Author Topic: What not to read  (Read 11514 times)

The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers

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Re: What not to read
« Reply #15 on: April 17, 2006, 01:44:25 PM »
we burned a book of Jewel poetry on a camp out once. My friend who's a radio DJ said they'd done something like it on a show a while back. THe rule was, read the poem, then tear it out and throw it in the fire. It lasted most of hte night.

Parker

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Re: What not to read
« Reply #16 on: April 17, 2006, 02:02:26 PM »
Oh--just thought of one.  James Patterson's Pop Goes the Weasel.  He manages to be ignorant about both role playing games and online groups (the serial killer bases his victims on an online role playing game he plays via email.  Yup.)  Patterson's popular, but I never have any desire to read one of his books again.  Blech.

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Re: What not to read
« Reply #17 on: April 17, 2006, 05:09:57 PM »
Coetze's "Foe".  Sure, it won a Nobel prize, but it's a pile of trash.
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Re: What not to read
« Reply #18 on: April 17, 2006, 05:59:26 PM »
I just finished The Three Musketeers.

Don't ever bother reading this book. I was astonished at how horrid it was, especially given that The Count of Monte Cristo is my all-time favorite book. I don't even want to believe both of these novels came from the same author.
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Nessa

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Re: What not to read
« Reply #19 on: April 17, 2006, 06:13:10 PM »
"Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stegner....yawn.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2006, 06:13:42 PM by MrsNessaC »
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Re: What not to read
« Reply #20 on: April 17, 2006, 07:23:53 PM »
Quote
I just finished The Three Musketeers.

Don't ever bother reading this book. I was astonished at how horrid it was, especially given that The Count of Monte Cristo is my all-time favorite book. I don't even want to believe both of these novels came from the same author.


Oh, yeah. I read that in high school and totally agree. It was incredibly boring, incredibly long, and I admit I didn't understand what was going on half the time (of course I was reading it for an assignment and was trying to rush through it).

Parker

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Re: What not to read
« Reply #21 on: April 18, 2006, 01:54:36 AM »
As far as Three Musketeers goes, a lot depends on the translation.  That might be why you noticed such a difference between the two books.  I read it back in high school and really enjoyed it.

The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers

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Re: What not to read
« Reply #22 on: April 18, 2006, 09:36:21 AM »
I *liked* 3 Muskateers.

Tage

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Re: What not to read
« Reply #23 on: April 18, 2006, 12:55:24 PM »
Actually, I don't think it depends on translation at all. No matter what words you use, d'Artagnon and friends are all selfish, worldly, spoiled pigs. They treat their servants worse than dogs, and women worse than that. They don't have a single "adventure" that isn't motivated by greed or lust.

In short, there is nothing admirable about them. I simply cannot see the draw of the book at all.
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Parker

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Re: What not to read
« Reply #24 on: April 18, 2006, 01:00:55 PM »
Aha.  Well, that's a different argument than the one I thought you were making.  When you said the book was "horrid," I interpreted that to mean you felt the writing was bad, slow, disjointed, etc.  And for that, I stand by my statement about the translation.  However, if you meant the characters were horrid--as in horrid individuals--then that's something I can't remember clearly enough to talk about one way or another.  I recall enjoying the book and not being put off by any of it, but again, I was in high school, so I was likely motivated to adventure by the same two things: greed and lust.   ;)

Mad Dr Jeffe

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Re: What not to read
« Reply #25 on: April 18, 2006, 01:03:54 PM »
Quote
Actually, I don't think it depends on translation at all. No matter what words you use, d'Artagnon and friends are all selfish, worldly, spoiled pigs. They treat their servants worse than dogs, and women worse than that. They don't have a single "adventure" that isn't motivated by greed or lust.


So they're the archtypical RPG group... awesome!
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Re: What not to read
« Reply #26 on: April 25, 2006, 11:45:23 PM »
I also rather enjoyed Three Musketeers, which I've read both in English and French.
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Re: What not to read
« Reply #27 on: April 26, 2006, 12:25:25 AM »
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Anything by Ann Rand jumps to mind.

Don't want to seem like I am nitpicking, but Ayn Rand, not Ann Rand. As for your recommendation, I politely disagree. I have read Atlas Shrugged, and I am working on the Fountainhead, and so far, I have really enjoyed both of them.
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The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers

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Re: What not to read
« Reply #28 on: April 26, 2006, 09:25:44 AM »
And I'm going to repeat what I said last time you said that.

How anyone can think that Ayn Rand had some good ideas is beyond me. Let alone how they can think the writing was anywhere near decent.

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Re: What not to read
« Reply #29 on: April 26, 2006, 10:45:14 AM »
I read fountainhead once. I seem to remember thinking it was acceptable. As in, I enjoyed reading it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to read it again.
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