Posted on 02/03/2014 2:13:32 PM PST by jocon307
Have you ever lied about reading a book? Maybe you didn’t want to seem stupid in front of someone you respected. Maybe you rationalized it by reasoning that you had a familiarity with the book, or knew who the author was, or what the story was about, or had glanced at its Wikipedia page. Or maybe you had tried to read the book, even bought it and set it by your bed for months unopened, hoping that it would impart what was in it merely via proximity (if that worked, please email me).
(Excerpt) Read more at thefederalist.com ...
And Les Miserables was not about the French Revolution.
On the Origin of Species - Read tiny bits for a class
Les Miserables - Read it (hated it)
A Tale of Two Cities - Read it after multiple attempts
1984 - Read it
Democracy in America - No, I'm ashamed to say
The Wealth of Nations - Read large parts of it for a class, but not all of it
Moby Dick - Read it multiple times; loved it. Can't make it through Melville's Billy Bud, a Sailor
The Art of War - Does reading random quotes count?
The Prince - Read it
Ulysses - Hahahahahahaha. Somebody gave me this as a present. I've re-read McMurtry's Lonesome Dove more than the number of pages I've read of Ulysses
In the English novel the lovers want each other at the beginning and get each other at the end.
In the French novel the lovers have each other at the beginning and part in the end.
In the Russian novel they neither want nor get each other but brood about it for 800 pages.
A lot of the 19th century Writers “overwrote” because their books were often serialized in weekly publications.
Dickens, I am told, was paid by the WORD! LOL!
(That explains a LOT!)
I’ve read parts of most of them and none of all of them.
If you like Flashman, go look up his McAuslan books - the first is I think "The General Danced at Dawn" - the others are "McAuslan in the Rough" and "The Sheik and the Dustbin". Very fun and semi-autobiographical.
I read most of the Hornblower books, but eventually came to realize that Hornblower is simply a 20th century man full of angst and neuroses, dressed up in Napoleonic War fancy dress. If you want to read the real deal by somebody who was actually there and not just recreating "history", get hold of Captain Marryat's books - "Mr. Midshipman Easy" for starters.
I'll look up The Long Ships - sounds interesting.
James Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses
You didn't want to get in Twain's sights when he had a grouch on.
I’ve read parts of most of them and all of none of them.
One must have a heart of stone to read the death of Little Nell without laughing.
-- Oscar Wilde
lol true.
There are five on the list that I have on audio book but haven’t listened to them yet (and I have had them for at least a year):
10. Atlas Shrugged
9. On the Origin of Species
7. 1984, George Orwell
5. The Wealth of Nations
4. Moby Dick
I checked out Art of War audiobook from the library, but didn’t get to it, either
It’s not like that’s the norm for me, either. I have listened to over 100 audio books, including most of Jane Austen, several Dickens (including A Tale of Two Cities) and I rarely start and then fail to finish.
I neglected my education in classic literature when I was younger, and I’m using my time in the car to try to catch up on some of it. I just can’t bring myself to start 63 hours of Atlas Shrugged. Anthem (128 pages) seems to be the right dose of Rand for me. Interesting concepts, strange style.
Yes, I have heard of the Flashman books, I might like those I think. I read one Casteneda, it freaked me out. Your warning should be heeded!
I have Mencken’s “The American Language” which I inherited when my brother died, but I haven’t read that either!
Yes, I agree!
Ben Hur and Atlas Shrugged both contain long speeches by the characters that examine the authors’ philosophies.
Both Authors could have made the same points with fewer words.
Oh Wow...I forgot to add “The Gulag Archipeligo” to my list of Big FAT Books that I have read. I could I have forgotten that one? LOL.
I actually am kind of shocked. I have read half of them. Atlas Shrugged, 1984, Moby Dick, The Art of War, The Prince. I never attempted Ulysses after my Mom said she gave up on it. She said it made her feel dumb. LOL I do have Democracy in America on my nightstand on my list of “to dos.”
I had the same thoughts about “Columbo”!
GMTA!
“Just not to EACH OTHER!”
LOL, that’s true!
This reminds me of my younger brother’s quest to see “A Clockwork Orange”, which I think he finally convinced my father to take him to.
I had the soundtrack album which was great. And the book was also great, a wonderful reading experience. There’s a glossary for the crazy slang the hooligans speak and at the beginning you are looking up every word, but by the end you can tell the meaning of new slang words just from the context.
I read “The name of the Rose” too.
Much better than the Movie!
I liked “The Bonfire of the Vanities” but have not read anything else by Tom Wolfe.
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