Books you wish you'd never read!

[Phạm Thị Hồng Nhung (nhungph)]

Time-wasters.. Sleeping pills.. - Books that make you feel dumber after you've read them.. You know the kind I mean; everybody's had their fair share. Warn others from reading them!

I have this odd habit of finishing every book I've read just to see the ending even if they start out completely wrong. I try to read on in case they get better towards the end, believing that there must be some purpose in any work. In this respect you can call me headstrong, or gullible, or an optimist. Well, it's certainly not a good habit. You can't judge a book by its cover can be taken literally here ~_^

To broaden this topic, I think we could also include books that disappointed us/ didn't come up to our expectations (from reviews, general acclaim..) So, fire away!

 

[Nguyễn Đức (Vicini)]

Would you mind starting first, since you started the topic, Nhung?

 

[Vũ Đàm Linh (Mazerlin)]

Oh Nhung is busy so wouldn't you mind if i start first, Mr. Đức?

I hate The Miserable most because of its artificial plots and characters. Goodies are too good and their actions seem to be of Gods.:

 

[Lê Diệu Linh (dieulinhle)]

On the contrary, I am totally impressed by it. Such a great novel both in terms of historical and characteristics description. It should be noted that of course a novel is boring if all the characteristics show monotonous traits, but if the author can figure out how to make it convincing (such as the way he described Fantine), the novel certainly has its own charm. Moreover, if the characteristics happen to not show enough complexity as u may expected, it may be put down to the status-quo of the contemporary society, i.e., the society at that time had not yet reached a certain level of development to breed complexity in every single trait. So basically, in this sense Victor Hugo actually did a great job in depicting real human egos at that time.

If there is a book that you should not bother to read, I would recommend " The Wuthering Height" and "Jane Eyre", ( both by the Brontes ) I don't like their style very much. One is about a morbid love that lacks a philanthropic motive and the other is just damn hypocritical.

 

[Nguyễn Đức (Vicini)]

I don't like Wuthering Heights either. In fact, I never finished it. However, I thought that girls might enjoy that book more?

 

[Lê Diệu Linh (dieulinhle)]

Hehe I've never finished it either, that kind of love affair makes me sick.
Btw, Linh, I don't think that goodies in Les Miserables act like saints all the time. Their benevolence just take deep roots from their miserable lives, so it is understandable.

To be a saint is an exception
To be upright is a rule
Err, falter, sin, but be upright.

(Les Miserables)