The Most Overrated Books Showing 3,301-3,350 of 5,680

[[deleted user]]

BTW the books by Harriet Lerner- Dance of Anger and others are very good for any psychological problems, I now recommend them to patients.It is 4 am here but I cannot sleep- too happy about how I can see after my eye operation.

[Leslie]

Lucie wrote: "BTW the books by Harriet Lerner- Dance of Anger and others are very good for any psychological problems, I now recommend them to patients.It is 4 am here but I cannot sleep- too happy about how I c..."

Worked on an eye surgery job once where the nurse assistant pulled the wrong suture and the needle fell off inside the patient's eye... that was an edge-of-your-seat tale...but the surgeon was cool and the outcome was good.

[Renee E]

Wow, Leslie . . . that had to be . . . *shudders*

I'll bet Lucie is glad you told that one AFTER her surgery, lol!

[[deleted user]]

Renee wrote: "Wow, Leslie . . . that had to be . . . *shudders*

I'll bet Lucie is glad you told that one AFTER her surgery, lol!"

Yes, LOL I ma having my other eye done on Thursday though, so no more horror stories please!

[Renee E]

Both of my parents have had eye surgeries on both eyes and they've had no problems at all. No pain, good vision, and the docs here where we are are pretty bad.

Bet yours will go without a hitch :-)

[Leslie]

Lucie wrote: "Renee wrote: "Wow, Leslie . . . that had to be . . . *shudders*

I'll bet Lucie is glad you told that one AFTER her surgery, lol!"

Yes, LOL I ma having my other eye done on Thursday though, so no ..."

One time in 20 years, I think it's pretty safe :D

[Sergio]

The alchemist

[Anne Hawn]

Renee wrote: "Michael wrote: "Yes, Anne--here's an interesting quote from Ralph Strauch:

"Some languages are structured around quite different basic word- categories and relationships. They project very differe..."

Renee, Michael, that's exactly what I am talking about. I find it absolutely fascinating. I think I remember it being the reason that the "Navajo Code Talkers" were able to encode messages so effectively during WWII.

Ants are extremely regimented so it makes sense that their language reflects that. That is the basic plot of the wonderful movie, "Ants." They have one ant that can't think like ants are supposed to. It brings up the interesting point of whether people can actually break out of a society that has no words for their concepts...but then that may be what is happening to us when we get strange feelings that we can't put into words.

My granddaughter and I are reading The Old Man and the Sea. We live on an island where there is an old bridge where people fish in small lanes just like bicycle lanes, others go out into the ocean in small boats. Some rely on what they catch to get by. After reading about Santiago, his courage, ability, capacity for work and determination, she has gone from thinking of many of those people as poor to thinking of them as awesome. I pointed out that Hemingway's language is very much like the people he writes about, simple and powerful, but hauntingly beautiful.

[Renee E]

There are times when there isn't a word that suits what I'm trying to express . . . so I pull a new one out of the ether or shanghai a few and bend them into the shape I need.

I've wondered a few times if that is how all language is born.

[Geoffrey]

Edward wrote: "Geoffrey wrote: "Years ago when living in Boston, I had an employee whose interest in architecture intersected with the dark arts. He had a portfolio of maps of Beantown with his exercises. He woul..."

Actually I have noted the repeated coincidence of pigeon behavior throughout my life. They have always had it in for me, hat or not.

[Geoffrey]

Animals don't need language to get a grip on reality, and as animals, ourselves, ditto.

[Renee E]

But animals DO have language, a good deal of it verbal. And they pick up on ours a lot more quickly than we do theirs.

[Geoffrey]

You didn't read my posting correctly. I wrote they don't need language to perceive reality. If I were to approach a stray dog with a stick in my hand, he doesn't need to hear my words of threat to understand my intent to strike him.

[Renee E]

Ah, okay. Thanks for the clarification.

There's that necessity of words ;-)

[Mitchell]

Ahhh... the Club of the Overrated... I saw that bit when Woody Allen did it in "Manhattan." It was original in 1979... ;-)

Unfortunately, to quote "The Breakfast Club," that reference is sort of like The Physics Club: 'Demented & sad, but sort of social...'

"Mozart... what about Mozart while you're trashing people."

[and a double-wink to you...]

M

[Petergiaquinta]

Mozart, that precocious little wanker...sure, he wrote a few good songs when he was 10, but what's he done lately???

[Karen]

Petergiaquinta wrote: "Mozart, that precocious little wanker...sure, he wrote a few good songs when he was 10, but what's he done lately???"

ROTFLOL !!

[Renee E]

If Mozart were alive today he'd be Elton John.

[Karen]

Renee wrote: "If Mozart were alive today he'd be Elton John."

Definitely!

[Michael]

Here are a few recent novels that I found disappointing, though most received rave reviews:

Gone Girl
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson
Chronic City, although I'm a big fan of Jonathan Lethem
Andrew's Brain, Doctorow's latest.

[Renee E]

And imagine how Beethoven would love the electric guitar, or electric violin. He'd probably be Jimmy Page.

Imagine giving Paganini an electric violin . . .

[Karen]

Renee wrote: "And imagine how Beethoven would love the electric guitar, or electric violin. He'd probably be Jimmy Page.

Imagine giving Paganini an electric violin . . ."

Beethoven might be a great classical or jazz acoustic guitarist also, probably both electric and acoustic. Fun to think about.

[Renee E]

*ponders Beethoven slouched in an egg chair (where he can feel music) holding in a lungful of smoke from a smoldering joint . . .

[Matthew]

Renee wrote: "And imagine how Beethoven would love the electric guitar, or electric violin. He'd probably be Jimmy Page.

Imagine giving Paganini an electric violin . . ."


Has anyone heard Beethoven's quote where he said something like "I'm only learning the rules so I can find the best way to break them"?

[Renee E]

No, I hadn't seen that, but I guess that puts me in good company :D

[[deleted user]]

Matthew wrote: "Renee wrote: "And imagine how Beethoven would love the electric guitar, or electric violin. He'd probably be Jimmy Page.

Imagine giving Paganini an electric violin . . ."


Has anyone heard Beetho..."

Oh I like it and I agree, rules and taboos are there to be broken ( in most cases)

[Danielle]

Philip wrote: "Any Harry Potter dross"

I applaud this comment. But Harry Potter's stories were written for children. They identified with the MC then grew up with him. As adults, that's very understandable that we don't like these stories so much.

I think J.K. Rowling wrote the first book at the exact right time to find an audience. At the moment, People are fascinated with magic, gifted persons, super-powerful characters, zombies, vampires, werewolf and other shifters and all sorts of supernatural stuff. So she fit perfectly in this mold.

And I add Lord of the Rings on the list. It's very fashion at the moment too, but it's so very dull. I can't imagine that they made how-many? movies based on this story.

[[deleted user]]

I feel a bit like that.After 4 years of blurred vision, inability to drive after dark or in heavy rain, able to read just enlarged font on kindle or work paperwork with magnifying glass, I can now see clearly. 2 days. Everything is different.ANd I am thinking how I never liked descriptions in books and how I was never visual. It might change.

Books I was told I should like but did not ?
Ulysses
100 years of solitude
Alchemist
Lord of the Rings
Siddharta
Harry Potter series and yes, I know it was written for children.
But so was Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland and Just so stories and Jungle book, and I love those, even as an adult.

[Renee E]

Edward wrote: "Loved your scenario of a sensory deprivation tank. My problem is-was that I can't imagine that. What I wrote was intended to be somewhere in the ballpark, but probably wasn't. Anyway, I'm still thinking about it. My suspicion is that words would come to mind. How else could I differentiate a lawn from a field? I further suspect that the words would evolve to colored thought forms, some overlapping and creating new colors; others standing alone in their purity. But, I wonder what would happen if one had never seen forms. "

I have a cherished friend (also a writer AND an artist) who has synesthesia.

I am envious. I imagine/correspond different numbers and letters with certain colors in my mind, but I don't SEE them. I'm missing a sensory capability.

[Paul Martin]

Harry Potter series and yes, I know it was written for children.
But so was Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland and Just so stories and Jungle book, and I love those, even as an adult.

Probably because you read those stories as a child. It will be the same with my generation and Harry Potter.

[Mochaspresso]

Danielle wrote: "And I add Lord of the Rings on the list. It's very fashion at the moment too, but it's so very dull. I can't imagine that they made how-many? movies based on this story. "

The LOTR movies took some liberties and ramped up the action. I enjoyed the movies, but could never get into the books.

[Anne Hawn]

Renee wrote: "I have a cherished friend (also a writer AND an artist) who has synesthesia.

I am envious. I imagine/ different numbers and letters with certain colors in my mind, but I don't SEE them. I'm missing a sensory capability. "

I have it, especially with numbers, dates, months and sometimes people's names: 7 is yellow, 25 is gold, September is blue etc. I never knew that everyone didn't see like that until recently...didn't know that it even had a name.

[[deleted user]]

Paul Martin wrote: "Harry Potter series and yes, I know it was written for children.
But so was Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland and Just so stories and Jungle book, and I love those, even as an adult.

Probab..."
That is probably a good point. The only modern children book ( even the ones I read to my children are now probably old ) is Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories. But I did not like the other one- Luca and the Ring of Fire.

[[deleted user]]

Mochaspresso wrote: "Danielle wrote: "And I add Lord of the Rings on the list. It's very fashion at the moment too, but it's so very dull. I can't imagine that they made how-many? movies based on this story. "

The LOT..."
I got as bored by the moview as by th ebooks. Maybe it is a male thing, LOFR

[[deleted user]]

Anne Hawn wrote: "Renee wrote: "I have a cherished friend (also a writer AND an artist) who has synesthesia.

I am envious. I imagine/ different numbers and letters with certain colors in my mind, but I don't SEE t..."
Wow, that must be so strange.
I ma most likely the opposite of visual, my dreams are like stories without pictures, most peculiar, as if I read my dreams in a book.

[Karen]

Renee wrote: "*ponders Beethoven slouched in an egg chair (where he can feel music) holding in a lungful of smoke from a smoldering joint . . ."

Hahaha! Listening to the 5th full blast, with me.

[Leslie]

Karen wrote: "Renee wrote: "*ponders Beethoven slouched in an egg chair (where he can feel music) holding in a lungful of smoke from a smoldering joint . . ."

Hahaha! Listening to the 5th full blast, with me."

I like the 5th, but prefer the 7th :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MqrB...

[Karen]

Lucie wrote:
"Harry Potter series and yes, I know it was written for children.
But so was Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland and Just so stories and Jungle book, and I love those, even as an adult."

I liked them also, and Tolkien

[Karen]

Leslie wrote: "Karen wrote: "Renee wrote: "*ponders Beethoven slouched in an egg chair (where he can feel music) holding in a lungful of smoke from a smoldering joint . . ."

Hahaha! Listening to the 5th full bla..."

Leslie wrote; "I like the 5th, but prefer the 7th :D"
I am not as familiar with that one, but I know that his odd numbered symphonies are considered better. I wonder if this is true and forgot (of course!!) where I heard that, maybe from my mother. I do have it and have not listened to any Beethoven for some time. I also love the 9th. And Moonlight sonata piano concerto, which my mother played on our piano when I was a kid.

[Cosmic]

Anne Hawn wrote: "have it, especially with numbers, dates, months and sometimes people's names: 7 is yellow, 25 is gold, September is blue etc. I never knew that everyone didn't see like that until recently...didn't know that it even had a name. ..."

I had friends that we well read. They would ask me have you read this or that or that philosophy is like such and such or you would like so and so very much. I realized that I was not able to converse about the things I was interested in with people that had the same interest because of my limited number of references that I had been exposed to.

[Kallie]

Karen wrote: "Renee wrote: "If Mozart were alive today he'd be Elton John."

Definitely!"

Or Tori Amos.

[Kallie]

Lucie wrote: "Anne Hawn wrote: "Renee wrote: "I have a cherished friend (also a writer AND an artist) who has synesthesia.

I am envious. I imagine/ different numbers and letters with certain colors in my mind,..."

Interesting, Anne and Lucie. I am somewhere in between maybe. My dreams are like being in a weird movie somebody else is directing.

[Paul Martin]

My dreams are like being in a weird movie somebody else is directing.

But it's still you, and that's quite amazing when you think about it.

[Karen]

Kallie wrote: "Karen wrote: "Renee wrote: "If Mozart were alive today he'd be Elton John."

Definitely!"

Or Tori Amos."

Does she wear Mozart wigs too?
Haha. She is very talented when she actually plays the piano, which she does less and less now. She used to play a grand, an upright and a toy piano in concerts.

[Karen]

Kallie wrote: "Lucie wrote: "Anne Hawn wrote: "Renee wrote: "I have a cherished friend (also a writer AND an artist) who has synesthesia.

I am envious. I imagine/ different numbers and letters with certain colors in my mind,..."

Interesting, Anne and Lucie. I am somewhere in between maybe. My dreams are like being in a weird movie somebody else is directing."


Do you see yourself in your dreams? I never do, does anyone? I wonder.

[Leslie]

Karen wrote: "Kallie wrote: "Lucie wrote: "Anne Hawn wrote: "Renee wrote: "I have a cherished friend (also a writer AND an artist) who has synesthesia.

I am envious. I imagine/ different numbers and letters wi..."

I am sometimes someone else in my dreams, but only for about 20 minutes or so....and that's all I have to say about that...

[Karen]

Leslie wrote: "Karen wrote: "Kallie wrote: "Lucie wrote: "Anne Hawn wrote: "Renee wrote: "I have a cherished friend (also a writer AND an artist) who has synesthesia.

I am envious. I imagine/ different numbers ..."

Leslie wrote;
"I am sometimes someone else in my dreams, but only for about 20 minutes or so....and that's all I have to say about that... "

Lol. I am sometimes Denzel Washington in my dreams, but only for, never mind.

[Kallie]

Paul Martin wrote: "My dreams are like being in a weird movie somebody else is directing.

But it's still you, and that's quite amazing when you think about it."

It is amazing. But I do have the question, who or what is directing? and I don't think anyone knows the answer for sure, which is fine. Like Leslie, I am sometimes someone else for a while, or myself and someone else at the same time. I like dreaming.

[Leslie]

Kallie wrote: " I like dreaming."

Me too! In my dreams I am consistently a good runner, a good swimmer, a horrible driver and worse bicycle rider, and the worst kisser -ever-

[Kallie]

Leslie wrote: "Kallie wrote: " I like dreaming."

Me too! In my dreams I am consistently a good runner, a good swimmer, a horrible driver and worse bicycle rider, and the worst kisser -ever-"

I'm a lousy runner in dreams. Especially if I'm trying to get away from danger, or prevent something bad from happening. I run as if I were under water. But sometimes I am in the ocean swimming or the sky flying, and that is a scary and exhilarating feeling. Kisses? Not telling.