Books You Shouldn't Read

[GOLLUM]

and Donaldson isn't just Covenant (which I couldn't back into for the second trilogy) his Gap series, although violent, does take an interesting look at the Hero-Victim-Villan trio..

True but I like Covenant the best. The mirror of his dreams duology is also quite good.

 

[j d worthington]

True but I like Covenant the best. The mirror of his dreams duology is also quite good.

Errrr, isn't that supposed to be "The Mirror of Her Dreams", Mr. G?

 

[Montero]

I hadn't noticed this thread before, started reading from the beginning and this just made my day. Thanks Paige.

Aw, go on. You guys talk a tough game, but you're a bunchy of softies. I could just give you all a great big hug… yes I could… yes I could! Who's a big scary country? Hmm? Who's a big scary country? * blows raspberry onto collective American tummy *

 

[Gav]

I hate to start up any kind of controversy, so I'm going to go with The Bible, Koran, and Torah.


Reason: Because only misery can come of it. Don't make me quote statistics.

Sorry to chime in so late.

I completely disagree.

I quite enjoyed the Bible. Well some of it anyway.

And I am an atheist.

 

[Gav]

For the original topic, and like other have already said I will alter the topic slightly to be books I wish I hadn't read, I am going to list the Da Vinci code. I detest that book.

 

[Ian Whates]

For the original topic, and like other have already said I will alter the topic slightly to be books I wish I hadn't read, I am going to list the Da Vinci code. I detest that book.

I find this thread so uplfting -- this is another one on my "so glad I never got around to reading it" list!

 

[Connavar]

For the original topic, and like other have already said I will alter the topic slightly to be books I wish I hadn't read, I am going to list the Da Vinci code. I detest that book.

I second that.

The first and only book i wish i hadnt read. I really felt it was waste of the time it took me to read it.

I learned never to buy in to hype when its about books like that.

 

[Zubi-Ondo]

I second that.

The first and only book i wish i hadnt read. I really felt it was waste of the time it took me to read it.

I learned never to buy in to hype when its about books like that.

Okay, Now I'm curious. You say waste of time - how? Was it the writing you thought was bad, or the ideas? Was the book badly organized? I know a lot of people who liked it - my wife was one of them. (Please don't tell me to divorce her, I kind of like her. )

- Z.

 

[Connavar]

Okay, Now I'm curious. You say waste of time - how? Was it the writing you thought was bad, or the ideas? Was the book badly organized? I know a lot of people who liked it - my wife was one of them. (Please don't tell me to divorce her, I kind of like her. )

- Z.

The writing was horrible but i could forget that if the story wasnt a bad clichè.

The main character was alright.

The ending was so lame, so cheesy.

No wonder hollywood liked it so much they made a movie so fast...

 

[Zubi-Ondo]

Okay, then. Everything sucked except the main character. Thanks!

 

[Connavar]

Okay, then. Everything sucked except the main character. Thanks!

What did you like if you did like it or was you wife the fan ?

 

[Montero]

On the original topic the short answer is no, I can't think of such a book. There are various books I've disliked, given up on, been bored by etc, but none that I feel have polluted my mind.

There has been discussion of religious works, and their damaging results. My pennyworth regarding that is

1. The Bible - if you just read the Bible, knowing nothing of Christianity, would it lead you to picture all the many different ways of worship? As in parish churches, organs, hymn singing, decorated alters etc.

2. Any idea that is held with zeal is dangerous. This next is meant seriously
a) advertising and the idea of gracious living. It is one thing to have a selection of appliances that make life easier, quite another to have co-ordinated decor, pretty garden, everything neat and polished and get upset when your neighbours fail to meet your standards or have they high standards but different tastes as to what is style

b) Closely related to a) - people who move into an area and then want to change it because they have firmly fixed in their heads the way life should be and think everyone who lives differently needs to change.

And I'll stop before I give one of my pet hobby horses a good gallop. (And guess what my house looks like )

 

[Pyan]

Sorry, ZO, I agree with Conn here.

Having read all the hype and praise about TDVC, I was amazed by the sheer bad, clichéd and juvenile (IMHO) writing - I can only believe that Doubleday's editor was having a very bad day....
The only reason I can think of for its amazing sales is that it was bought by thousands of people that don't normally read a lot, and who haven't a lot of comparisons to draw on.
I classified it mentally as "Airport Check-in Reading", and put it in my donations pile for the local Oxfam shop.

 

[Zubi-Ondo]

What did you like if you did like it or was you wife the fan ?

My wife was the fan - I got the gist from her. Obviously if the writing was really that bad, then the whole Mary Magdeline was actually Jesus' wife thing was just a ploy to make the book controversial. I saw the movie - It was a typical hollywood "thrill ride". Kind of entertaining I guess. I'm not the kind of person to get caught up in controversy or get upset about people messing with religious history because frankly - that would be a waste of time IMO.

- Z.

 

[Gav]

Okay, then. Everything sucked including the main character. Thanks!

Fixed it for you.

There's an entir Mark Steele lecture on how bad the Da Vinci code is.

It's a book for people who don't read.

This may exclude your wife if she has a wild temperament!

 

[Connavar]

Fixed it for you.

There's an entir Mark Steele lecture on how bad the Da Vinci code is.

It's a book for people who don't read.

This may exclude your wife if she has a wild temperament!

Itf funny you should say that, i was among the masses who dont read when i read that book.


Today i would never read a writer like that. No matter the hype.

Is there a video link to that Steele lecture ?

 

[Gav]

Itf funny you should say that, i was among the masses who dont read when i read that book.


Today i would never read a writer like that. No matter the hype.

Is there a video link to that Steele lecture ?

I did a youtube search and I suspect it's part of the lecture about Leonardo Da Vinci... I haven't seen these in ages. I really enjoyed them: funny and informative.

Well worth it.

YouTube - Mark Steel lecture: Leonardo Di Vinci pt 1

There's the link to da vinci.

 

[Simian]

Any book from which you can deduce it's entire content just by reading the title - Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway, etc. Also, any book which says Now a major motion picture starring Rob Schneider on the front cover.

 

[Gav]

Any book from which you can deduce it's entire content just by reading the title - Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway, etc. Also, any book which says Now a major motion picture starring Rob Schneider on the front cover.

You've got me going!

Another book I hated! Men are from Mars (etc) made me feel so insulted that I thought I was back in primary school. I read it and then threw it in the bin. Normally I would donate to charity but books like this are actually a bane on our social welfare. I would actually be inflicting harm on my fellow humans by giving them my copy. So I had it recycled instead.

At least someone can comfortably wipe their bum with it now.

This begs the question, "Why does Gav persevere with books he hates?"

Well I don't often read books I dislike as much as Men are from Mars, or The Da Vinci Code. That's a blessing. I might explode were that the case or worse yet, be forced to watch reality TV.
I think it comes down to sheer bloody mindedness. I keep coming back to the idea that I must be missing something, somewhere... anything.

To get to the end of a book and be proved right is not a relief. It's distressing.

 

[Pyan]

I think it also has to do with the rate you read....I read very fast, so I'm not committing as much precious time to a book that someone who reads slowly is, so I don't mind the odd book that turns out to be bilge.