The Most Overrated Books Showing 1,551-1,600 of 5,680

[[deleted user]]

I loved the books by Junot Diaz, but my book club member thought it was too long and there was too much Spanish!

[Susie]

How about Love in the Time of Cholera and One Hundred Years of Solitude?

[[deleted user]]

Yep, I agree. And how about one of Milan Kundera's books ( but then, I am Czech)or that small but significant book by B. Schlink The Reader?

[Karen]

Lucie wrote: "Yep, I agree. And how about one of Milan Kundera's books ( but then, I am Czech)or that small but significant book by B. Schlink The Reader?"

I would love to read The Unbearable Lightness of Being. I saw the movie in the 80's (I think) and loved it-I'm sure the book is better.

[[deleted user]]

Karen wrote: "Lucie wrote: "Yep, I agree. And how about one of Milan Kundera's books ( but then, I am Czech)or that small but significant book by B. Schlink The Reader?"

I would love to read The Unbearable Lig..."
Yes, the book is much better. My favourite Kunbdera is " The Joke"

[Karen]

Ooo! If the book is that much better I will definately read it soon. I have been feeling badly about the lack of women writers on my list-in fact I think I am rather sexist in that regard and I am not sure why. Ofcourse I have read women authors, but my reading list is quite lopsided.

[[deleted user]]

Margaret Attwood, Amy Tan, Iris Murdoch, A.S. Byatt??

[Karen]

Oh I know! I've read The Handmaids Tale and hated it, which has nothing to do with feminism, religious beliefs (I have none), or political views- I just did not like it. Barbara Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible was good. I love Jane Austen.

[Mark]

Karen wrote: "I would love to read The Unbearable Lightness of Being."

I think you'll know what I mean when I say that sometimes you read a book and think to yourself, "well, that was a good book." Or even think it was a great one. And then there are those books that change you. When you're done reading them you can honestly say to yourself (I hope this doesn't sound melodramatic), I look at the world differently now than I did before I read this book.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being was such a book for me. The movie was pretty pictures and all, but--as is so often the case--couldn't come close to the richness of emotion and idea that was in the book.

Highly recommended, Karen. If you start it anytime soon, I could easily be tempted to buddy up with you for a reread. Just sayin'.

[Karen]

Oooo that would be fun! I don't hear often that statement- a book that changes you or makes you look at the world differently. I will let you know when I will start it. And you do know you have that big scary book to finish.

[Lesley]

Captain Corelli and his b****y mandolin are right up there

[Mark]

Karen wrote: " big scary book ..."

It's no bigger nor scarier than the planet I've been on for lo these 51 years, but thanks for the reminder!

[Karen]

True, when you finish it you will feel like you've accomplished something big.
I would like to be 51

[Geoffrey]

Then there´s all those novels that come close to "classic status" but just miss it. In that category I would put Kidd´s THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, Dubos´s HOUSE OF FOG....STONE VIRGIN by Barry U., BUTTERFLY STORIES by Vollman, BEANS OF EGYPT ....etc. Perhaps someday one of these will be resurrected to "classic" status. It took TGG 30 years to reach that pinnacle.

I´d be interested in seeing compiled lists of "classics" for each decade going back two centuries. Who, after all, reads Herodotus nowadays?

[Paul Martin]

Jane wrote: "Is there not a new list of the classics that is worth reading?

Is there not new authors and stories to retell the ageless themes of struggle, moral dilemma, conflict, discrimination, etc.

Is chan..."

Haven't read it, but what about Fight Club? Or maybe that's more of a cult book.

[Jairo]

Maria, actually most of the books on the list are books I enjoyed immensely. For instance I just finished the Cat's Eye and I am still dazzled with the beauty of her writing. After The Hands Maid tales book, and Alias Grace this is my favorite Atwood book.
I agree with the overrating label for Moby Dick,The DaVinci Code and specially Atlas Shrugged. I have not read Twilight.

Maria wrote: "Which books do you think are overrated?

Here's a quick sampling from various internet sites that recommend skipping these:
The Catcher in the Rye
Moby Dick
The Great Gatsby
Waiting for Godot
The..."

[Jairo]

Yes. I agree totally.

Nancy wrote: "Chava wrote: "Whenever I see a person slam, or call The Catcher In the Rye an overrated, my heart breaks a little more. It is beyond my comprehension how someone can hate this book. In my mind, if ..."

[Anne Hawn]

I think The Color Purple is very high on my list for current books that could become classics. The role of Shug in Celie's life is powerful and beautiful and yet almost silent. She conveyed personhood on Celie by her love. Shug didn't have the power to change her world, but she did have the ability to change one pitiful human being. When they made it into a movie, I was very skeptical about it because the essence of the book takes place in Celie's psyche, but the acting and directing was superb.

[[deleted user]]

Oh yes that is a great book, I agree

[Kallie]

Paul Martin wrote: "Jane wrote: "Is there not a new list of the classics that is worth reading?

Is there not new authors and stories to retell the ageless themes of struggle, moral dilemma, conflict, discrimination, ..."

Russell Banks -- Continental Drift; The Sweet Hereafter
Paula Fox -- The Servant; The God of Nightmares
Susan Choi -- American Woman; A Person of Interest
Robert Bolano -- The Savage Detectives

[Jairo]

Lucie wrote: "Maybe The Brief and Wondrouls Life of Oscar Wao"

After Bolanos and Garcia Marquez, Junot Diaz is perhaps the best Latin America writer I have enjoyed reading in the last few years (even if Diaz has chosen to write in English).

[[deleted user]]

YES I agree. I liked all his books, Drown made me feel I know how men think. I loved it. I am planning to re-read Oscar Wao soon.

[[deleted user]]

I iwll look it up

[Monty J]

Lucie wrote: "Drown made me feel I know how men think."

Some Hispanic ghetto men maybe think the way Diaz portrayed, but trust me, not ALL men. Not even close. I thought he was a cocky, self-centered, overstuffed ass.

[Mark]

Monty J wrote: "not ALL men."

Now, now ... if I may interject ...

Reducing individuals to sweeping generalizations is a bit of sticky wicket and probably just a bad idea all around. Whether it's a simple monosyllabic noun such as "men" or one modified by multiple adjectives such as "Hispanic ghetto men."

Maybe the best modifier to put in front of Lucie's word and Monty's phrase is "some".

As in "Drown made me feel I know how some men think." or as in "Some Hispanic ghetto men maybe think the way Díaz portrayed, but trust me, not ALL men."

I think this was your point, Monty. But the point came out sounding a little rough-edged, if you don't mind me saying so. You sort of pushed in the same, to my mind--wrong, direction as Lucie rather than countered it.

Not to suggest, Lucie, that some of us men can't be real bastards some of the time. It would seem God is to blame.

[Monty J]

Mark wrote: "Reducing individuals to sweeping generalizations is a bit of sticky wicket and probably just a bad idea all around. Whether it's ..."

Agreed. I modified my post.

I've met only one man in my life whom I could say was like Diaz's character in Drown. Well, maybe two. One was in in the military and the other on a highway construction crew. I have met some very honorable men from Hispanic ghetto community.

In my experience, men generally tend to take their cues from the women they are with, within certain boundaries.

Generally, a woman who acts and dresses slutty would tend to receive different treatment than one who dresses conservatively and commands respect. I taught my daughters this, and they always, to my knowledge, dressed and behaved conservatively, and both married exceedingly fine young men.

[Mark]

Monty J wrote: "Agreed. I modified my post."

Maybe on some almost subconscious level I strive to keep everyone subdued so it seems more dramatic when I totally lose my shit in these forums. Like I did with ... oh, never mind.

Vacation starts tomorrow!

[Monty J]

Mark wrote: "Maybe on some almost subconscious level I strive to keep everyone subdued so it seems more dramatic when I totally lose my shit in these forums. Like I..."

Maybe we should nickname you "Bo Peep. The shepherd hound of Goodreads.

http://www.dogwallpapers.net/australi...

[[deleted user]]

The JokeLife is Elsewhere
I read most of Kundera- in Czech, but these 2 are my favourite Try them !
Lucie

[Karen]

Mark wrote: "Monty J wrote: "Agreed. I modified my post."

Maybe on some almost subconscious level I strive to keep everyone subdued so it seems more dramatic when I totally lose my shit in these forums. Like I..."

I must be missing something, I've never seen you lose your shit here, as you put it. I just think you are someone who demands inteligent statements from people here.

[Karen]

Monty J wrote: "Mark wrote: "Reducing individuals to sweeping generalizations is a bit of sticky wicket and probably just a bad idea all around. Whether it's ..."

Agreed. I modified my post.

I've met only one ma..."


I have a problem with this- dressing slutty can be subjective, don't you think? And I don't dress conservatively- to me that would mean preppy. I think dressing modestly would be more accurate.

[Mark]

Karen wrote: "dressing slutty can be subjective"

An example of how insidious the sexism of the patriarchy can be/is. While each of our own subjective takes on how a woman would dress slutty may vary, most of us probably have some mental image of what we'd call a woman dressing slutty.

But what if I, a man, deliberately wanted to dress slutty (in typical male clothing, mind you!)? What are my options? How would I even begin?

We only have coded wardrobe options for WOMEN to signal a willingness to engage in promiscuous sex. There are no male equivalents.

Isn't that weird when you think about it?

[Monty J]

Karen wrote: "I have a problem with this- dressing slutty can be subjective, don't you think? And I don't dress conservatively- to me that would mean preppy. I think dressing modestly would be more accurate. ."

Yes, I think "modest" was the term I used with them 15 years ago. It's all pretty subjective and up to each individual and the boundaries may vary according to the situation (e.g., work vs after hours and sexy doesn't have to be slutty.)

[Karen]

Mark wrote: "Karen wrote: "dressing slutty can be subjective"

An example of how insidious the sexism of the patriarchy can be/is. While each of our own subjective takes on how a woman would dress slutty may va..."

Yep- and thank you. It is weird, and I don't know what you would wear to look slutty, but if you can think of something, I'd love to see it. When I met my husband I was wearing pants with slits up to there on either side- that was 32 years ago, and it wasn't even a topic for discussion, he is also the most unchauvinistic man I've ever known.

[Mark]

Karen wrote: "but if you can think of something, I'd love to see it."

Karen, I'm afraid people might start to, you know, talk about us once I say this: but I'd dress slutty for you anytime, lady. :)

Now if I could only figure out how? The whole Chippendale's thing just seems too predictable.

Haha!

[Karen]

ROTFLOL !!!!!!!!!! Oh this is too effing funny! How about a speedo in a bar? That would make me want a drink.
I don't have those pants anymore- I wonder what happened to them?

[Mark]

Karen wrote: "ROTFLOL !!!!!!!!!!"


Wait, it dawns on my that cyber-flirting with you in virtual public IS kind of slutty. Slutty acting, anyway. What I'm wearing could not be considered slutty in anyone's imagination. I don't think.

[Geoffrey]

Mark wrote: "Karen wrote: "dressing slutty can be subjective"

An example of how insidious the sexism of the patriarchy can be/is. While each of our own subjective takes on how a woman would dress slutty may va..."

Actually when men want to dress slutty they wear paisly polyester shirts with the top three buttons unbuttoned, a pinky ring, and a necklace with that Italian pepper.

[Karen]

Mark wrote: "Karen wrote: "ROTFLOL !!!!!!!!!!"


Wait, it dawns on my that cyber-flirting with you in virtual public IS kind of slutty. Slutty acting, anyway. What I'm wearing could not be considered slutty in ..."

Well you do sometimes tell people here you are in your underwear. I am finding all this funny, not slutty. Don't worry, I don't think you're a slut and I still respect you.

[Paul Martin]

Geoffrey wrote: "Actually when men want to dress slutty they wear paisly polyester shirts with the top three buttons unbuttoned, a pinky ring, and a necklace with that Italian pepper. "


Ahh, so that's what it means!

[Petergiaquinta]

That's a horn, not a pepper. And when I wore one in the 70s, I think the end result was more greasy than slutty. But I'm better now...

[Karen]

Oh that's right! And I thought only the Italians from NewJersey wore those- I'm stereotyping, glad you're better now.

[Monty J]

Geoffrey wrote: "Actually when men want to dress slutty they wear paisly polyester shirts with the top three buttons unbuttoned, a pinky ring, and a necklace with that Italian pepper."

I thought they wore paisley or polka-dotted underwear, loosened their belts and lowered their jeans below their butts. No shirt, or shirt with the sleeves cut out showing tattooed arms.

Some might stuff a rolled-up towel down their front to make a "bulge," creating false impression of an over-sized endowment, then swagger back and forth hoping to ignite some inebriated cougar's imagination.

The verbally gifted male slut might sit at a bar, make eye contact, start a conversation, deftly inserting suggestive words and phrases while buying drinks and watching carefully, like a poker player, the nuances of involuntary muscular reactions to those carefully selected and timed verbal aphrodisiacs, progressively relaxing her, making her laugh and laying waste her inhibitions until she feels she has known him since childhood and would trust him with her, her... .

[Karen]

Well written Monty, and so true.

[Monty J]

Mark wrote: "We only have coded wardrobe options for WOMEN to signal a willingness to engage in promiscuous sex. There are no male equivalents."

You are kidding, right? ALL males are sluts. It's a given and women know it.

All a woman has to do is give the slightest hint of a remote possibility of sexual interest and ten guys are at her feet, tongues and knuckles dragging. This proclivity varies, of course, by age. Us older guys have learned to be slightly more selective. Only slightly, mind you.

[Karen]

I think that is a different topic. Yes you are correct, women have that power. Sexism is different- if a woman is dressed in a certain way she is considered loose- this sexism isn't applied to men.

[Monty J]

Karen wrote: "...if a woman is dressed in a certain way she is considered loose- this sexism isn't applied to men."

This is, partially at least, because it doesn't apply to men for the reason I put forth above. Other than what I've described, men don't have an appearance code to signal interest in promiscuous sex because they don't need one. Therefore the burden lies almost entirely on the female.

With minor exceptions it is the same throughout nature. Until the female signals interest, males can do all the dances and gyrations they want, to no avail. The female decides. In nature, females call the shots.

The burden may seem unfair, but once this natural law is understood, it can give a woman a tremendous amount of power.

Twice in my career I've had women lean against the doorway to my office in a see-through blouse and sheer bra and start a casual conversation. They knew exactly what they were doing. (This was a business environment.) I was married. I didn't bite. But I had a hard time concentrating the rest of the day.

[Kallie]

Karen wrote: When I met my husband I was wearing pants with slits up to there on either side- that was 32 years ago, and it wasn't even a topic for discussion, he is also the most unchauvinistic man I've ever known.

If you are talking about the 70s and 80s, society's become more prim and judgmental since then. Monty, what way of dressing is sexy yet conservative or modest, and commands respect? Maybe you could give examples.

[Karen]

When I wore those pants, as mentioned above, I commanded respect and got it.
Enough said.

[Rhiannon]

I HATED, HATED, HATED Catcher in the Rye. I'm not one to stop reading a book, so I had to finish, especially since this is supposed to be a classic. It was a waste of time I can't get back. I liked The Great Gatsby and The Da Vinci Code.