It’s a question inspired by this post https://www.reddit.com/r/books/s/s2jK2DzFrA by u/oh_sneezeus

Is there any book that is considered a classic or regularly shows up on the “100 books to read before you die” lists and such, you had high expectations before reading and then you ended up absolutey detesting?

For me it’s Blindness by José Saramago, it started off good and then page after page it was becoming more unbearable for me to read, I hated the characters, the things they were doing and the conclusions of the book. I was really disappointed because the plot seemed really good and all I ended up with was frustration.

Is there a book that did the same to you?

  • maquis_00@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Moby Dick.

    My mom convinced me to read it when I was in 5th grade, and she had the policy that if you start a book, you need to finish it. The first chapter or two are pretty good. The last chapter or two are fun. The encyclopedia of healing in the middle is… Not good.

    Also… Walden. It was boring. At least the first 3 pages, 3 pages in the middle, and the last 3 pages were boring. Thankfully, that was enough for me to write a B+ paper…

    • Plastic-Total7235@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Ahh I’m reading Moby Dick now and I’m loving it! What’s funny is that I hated the tangents in IT, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Secret History that explained things around the story but not the actual story… which seems to be what you’re talking about. But Moby Dick is so far the ONLY book I actually really enjoy the tangents! I think it’s because he is so dramatic and over-the-top about everything.

      This Melville quote was hanging on my grandpa’s wall for my whole life: “Give me a condor’s quill! Give me Vesuvius’ crater for an inkstand! To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.” and it makes so much more sense now that I understand his writing style! To me, that man can write about the dullest things (and does) and make it epic and interesting, because he makes it deeper than it ever had a right to be.

      But seriously, grade 5 is too young for it. I read the abridged version at that age, and even that was hard to get through.