Books You Don't Quite "Get" - Page 4

*Charlie Parker* · 6th August 2006, 9:46pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rowsbette

Ian Rankin - {I can't even remember what this one was called, all his titles seem horribly similar}
Could've been that I just picked up a bad one, but it left me wondering how the actual fuck this guy's so popular. Stilted prose, a predictable ending, and an annoying desire to inflict his music tastes on the reader. I just couldn't bring myself to care about anyone in the book.

Blah, Rankin's good and Rebus is class. Ther music point is that Rebus doesn't have much in life except his cases and his old records.

Stilted prose? Nah, economical. Which is what crime writing is all about. Why describe an office or trees when you can picture them anyway?

Yeah some of the books are less than amazing but its a series character and for police procedurals there's a humanity and humour that's in the series thats' found in few others.

He has an ear for dialogue in the same vein as Elmore Leonard and his book Strip Jack has more to say on dodgy politics than any Brookmyre work.

These other books I dunno as I don't read "literary"

MarkMono · 6th August 2006, 9:50pm

Its been mentioned already but James Joyce - Ulysses, utter tripe.

I have a strange fondness for Finnegans Wake though, it grounded me when I was working in Spain.

*Charlie Parker* · 6th August 2006, 9:59pm

Oh and LOTR is shite

Crystal Mighty · 6th August 2006, 9:59pm

Buddha Da - Anne Donovan

god knows why I started reading a book written in the glaswegian accent but the way it dragged on and on and in the end, nothing happened, everything pretty much went back to the way things were at the start and it felt like a huge let down.

Same with The Mermaid's Chair by Sue Monk Kidd.

This is really why I shouldn't read trash.

Charley · 6th August 2006, 10:06pm

I never understood how The DaVinci Code could've gotten so high ratings. Hated it.

And I didn't get the thing with Mice and Men.

TheCastrator · 6th August 2006, 10:12pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley

I never understood how The DaVinci Code could've gotten so high ratings. Hated it.

It's because Sun readers could understand it. Speak to the unwashed masses and you'll get sales. Simple as.

Charley · 6th August 2006, 10:14pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCastrator

It's because Sun readers could understand it. Speak to the unwashed masses and you'll get sales. Simple as.

Definitely. They have to give all the answers and make everything obvious and easily read.
Stupid arses.

Vikki · 6th August 2006, 10:20pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley

I never understood how The DaVinci Code could've gotten so high ratings. Hated it.

And I didn't get the thing with Mice and Men.

I hated The DaVinci Code as well. I love Of Mice and Men though. It makes me cry every time I read it.

Wicked · 6th August 2006, 10:23pm

I liked the DaVinci Code. And Angels and Demons. I attempted to read Deception Point and couldnt get into it.

azriel · 6th August 2006, 10:28pm

Not so much a book I 'didn't get', but up there at number one for books I hate is Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. I hate that book with a passion!

ashbash · 6th August 2006, 10:31pm

I hate giving up on books and not finishing them, but the one that I can never seem to finish is Thomas Harris - Red Dragon. I've tried to read it about 3 times and given up every time. I don't know what is about it specifically.

azriel · 6th August 2006, 10:41pm

Red Dragon is a really good book, you should persevere!

Dash · 6th August 2006, 10:43pm

Iain Rankin - The Wasp Factory.

seemed pish.

mischief · 6th August 2006, 10:43pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by azriel

Not so much a book I 'didn't get', but up there at number one for books I hate is Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. I hate that book with a passion!

Good god yes! I had to study this for higher English & hated every page of it. I can safely say I couldn't even remotely begin to tell you what it was about now.

Addy · 6th August 2006, 10:48pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pantgirl

I'm finding "Fear and Loathing" really hard going at the mo. I was alos slightly let down by "1984" - thought the ending was gash and much preferred "Brave New World" in comparison.

Meh, 1984 was good - but I infinitely prefer the book it was based (and plagiarises an astonishing amount from) - We, by Yevgeny Zamyatin. Check it out!