Books to Avoid
If it can be read, it can be discussed here.
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Re: Books to Avoid"Never Let Me Go," by Kazuo Ishigoru. I saw the trailer for the film, thought it looked good, so decided to read the book, which would indubitably be better. It was pants. I could see what the author was trying to do, but he didn't succeed. At all. Perhaps a lot of it got lost in the translation to English, but still...
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Re: Books to Avoid(Original post by whatsername2009)
Ulysses by James Joyce. I had to read it for university, and even with multiple guidebooks I couldn't make head or tail of it. Perhaps if I'd spent longer puzzling it out I would have got more from it, but if you just want a decent book to read I'd suggest that you steer well clear.
Eurgh... currently need to study it for uni. On page 25. Already sick of it. Not sure I see the point of reading a massive novel the author has purposefully completely ambiguous. -
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Re: Books to AvoidMe too.(Original post by Linweth)
I agree and his punctuation irritated the hell out of me. -
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Re: Books to AvoidAyn Rand won't be remembered for her gripping writing, but I found the concepts and philosophy explored in that book pretty inspirational - enough for me to actually enjoy the book.(Original post by Joinedup)
Atlas shrugged.
The whole thing is like a massively over long polemical fairystory full of unbelievable, simplistic characters. Also terrible dialogue and sex scenes.
You should openly snigger at anyone recommending this book imo. -
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Re: Books to AvoidI can recommend The New Bloomsday Book by Harry Blamires if you're struggling - I found it helpful, as it breaks the novel down into episodes and explains what's going on in each one. But yeah, I really struggled with Ulysses. I'm glad I only had to spend a week writing about it.(Original post by James4d)
Eurgh... currently need to study it for uni. On page 25. Already sick of it. Not sure I see the point of reading a massive novel the author has purposefully completely ambiguous.Last edited by whatsername2009; 09-04-2012 at 10:56. -
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Re: Books to AvoidI couldn't finish it(Original post by RolyBholi)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
Just so boring. I can't believe I actually forced myself to finish it.
I just found it so hard to understand his style of writing + I thought it was just an extremely dull story line.
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Re: Books to AvoidWhat!? I completely disagree. Could you explain why?(Original post by charli135)
Lord of the Flies.
Da Vinci Code by Dan BrownLast edited by House MD; 08-04-2012 at 14:50. -
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Re: Books to AvoidAnything that makes you feel like you are a loser and nobody will ever love you (AKA Nicholas Sparks).
Anything that portrays boring love stories in a highly unconvincing way (AKA Twilight)
Anything that has the ability to make you dumber (all the above).
But even WORSE:
The books my mum reads, which were written by a bunch of lunatics that claim to be physics, healers, wizards.... And the worst is that my mum believes everything she reads and often goes like "This book teaches how to deal with... " One I asked "What do you mean by teaches? Who's she (the writer) is she a professor, a researcher, someone whose opinions should count for something?" And my mum said that she was an expert in astrology... Expert in astrology? Any dumbass can say that! Why! Why do people believe this kind of ****? It makes me purple with anger.
And then you bring up a useful topic to the conversation and some people go like "Aw... That is boring! Let's talk about Eastenders or this book some lunatic wrote..."
Sorry about the rant, but sometimes I really do not want to live in this world ANYMORE!Last edited by ilovelabradors; 08-04-2012 at 14:07. -
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Re: Books to AvoidExplain Clive Cussler?(Original post by SimBa14)
Anything by Dan Brown
Anything by Clive Cussler
"13, Rue Therese" by Elena Mauli Shapiro
Just simply awful books, all of them; how Dan Brown has sold the number of books he has amazes me. -
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Re: Books to AvoidLucky they did not set you Finnegan's Wake...(Original post by whatsername2009)
Ulysses by James Joyce. I had to read it for university, and even with multiple guidebooks I couldn't make head or tail of it. Perhaps if I'd spent longer puzzling it out I would have got more from it, but if you just want a decent book to read I'd suggest that you steer well clear. -
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Re: Books to AvoidI'm only on the first chapter and am already finding myself baffled(Original post by whatsername2009)
Ulysses by James Joyce. I had to read it for university, and even with multiple guidebooks I couldn't make head or tail of it. Perhaps if I'd spent longer puzzling it out I would have got more from it, but if you just want a decent book to read I'd suggest that you steer well clear. But James Joyce is an excellent writer - I much preferred Dubliners, if I'm being honest.
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Re: Books to AvoidMy god, that book is horrific. I was reading it on a field trip and someone who had already read it kept on laughing at my responses to the more and more ridiculous situations which occurred. After I finished it we both agreed it was crap!(Original post by the bear)
Do not go near "Temple" by Matthew Reilly...
it is utter drivel
On the back it says
"Some doors are meant to remain unopened"...
the same applies to this book -
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Re: Books to AvoidIt was on the reading list for that week, actually, but thankfully it was optional so I gave it a miss.(Original post by the bear)
Lucky they did not set you Finnegan's Wake...
I was in a state of bafflement throughout, to be honest. I haven't read Dubliners, but I'm told it's good - the only other book by Joyce I've read is A Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man, which I quite enjoyed. I don't think my edition of Ulysses was even divided into chapters or episodes, which just added another layer of horrendousness to the whole reading experience as it was just one big 700-page block of impenetrable text.(Original post by Ra Ra Ra)
I'm only on the first chapter and am already finding myself baffled But James Joyce is an excellent writer - I much preferred Dubliners, if I'm being honest.
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Re: Books to Avoidthis made me lol... in particular because of this line, i think its the contrast between it and your avatar/username.(Original post by ilovelabradors)
...Sorry about the rant, but sometimes I really do not want to live in this world ANYMORE!
i second the jacob's room suggestion. im also putting forward fight club. hmm, a bit of a theme emerging.... books with incredibly disjointed and self-aware narratives. sometimes i like them, but more often than not i find them too distracting and frustrating to bother with. my reading tastes arent so post-modern and trendy enough, clearly. -
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Re: Books to AvoidWhat does my avatar/username have to do with hating bull****?(Original post by popple7)
this made me lol... in particular because of this line, i think its the contrast between it and your avatar/username.
I just found it so hard to understand his style of writing + I thought it was just an extremely dull story line.
