What, in your opinion, is the best book that you haven’t liked? Mind you, I don’t mean your most-hated book–oh, no. I mean the most accomplished, skilled, well-written, impressive book that you just simply didn’t like.
Like, for movies–I can acknowledge that Citizen Kane is a tour de force and is all sorts of wonderful, cinematically speaking, but . . . I just don’t like it. I find it impressive and quite an accomplishment, but it’s not my cup of tea.
So . . . what book (or books) is your Citizen Kane?
Let’s see. First up: Anything ever written by Henry James, ever. Poke my eyes out with a spork, is he ever dull.
And pretty much everything written by Ernest Hemingway.
Also worthy but dull, Frank Herbert’s Dune series.
Avoid! Avoid!
Edited to add: Milton! Woolf! (Well, depending on the book, with her. Orlando yay, Mrs Dalloway boo.) Spenser! Sinclair Ross! David Weber! The more I think about it, the more I come up with… how depressing.
Ooooooh, love Henry James, love most Hemingway, but see my post for the one I hated! Spenser is dull! Dune was just plain odd. Thanks for your thoughts!
And you picked Tolkein as one of yours — we’re opposites, I guess!
I forgot about Milton! Paradise Lost was the only book I didn’t make it through in college. I tried and tried and then finally my husband (my best friend at the time) bought me the Cliff Notes as a present. I still have them for the sentimental value – Paradise Lost, on the other hand, got sent to a book sale.
I hated Moby Dick!!!
For me it would be The Alchemist and Moby Dick.
But your answer reminds me how painful it was to get through The Sound and the Fury, Absalom, Absalom. Faulkner is just not the author for me.
I have three other titles for my answer. Come check it out. Happy BTT.
It’s funny because I hated Orlando, but loved Mrs. Dalloway. Go figure! I agree with Milton. I signed up at one point to read Paradise Lost through Daily Lit and I gave up after 5 days.
Happy Thursday. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Amen to Henry James. I had a literature professor in college who thought Henry James walked on water. Arrrgghhh!!!
Mansfield Park
(ducks and runs cause its Jane)
Glum — haha. I won’t throw anything, I hope. Mansfield is actually one of the Austens I always think I’ve read, but actually haven’t.
Holly — my commiserations!
Not Another Mom — I was supposed to read Milton for a course in second year. I didn’t. Still wrote an exam essay on it, though!
Mattviews — I love Faulkner… if you like, I’ll read your Faulkner for you.
I like your “avoid avoid” warning, I can picture a loud warning bell and an intercom saying AVOID AVOID READING THIS! at a library when someone takes out one of your books that you don’t like
Never read any Dune!
My BTT post!
The Dune series is one that I will definitely never read, there is nothing about it that appeals to me.
Actually, just this week I got an offer from a publicist of a follow-up novel to the Dune series. My reaction: Aah! Anything but!
Yes! Henry James! Spork!!!
Speaking of Jameses, James Joyce! Double spork!!! Eyes!!!
Dune = first book I EVER remember not completing! ALL-CAPSITY BORING!!!
Yay, I agree – Henry James is the biggest bore. I’ve been trying so hard to love his novels, but to no avail. Ditto with Hemingway. You’re also right about Woolf; it really does depend on the novel. I loved Mrs Dalloway, but absolutely detested To the Lighthouse. Haven’t read Orlando, so I can’t really comment on that one.