The Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge
Found my way to this weekly meme from another book blogger’s site. Hosted by Long and Short Reviews, this week’s challenge is Popular/Famous books you don’t plan on reading.
The “Classics”
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: When I first met The Husbeast, he had a copy of War and Peace. He also had some furniture that had seen better days. War and Peace, being a very thick book, was pressed into service as an emergency replacement for a support at the foot of the bed. By the time we moved in together, that old classic paperback had been thoroughly destroyed. It still managed to look intimidating. Perhaps even a little mean.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov: I just really have no interest in it. Also, times have changed, rendering the subject matter…icky. Well, it was always icky, but we’re a little more self-aware these days.
Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall: Another book The Husbeast brought into our household. The Goodreads synopsis calls it the thrilling account of the strange, eventful, and tragic voyage of His Majesty’s Ship Bounty in 1788-1789. The Husbeast calls it The Breadfruit Book. We consider it ‘literary Zopiclone‘ because it puts him right to sleep.
More Recent Books
The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer: I grew up reading Salem’s Lot by Stephen King and Anne Rice’s Vampire books (the first three, at least. I lost track after that). To say Twilight isn’t really my cup of tea is a bit of an understatement. That said, if you like it, have at it. We don’t need to like the same things.
The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins: I also haven’t read Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. I keep saying I should probably read The Hunger Games, but never get around to it. It’s quite probable that the time will never come. Or if it does, it will be so far down the road nobody will remember it. Honestly, the closest my tastes get to this genre is probably the 1987 movie adaptation of The Running Man, which is apparently nothing like the book (it is entertaining, however).
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith: I like Austen. The way she uses language is wonderful. Because I wasn’t raised in the English Regency, however, I have to get into the right mindset for her books. Right off the mark, that didn’t bode well for this particular story. It’s a little too…wacky. The husbeast bought it for me as a present one year. Maybe eventually I’ll even read it.
Dune by Frank Herbert: The Arnprior and District Public Library had a LOT of Dune books. They rarely had the first Dune book. You know…the book that explains the rest of the series. So I never read it. And then, a few years ago, the Husbeast insisted I watch the movie. As much as I’m certain it is not Herbert’s Dune, it is all the Dune I need. I mean seriously, if Kyle MacLachlan as the lead doesn’t do it for you, there’s Patrick Stewart. Or Sting in a pair of winged speedos. Thank you David Lynch!
What are the popular books you’re not likely to pick up any time soon? Do you have an aversion to popular books, the way I avoided Beverly Hills 90210 on its original run? Or do you just not have enough time to get caught up on all those Stephen King books? I totally understand if that’s the case.
I’m with you on most of those … I tried reading all those add classics meet monster books that were the rage years ago (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, etc) and hated them. Agree on Dune the movie, but it really was virtually nothing like the books. I have read the Hunger Games Trilogy, though it was long after they released, and can actually recommend them. They were pretty darn solid, story-wise, and the ending (while not *exactly* happy) was happy enough even for a HEA gal like me. Did NOT like Twilight (can you say dysfunctional?) though. Honestly, too, I’m just not a fan of the classics… the writing, while poetic and picturesque, is rather dull and drawn out and I haven’t found one yet that holds my attention.
Thanks for visiting earlier!
I’ve heard that Hunger Games is really good…I just haven’t been able to make the time to read them. It didn’t help that the series helped kick off the whole craze of books being specifically labeled YA. I know that folks meant well, but it feels like there are a lot of folks who stigmatize YA as being inferior, and others who are on-board with YA give adults the side-eye for reading it.
And then there’s my 70-something Mum who proudly displays her Harry Potter books. Go Mum!
Read the Hunger Games trilogy right before the movies they were so-so. Frank Herbert is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read most of the Dune books, but the first one is the best. His White Plague and Soul Catcher are totally different, you might like them, they’re not Sci-Fi.
I think The Husbeast has a copy of Dune hidden somewhere in our wee library in the basement. I just need to work myself into reading it. I have a few other SF books on the TBR list that I need to read first (Like Elizabeth Bear’s Ancestral Night and Mary Robinette Kowal’s The Calculating Stars). I’m pretty sure Dune will still be there when I’m ready for it 🙂
Welcome to the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge!
Yeah, Lolita is one of those classics that I’ll never be able to bring myself to read. The subject matter is too icky for my imagination to handle. 🙂
I did like The Hunger Games, but I totally understand why it wouldn’t appeal to everyone.
My post.
I’m pretty sure I’d enjoy Hunger Games if I took the time to read it. Right now, though, I’ve got a TBR list as long as my arm and a bunch of people more than happy to sneak more books on the pile 😉
I was really surprised by how fun Pride and Prejudice and Zombies turned out to be. It’s definitely not for everyone though.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – yeah. It was nowhere near as funny as it thought it was.
I just couldn’t get past the use of the word “unmentionables”. o.O