Tatum’s Comments (group member since Dec 23, 2011)

Tatum’s comments from the Should have read classics group.

In the context of the group I was referring more to "classics" yes. Although since I've joined Goodreads I've found that there are books that I would say are hideously awful and wouldn't give away to my worst enemy that many people have rated 4-5 stars so I suppose it can apply to all books really.

I meant that what some people would consider to be a superior work is bound to be considered inferior by someone else who has different tastes.

In other words, no one's opinions about what does or does not constitute a good work should be discredited. That's the great thing about reading, we can all read the same book and all take away something different from it, like it or not.

I agree that I have read books in the past and revised my opinions on them when reading them later. I also think sometimes it just depends on your mood at the time and your opinion could differ on a book based on that alone. For instance, if I am in a happy mood, I tend to like to read books that reflect that and are more "light reading" and would probably not enjoy a more serious book as much as I would if I was in a more thinking mood.

Cleo, I read and enjoyed The Name of the Rose. I also read and enjoy the Brother Cadfael series. Now in my opinion books are only superior or inferior based on who is reading and enjoying them at the time. In other words, you like what you like and don't what you don't. There's not a book out there, however lauded as as pivotal work of great importance etc. that there's not someone who thinks it's insufferable (and I fall fully in the insufferable camp on a few of them).

It's been 20+ years since I read The Name of the Rose and to be honest, my memory for plots and such isn't the best. I do distinctly remember reading it as a mystery and nothing more though. As I recall the mystery element in it was quite well done and suspenseful and I think all the trappings around it were used to add to atmosphere.

Personally I think you gave it a good shot, you made it 1/3 of the way through which is usually more patience than I have for a book I'm not liking.

I am not reading this with the group, but that is why when I read books that are for a broken down group discussion I always make myself a piece of paper or notepad file with the different parts and then write in the main events that happened, so I don't mess up.

That's not actually the good link for L.M. Montgomery even though it is the first that shows up in the author search. The good one is:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

I finished this off a few days ago but didn't want to comment too much and possibly put people off reading it. But since other people are criticizing here is my review:

"This should be a good book. It gets 2/5 rating from me because I still like the premise if not the execution. If it had been based on execution alone, it would have gotten 1/5.

A young man has his portrait painted and realizes how handsome he is. Impulsively he wishes for the painting to grow old while he remains untouched by time, a wish that comes true. He is influenced to engage in any number of wicked activities by a friend of his and watches the painting become more and more hideous while he himself stays completely unscathed... a wolf in sheep's clothing so to speak.

So why isn't it an enjoyable read? Because it just gets bogged down by Oscar Wilde's allusions and opinions. The prose can be overpowering at times. None of the characters are particularly sympathetic or likeable. And yet one can't really work up enough feeling to dislike the "bad guys" either.

This novel is considered to be a classic which has withstood the test of time. A good many people think it is excellent, so I wouldn't want to specifically dissuade anyone from reading it. I just don't see what other people see in it."

Honestly if not for the book club, I would gladly have abandoned this. I can't remember the last time I read to the end of a book I disliked so much. I hope next month's read is more enjoyable!

Hi, I'm Tatum, a SAHM of two from Canada. My husband recently got me an e-reader (to limit the mountains of books in the house I think) and it's opened up a whole new world of online books to me.

One of the things I discovered was that I could get all these classic literature books for free, many of which I had always been meaning to read, some of which I read years ago and enjoyed, so this seemed like a good group for me to join!

My reading tastes are very eclectic, spanning a wide variety of genres and I enjoy the prospect of discussing books with you all. For the past few years most of my discussions centering around books have been about children's books, so the idea of discussing books with adults is inviting!