cities, too.

Duane

astra · 11-28-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

bwahahahahaha! it's my holiday outfit! recycled from last year. you like!?

Your guess?

Unfortunately, I do

durkinrobinson · 11-28-2010, 01:20 PM

I only made it through the first paragraph and have been too busy to return to it all weekend. But I plan on reading more today. Why is this a lot like starting an exercise regimen - lots of excuses to get started? Only with exercise, you're glad to lose weight. I'm afraid with this, I might lose brain cells, though. That's not nearly as enticing.

And we liked the first two Harry Potter books, my children and I, but the third one was too dark. However, after visiting the craziness of the new Harry Potter attraction at Islands of Adventure on Friday, my boys are interested now in reading all of them.

I don't know if that's good news or bad.

We shall see.

solitarywolf · 11-28-2010, 01:53 PM

When I was younger and had not read as much asI have now that I am close to 46, I was more inclined to like what I read and shout at the roof tops on how good "that book" was. Now that I have a larger arsenal to compare books to, I can be more selective on what I judge to be a good book. Some books I read when I was younger I have re-read them and found them to be flat and lifeless. Other books flower like a good wine does with age.

I tend to believe that if people are still reading the book decades from now, then it too like wine has stood the test of time. That is where I find my vintage tastes going when I am looking for a new read.

Ten years from now we will look back at the Twilight series and either laugh at ourselves over it like we do with Flowers in our hair, mullets, or snuggies. Or we will raise a glass to that literary genius that created a media empire of Vampire wanna be's.

kindlekitten · 11-28-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solitarywolf

When I was younger and had not read as much asI have now that I am close to 46, I was more inclined to like what I read and shout at the roof tops on how good "that book" was. Now that I have a larger arsenal to compare books to, I can be more selective on what I judge to be a good book. Some books I read when I was younger I have re-read them and found them to be flat and lifeless. Other books flower like a good wine does with age.

I tend to believe that if people are still reading the book decades from now, then it too like wine has stood the test of time. That is where I find my vintage tastes going when I am looking for a new read.

Ten years from now we will look back at the Twilight series and either laugh at ourselves over it like we do with Flowers in our hair, mullets, or snuggies. Or we will raise a glass to that literary genius that created a media empire of Vampire wanna be's.

there ya go! "Twilight, Boones Farm for the world of literature. when you just have that overwhelming urge to sit out back and consume something that will make you puke!"

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11-26-2010, 08:39 PM	#46
ziegl027 Addict Posts: 264 Karma: 764 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minnesota Device: Sony Touch, Kindle DXG	I did like Harry Potter (most of it, anyway), but in general I've been let down by "phenom" books and series. I got about halfway through the first "Twilight" book before I gave up and gave it to my babysitter. I don't get Sudoko, either, and I'm clearly in the minority there. I think it's a personal taste thing. I don't think the uber-popular books are bad, really, and I'm not much of a snob. I read plenty of junk and watch even more of it. There's lots of fine literature and high Art that I can't stand, too. My tastes apparently just don't run with a large majority's.

11-27-2010, 07:24 PM	#50
redbird Member Posts: 15 Karma: 1822 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: nook	This isn't a series but a popular book -- Eat, Pray, Love. That was on our bookclub list when it first came out and I skimmed it at the store and thought it was dreadfully overwritten. Then it was on the bestseller list, became a movie -- why? I've seen just one reviewer who agrees with me. Could everyone else see past the writing to the story?

11-28-2010, 02:33 AM	#52
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	I would like to hear from the OP. have you finished the book yet? what did you think?

11-28-2010, 03:26 AM	#53
NightLight Banned Posts: 22 Karma: 330 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Greenpoint, New York Device: Kindle3	The only rational explanation for the popularity of these books is brainwashing. Subliminal advertising. And behavior modification. The same things that made Anne Rice and VC Andrews bestsellers. It's the literary equivalent of 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'

11-28-2010, 11:16 AM	#56
DuaneAA Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 1139736 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Minnesota Device: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 & Kindle Fire HDX	Since no one has mentioned it, I would highly recommend the audiobook version. I have listened to the first three and while I agree the writing isn't the best, the woman they got to read the books has the best voice of any reader I have ever heard. Even in places where the story really drags, I looked forward to my commute simply to listen to her voice. Plus the first person style really works well with audiobooks and it doesn't take long until it feels like Bella is telling her story directly to you. Here in Fort Worth the audiobooks are available at the public library and I would guess in most other big cities, too. Duane

11-28-2010, 01:20 PM	#58
durkinrobinson Lovechild Posts: 90 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Tampa Bay Device: Kindle	I only made it through the first paragraph and have been too busy to return to it all weekend. But I plan on reading more today. Why is this a lot like starting an exercise regimen - lots of excuses to get started? Only with exercise, you're glad to lose weight. I'm afraid with this, I might lose brain cells, though. That's not nearly as enticing. And we liked the first two Harry Potter books, my children and I, but the third one was too dark. However, after visiting the craziness of the new Harry Potter attraction at Islands of Adventure on Friday, my boys are interested now in reading all of them. I don't know if that's good news or bad. We shall see.

11-28-2010, 01:53 PM	#59
solitarywolf Ink Drinker Posts: 224 Karma: 347666 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle 2021, Ipad Pro, iPhone Pro	When I was younger and had not read as much asI have now that I am close to 46, I was more inclined to like what I read and shout at the roof tops on how good "that book" was. Now that I have a larger arsenal to compare books to, I can be more selective on what I judge to be a good book. Some books I read when I was younger I have re-read them and found them to be flat and lifeless. Other books flower like a good wine does with age. I tend to believe that if people are still reading the book decades from now, then it too like wine has stood the test of time. That is where I find my vintage tastes going when I am looking for a new read. Ten years from now we will look back at the Twilight series and either laugh at ourselves over it like we do with Flowers in our hair, mullets, or snuggies. Or we will raise a glass to that literary genius that created a media empire of Vampire wanna be's.

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