What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews Showing 351-400 of 12,687

[Amber]

I'd recommend The League series, Chronicles of Nick series and Darkhunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon because they are all pretty good reads. Check them out if you enjoy Space pirates and set on other planets for the league and the supernatural and greek mythology for the dark hunter and chronicles of nick series.

[Bionic Jean]

Rahat - You are certainly not alone in loving "Wuthering Heights"! My hearty dislike of the novel was actually the impetus for me joining Goodreads. I'd been surrounded for so long by people I respect who love the book, that I despaired of finding anyone who shared my views.

Since you asked why I dislike it... here is my review

I freely admit there have been some wonderful dramatisations, full of atmosphere, a sense of forboding and a shivery Gothic feel. But these are not the book!

To my mind people are giving what is a badly written book their own interpretations and love of the story. The more imaginative you are, the more you may love it! So maybe it's no bad thing.

I read your review Rahat; a nice review full of enthusiasm. But since you admitted that your first reading of the book was a children's version, a "retelling", don't you think this may have coloured your later opinions?

But don't let me spoil it for you. We all have our favourites, and nobody should take that away from us. :)

[[deleted user]]

I've just picked up Wuthering Heights as an audiobook. I'm not so sure about devoting the time to it now!

[Jenny]

Heather: do! To be honest my memory of that book is a bit blurred as I read it ages ago, but I actually remember liking it. Looking through my friends reviews, I am finding 2 to 5 star-ratings, 19 of my friends have read it in total of which 14 rated it either 4 or 5 stars. I guess like pretty much everything else on the planet, it is a matter of individual taste. (In fact, this whole discussion makes me want to re-read it in order to find out how grown-up me would like it)

@Jean, would you mind linking your review again? For some reason your link always drops me off at the goodreads home page, and I love reading a good rant about a book ;)

[LauraT]

Heather wrote: "I've just picked up Wuthering Heights as an audiobook. I'm not so sure about devoting the time to it now!"

I also "listened" to it the last time I "read" it!!!

[Bionic Jean]

Oops sorry - I seem to have done it wrong. I'll go back and correct it.

I wouldn't want to ever put someone off reading a book which others have liked. That would be mean, as they might enjoy it! So if what I've said makes you want to have a look(or relook) that's great! I'm counter-suggestible like that too.

[LauraT]

Jean wrote: "Oops sorry - I seem to have done it wrong. I'll go back and correct it.

I wouldn't want to ever put someone off reading a book which others have liked. That would be mean, as they might enjoy it! ..."

But we can have opur own opinions Jean! I often find books which are considered really good boring or simply not to my taste!!!!

[Bionic Jean]

LauraT - Absolutely! Glad you understand where I'm coming from, thank you.

The link in 352 works now, by the way Jenny.

[LauraT]

Jean wrote: "LauraT - Absolutely! Glad you understand where I'm coming from, thank you.

The link in 352 works now, by the way Jenny."

;)

[Pink]

Oh I like that books split opinions. Obviously the world would be a very boring place if we all liked the same things. I've read lots of books heralded as the greatest thing ever written, to find that I personally hated it. I've also loved books that seemingly nobody else enjoyed. Each to their own, it makes for a fun discussion!

My personal feelings on Wuthering Heights were complex - I hated all the characters, hated much of the plot and often wanted to throw the book against the wall. However by the end I was glad to have read it and sort of liked it in a perverse way (rated it 3 stars I think) It's strange but I have fonder memories of the book as more time passes since I finished it. Sometimes I think that I'd like to read it again, but suspect that I'd still want to throw it against a wall.

A book that I've just finished that also seems to split opinion is Madame Bovary and I'd definitely recommend it. I struggled through the first 100 pages or so, but it was well worth persevering with (at least for me!)

[Joy]

Wuthering Heights is definitely a 'marmite' book! I'm with Jean on this - & I have read it several times, so I think I've given it a fair chance. The problem for me was that all the characters were selfish. I wanted some spark of humour or redemption.

[Charbel]

Pink wrote: "Oh I like that books split opinions. Obviously the world would be a very boring place if we all liked the same things. I've read lots of books heralded as the greatest thing ever written, to find t..."

I absolutely agree! I found Wuthering Heights to be engaging but also enraging. As for Madame Bovary, I read it a long time ago and I remember enjoying it, maybe it's time to read it again.

[Jenny]

I agree! (with different opinions being the fun part in discussing books that is).
@Jean: thanks for fixing the link, I've just read your review and now I am determined to re-read this book sometime in the future, to figure out what an 18-year gap, an older and not necessarily wiser eye and many more books to compare it to have done to my perception of it!

[[deleted user]]

I will still read it. When it comes to classics I will never let a bad review put me off reading a book. I use reviews to look at new, contemporary authors but otherwise I tend to ignore them and make my own opinion after reading! I'm looking forward to it and sharing my views with you all, wonder which marmite half I will fit in to!

[Alannah]

Heather wrote: "I will still read it. When it comes to classics I will never let a bad review put me off reading a book. I use reviews to look at new, contemporary authors but otherwise I tend to ignore them and m..."

I would be the exact same Heather.

[Shirley]

Heather wrote: "I will still read it. When it comes to classics I will never let a bad review put me off reading a book. I use reviews to look at new, contemporary authors but otherwise I tend to ignore them and m..."

I do the same Heather! I have not read Wuthering Heights but perhaps I should...

The book I am reading at the moment is contemporary and seems to be a marmite book too - "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy - there seems to be quite varied opinion on it - but I think it's quite good so far!!

[LauraT]

Charbel wrote: "Pink wrote: "Oh I like that books split opinions. Obviously the world would be a very boring place if we all liked the same things. I've read lots of books heralded as the greatest thing ever writt..."

I CAN'T stand Emma Bovary, which doesn't mean I didn't like the book. Only the character!!!! SAme with the protagonist of Bel-Ami

[Charbel]

LauraT wrote: "Charbel wrote: "Pink wrote: "Oh I like that books split opinions. Obviously the world would be a very boring place if we all liked the same things. I've read lots of books heralded as the greatest ..."

She must be one of the most hated characters in literary history. Same here with The Picture of Dorian Gray: I love the book, I think the plot is fantastic but I hated Dorian Gray which somehow only got me to enjoy the book even more.

[LauraT]

For the same reason I've never even tried to read Anna Karenina!!!

[Elaine]

LauraT wrote: "For the same reason I've never even tried to read Anna Karenina!!!"

Hi Laura,

I really (surprisingly) enjoyed Anna Karenina but she is by far the least likeable and least interesting character in the book. Levin was far more intriguing. Thankfully, Anna isn't actually in a lot of it.

[Kristi]

I've always meant to read Wuthering Heights, too. Maybe we need a readalong later this year?

I read Madame Bovary last year and HATED it. I didn't like Emma, and I was just so bored. The only classic that I've liked less was The Mysteries of Udolpho, which I was barely able to finish earlier this year. It amazes me that I see ratings of 5 stars next to my one star.

That being said, I never tell someone that they shouldn't read a book just because I didn't like it. I think the reading experience depends on a lot of things--your current life, what you've recently read, your expectations of the book, etc.

[Bionic Jean]

There's quite a consensus of opinion here! And if you do decide to do a readalong of "Wuthering Heights" I'll be fascinated to see how you all react. (Won't chip in unless you want me to though. No way am I going to put myself through another read of it in less than a year...)

But I'm surprised how many people are saying they don't like certain books because they don't like the main character - or some of the characters. Do you think it's a prerequisite then? I'm pretty certain I've enjoyed books in which not one character seems to have any redeeming feature!

[Leslie]

Boy, there is a lot of activity today! In the 10 hours or so since I last checked this thread there have been 20 posts!

Elaine wrote: "I really (surprisingly) enjoyed Anna Karenina but she is by far the least likeable and least interesting character in the book. Levin was far more intriguing. Thankfully, Anna isn't actually in a lot of it. ..."

I agree - about Anna & about Levin! :)

[Leslie]

Kristi wrote: "I've always meant to read Wuthering Heights, too. Maybe we need a readalong later this year?

I read Madame Bovary last year and HATED it. I didn't like Emma, and I was just so bored. The only cla..."

I wonder if this was partially due to which translation you had? I know that with the Russian authors, the public domain translations are not always the best ones available so perhaps that is true with the French authors as well...

[[deleted user]]

I didn't like Anna Karenina much as a character but loved the book. I quite often prefer reading books where I don't like the characters much as 'people' because I find it more interesting. I think particularly in Victorian era books the 'good' characters often annoy me and the 'bad' characters are the interesting ones even thought I wouldn't like to be friends with them. For example Emmy and Becky in Vanity Fair

[Charbel]

Heather wrote: "I didn't like Anna Karenina much as a character but loved the book. I quite often prefer reading books where I don't like the characters much as 'people' because I find it more interesting. I think..."

Very well said. The "bad" characters are the most likely to commit interesting actions or take the story in an entirely new direction. Without them there wouldn't be much to enjoy. And if the "bad" character happens to be the protagonist, then I feel that that makes it all the more interesting. In a sense, we love to hate them.

[LauraT]

Elaine wrote: "LauraT wrote: "For the same reason I've never even tried to read Anna Karenina!!!"

Hi Laura,

I really (surprisingly) enjoyed Anna Karenina but she is by far the least likeable and least interesti..."
Good to know it! Since I like Tolsty a lot I may win myself next year and give it a try!

[LauraT]

Charbel wrote: "Heather wrote: "I didn't like Anna Karenina much as a character but loved the book. I quite often prefer reading books where I don't like the characters much as 'people' because I find it more inte..."

I quite like what you say. Only I generally "love" bad characters - such as Becky Sharp for istance! Not alway though, Bel Ami was really terrible!

[Pink]

I enjoy 'good' and 'bad' characters, as long as they're believable. I think it's often a sign of a well written book if I enjoy the story, despite finding the character annoying. I guess sometimes we're supposed to dislike the character, especially in older books, whereas most modern stories I read make all the main characters out to be heroes, but with no real substance.

[Tweedledum]

I just read, or rather listened to The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing and thought it so funny and clever that I persuaded the librarian to borrow it when I returned it to the library today!

[Kristi]

Leslie wrote: "Kristi wrote: "I've always meant to read Wuthering Heights, too. Maybe we need a readalong later this year?

I read Madame Bovary last year and HATED it. I didn't like Emma, and I was just so bore..."

That is a good point about the translation, Leslie.

[LauraT]

Kristi wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Kristi wrote: "I've always meant to read Wuthering Heights, too. Maybe we need a readalong later this year?

I read Madame Bovary last year and HATED it. I didn't like Emma, and I w..."

Always blame the translator - says a translator herself!!! ;)

On my side I've just finished As I Lay Dying and, even if it is not an easy book, I definitly recomend it.

[Shirley]

Pink wrote: "I enjoy 'good' and 'bad' characters, as long as they're believable. I think it's often a sign of a well written book if I enjoy the story, despite finding the character annoying. I guess sometimes ..."

I enjoy books with quite complex characters - the "good" characters are never completely good and the "baddies" are usually quite complex and have a whole history of why they are the way they are. If the characters in the book are well developed, and if you can relate to just one part of their character, then I think that makes for a good book. I always use the example of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever- it's a book you either love or hate and don't finish. I read it years ago and loved it, because although you don't like the main character in the first book, once you have read the third, you understand him and even like him a little.

[Bionic Jean]

Shirley - I think you've hit on something there. When anyone says to me "I don't like so-and-so" and gives that as a reason for disliking the book, I've always thought, so what?

Anti-heroes have an attraction all of their own of course. The "bad" girl/boy. But maybe there does have to be just a tiny smitchen of recognition and empathy for even the most dislikeable character, and that is why we enjoy tales about even the worst examples of humanity.

[Leslie]

Jean wrote: "Anti-heroes have an attraction all of their own of course. The "bad" girl/boy. But maybe there does have to be just a tiny smitchen of recognition and empathy for even the most dislikeable character, and that is why we enjoy tales about even the worst examples of humanity. .."

Hmmm... I can't see this as true in books about psychophatic serial killers (for example). Perhaps that is one reason that those type of crime books don't appeal to me (although the ones I have read have all contained other characters that I could relate to)!

[Elaine]

Heather wrote: "I didn't like Anna Karenina much as a character but loved the book. I quite often prefer reading books where I don't like the characters much as 'people' because I find it more interesting. I think..."

I'm with you Heather. Bad characters are often more interesting. However I think there's a definite distinction to be made between:

'bad characters'- who are often the most amusing to read

'unlikable characters' - like everyone in Franzen's Freedom

and

'dull characters' (which is where poor Anna falls I think).

The first two types of character I love reading about. I don't have to like or relate to a character to enjoy the book. I just need to understand their motivation.

Dull characters however are just,well, dull and can put me off reading a book unless surrounded by something interesting!

[[deleted user]]

That is an important distinction, but I'm not sure I agree that Anna was dull and I really enjoyed the book.
Bad characters are the best!

[Elaine]

Heather wrote: "That is an important distinction, but I'm not sure I agree that Anna was dull and I really enjoyed the book.
Bad characters are the best!"

I loved the book as well Heather (aside from Anna of course).

[Bionic Jean]

Leslie - I too have never understood the urge to read "true-life" crime books, though the fact that there is such a category proves that many people do! I wonder why that is; what is different in how people perceive these books. Clearly it is impossible to relate to a psychopath.

I suppose the closest I've come to trying that genre is a book I'm reading at the moment In Cold Blood by Truman Capote but I'm not that struck at the moment.

[Shirley]

Jean wrote: "Leslie - I too have never understood the urge to read "true-life" crime books, though the fact that there is such a category proves that many people do! I wonder why that is; what is different in h..."

I'm not keen on that sort of book either, but the worst kind for me (although people must buy them, because they are everywhere!!) are the stories about how children have been abused - I'm sorry, and I know it happens but I really do not want to read about it for fun - I would just find it too upsetting!

[Bionic Jean]

Oh yes Shirley! When I last went into WHSmiths I was appalled to see 3 whole bays devoted to what they called "Misery Sagas". I hadn't even known the term until then.

I can see how a book COULD be worth reading with such material, but it would need to be exceptional, and I'm afraid many of these just looked trashy.

[Jenny]

Sorry, I know I am jumping back a little here, but since we had a long discussion about Wuthering Heights a few posts back: here's a ranking of the Bronte novels by Juliet Barker, author of the biography The Brontes: Wild Genius on the Moors: The Story of Three Sisters. (Wuthering Heights holds 3rd place ;) Any suggestion for an alternative ranking?

[Alannah]

Jenny wrote: "Sorry, I know we're jumping back in discussion here, but since we had a long discussion about Wuthering Heights a few posts back: here's a ranking of the Bronte novels by Juliet Barker, author of t..."

I skimmed that book briefly while writing my essays for Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, it looked quite interesting.

[Bionic Jean]

Wahay!! I now feel totally vindicated ;) I always said "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" was my favourite and that Anne was the best of the 3. I might get on with this Juliet Barker person.

[Shirley]

Jenny wrote: "Sorry, I know I am jumping back a little here, but since we had a long discussion about Wuthering Heights a few posts back: here's a ranking of the Bronte novels by Juliet Barker, author of the bi..."

I would put Jane Eyre as top, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall second, but I have only read those two...

[Leslie]

Shirley wrote: "I would put Jane Eyre as top, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall second, but I have only read those two..."

Despite the fact that I precipitated this discussion by saying I preferred Jane Eyre to Wuthering Heights, I would say you should give WH a try. I myself have only read those 2 so can't really comment on Juliet Barker's list except to say many of those are on my TBR.

[Jenny]

I realize I have some serious catching up to do on the Bronte front, as I have only read Wuthering Heights ;)

[Bionic Jean]

I've added Juliet Barker's book to my TR list. Thank you Jenny.

[Jenny]

:)

[Elaine]

Shirley wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Sorry, I know I am jumping back a little here, but since we had a long discussion about Wuthering Heights a few posts back: here's a ranking of the Bronte novels by Juliet Barker, au..."

Hi Shirley, exactly the order I'd put them in. Jane Eyre, Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Wuthering Heights. First two are great but while I can appreciate Wuthering Heights it just so thoroughly depressing.