I saw this post floating around on the blogosphere the other week (on a whole lotta book blogger sites, too many to name them all) and I thought I’d join in. Here are some books I feel like I should read, but am really struggling with or have zero interest in.
- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. It’s pervasive in pop culture enough that I know what it’s about. But I have no interest in immersing myself via reading into the head of a narrator who has sex with his tween step-daughter. No thank you.
- Moby Dick by Herman Melville. I’m torn on this one. I know the writing would probably be interesting, and it’s a classic. But again, it’s one of those so pervasive in our culture that I already know how it ends. So meh. I may or may not eventually get to this one.
- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. I’ve seen the Kubrick movie based off of this book. I never want to see it again, let alone read the source material. Blech.
- Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Oh, this one. It’s the boy’s favorite book (which is a whole other issue). So I’ve made several attempts to read it. But Ayn Rand is just not my cup of tea, and Atlas Shrugged in particular is just. so. boring. I don’t really want to read it, but I feel like I should just for his sake.
- War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy. It’s a classic, but would be a massive undertaking. It’s so LONG. And I just don’t really have the motivation. But who knows. Maybe one day?
- Anything else by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I read The Great Gatsby. Thoroughly disliked it. I didn’t get this fascination with the 20’s as a time period before reading that, and I still don’t. And I have no desire to read more of the same.
- Anything else by Gillian Flynn. I tried to read Gone Girl. I never finished it (<--- rare for me). It's well-written in the sense that it made me feel things. Namely stressed out. The characters were just so unlikable, there was no one I wanted to root for and hence no ultimate payoff for any invested effort in finishing it. I wikipedia'd the ending, that's enough. And I have zero desire to try any of her other books, as I hear they are in the same vein. No thanks.
What are some books you’ve been struggling with whether to read or not? What are some you have absolutely zero interest in?
I totally feel that way about Atlas Shrugged. I feel like I should read it and Fountainhead, mostly because people are just get SO SO SO passionate about Ayn Rand, either in a positive or negative sense (admittedly, most of my friends are in the Ayn Rand haters camp, so I think that also sorta has driven me away). I kinda want to know what the fuss is about. Yet, I think I read about 10 pages into Atlas Shrugged and wanted to chuck it out the window out of sheer boredom.
Yeah, I only got at most 30 pages in to Atlas Shrugged. Ugh. I did have to read Anthem back in college, and remember actually appreciating that one. But yeah. Her other stuff, not so much.
I feel that way about The Fault in Our Stars. Just not into reading it. I did like Gone Girl though which is on your list š
Now, see I’m the opposite – I read The Fault in Our Stars and thought it was great! Haha. Ah well. To each their own.
Will you think less of me if I admit I could not get through “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”? š I saw both movie versions and appreciate the work, but I struggled with the language in the book to the point that I set it aside and never picked it up again. “Wicked” was another book I struggled with but did make it through and was glad I did (and recently picked up “Son of a Witch”. )
I liked Gone Girl but haven’t considered reading any other Flynn books. I read most of the others in college and have no desire to re-read them.
I enjoyed reading the Hunger Games trilogy and recently picked up another book (another series) by Suzanne Collins, “Gregor the Overlander”. We’ll see how that goes.
Nope, won’t think less – I actually haven’t read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, though I’ve seen the newer movie. I even own a copy of the book, just haven’t gotten around to reading it.
I didn’t realize Suzanne Collins had written another series – may have to check that out!
I feel that way about a lot of the classics.. I got about 10 pages into Pride & Prejudice and put it aside. I failed Classics in seventh form because I just could not focus on The Iliad to finish it.
Ok, I admit, it hurts me a little bit that Pride & Prejudice is on your list – I love that story! I can sympathize on The Iliad, though – I find the Odyssey part of that much more interesting.
I hate to tell you this, but I just couldn’t get into Pride and Prejudice. I’ve read it twice, because two of my best friends adore it but I just couldn’t see what the fuss was about.
I have read a couple of the books on your list. I found Lolita incredibly boring and I skipped over most of it. A Clockwork Orange was thoroughly unsettling and I’ve never been moved to see the film because the book gave me the heebie-jeebies. I also felt entirely “meh” about Gatsby. It’s one of my best friend’s favourite books and she was heartbroken when I told her I didn’t enjoy it.
At least you gave P&P a shot and finished it! That’s all a person can ask. š
I definitely know what you mean on some of these books… I often feel like if I know so much about it anyway I’d rather save my time on something else. And Lolita, I couldn’t agree more! Although I did see the movie years back when I was babysitting. One option for some of the others though, could be audiobooks? I recently started listening to them like crazy this summer while I’m doing the more monotonous things of work like editing product pictures and have loved it so much. I found Anthem on there (which was kind of a fun flashback since I remember it being one of the few assigned HS readings I enjoyed) but I know some of Rand’s other books are still under copyright.
Hmm. I haven’t tried audiobooks while working, at least on the more mindless stuff. If I’m doing actual design work or writing, I can’t even listen to music with lyrics because it just distracts me (instrumental only). But that might work for the more mindless stuff. I’ll test it out. š