Terminalcoffee discussion
Books / Writing
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Do you think less of people if they read shitty books?
I read mostly fiction as well, but a lot of short story collections interspersed between the novels. I never thought of the leap that fiction demands as any sort of effort.
I only read fiction too. Sometimes I feel like such a non-intellectual because of that! But I like being in another world.
And yet you don't have to look far for articles that declare that the novel is dead, and non-fiction is where the action is.
Yes, but I've also read that the novel is back, and narrative, too. The post-modern novel is so over. :)
Heh. Since I never thought the novel was dead no I can't say I have ever understood all the proclamations! What is post-modernism anyway? See, that's how much I analyze the state of fiction!
I have read some I guess, but I do prefer narrative myself. I don't want to have to work so hard making sense of things.
I generally stick with fiction, but toss in the odd non-fiction read now and then. I'm nearly finished with The Selfish Gene. It's taking a long time because it's some complex stuff.
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Yeah I don't get into short stories either and avoid them, even tho I know there's lots of excellent ones. It goes along with my desire to commit to a different world, I want to settle in there for a longer time than short stories allow.
Speaking of mixing genres, who knew that Edith Wharton wrote erotica? Lewis Lapham just published an excerpt from a previously unknown Wharton story, and it's quite something:http://www.laphamsquarterly.org/voice...
Anyway, I guess everyone needs a change of pace once in a while...
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HAHAHAHA, that's pretty exquisite. So well written, it got me hot, and I don't go for erotica. Maybe I should?
A little disturbing, isn't it? Like imagining your great-grandmother writing erotica.DAMMIT. Why'd you have to put that image in my head? And great-grandma was so nice...
Jonathan wrote: "Speaking of mixing genres, who knew that Edith Wharton wrote erotica? Lewis Lapham just published an excerpt from a previously unknown Wharton story, and it's quite something:http://www.laphamsqu..."
My policy is to stay away from burning lips unless I have a fire extinguisher. For you people in Tennessee, burning lips can get you a burned down house if your Fire Department subscription payment is a little late.
And if you’re kneading a breast here in LA, there’s a good chance it's made of silicone, meaning the best you can do is to whisper, “Like the week-old bread of the angels.”
Yes. Yes, I do. Even though I know it doesn't tell me anything about their character (other than they tolerate and LOVE books with loopholes so big /I/ could fit through).
Heh, kind of on this subject, there's a new dating site that's a cross between GR and Match.com, where you can find people based on the books they read. "Welcome to Alikewise ~ Dating based on book tastes
Alikewise is a dating site that allows you to find people based on their book tastes. Anything from cooking to politics to yoga — we think we can find others who would like to talk to you. "
So you don't have to bother with all the people who do read shitty books! Oh I know, we all said it doesn't matter, yet it's nice to have a common thread to start out with when agreeing to meet new people for a relationship.
I briefly looked it over, and it seems like a decent site. You can search by books, read profiles, huh.
So how many dates do you have lined up, Lori?:)
Pshaw, I'm a married woman! Wouldn't want to lead anyone on. :DBut just for the fun of it, I searched for Freedom, wanted to see how many literary snobs I got, and scored with the very first one: "soap opera with Hallmark ending." Because, ya know, these days it's cool to hate on Franzen.
and nobody has any books in common with el liso...
Wow, you're right, I only have 6 books in common with you!*eyes El Liso warily*
GR says I have 12 books in common with you, but really it's at least 13, Kevin, because I did READ The Girl Who Played With Fire, I just never said so here. I really thought it was great, though. :)
Only 3 for me, so Kevin you had better give me some book recommendations quick sticks. :D
19 for me, Kevvy. Be afraid, be very afraid.
Rebecca wrote: "I don't judge people for reading shitty books. I judge them if they don't realize they're shitty.I love horror movies, good, bad, indifferent. But I know the difference between them!"
That about sums up my sentiment, too.
so maybe i don't read ****** books (or maybe you guys do too)
I know Misha, I didn't like The Corrections myself at all. But hee, I went looking for a stereotype, and bingo, I found it immediately! Which amused me vastly.PS, since I am married to someone who doesn't even read, obviously I don't base my relationships on books.
And Kevin, IMO, is still quite the catch! :D
I guess my point is, I'm not sure if I was single, how much importance I'd place on that site. It would be nice to find a reader, sure, but we'd have to have other things that make a relationship. Plus, I certainly wouldn't want to have total agreement with someone, that would be boring!
I don't think less of people if they read shitty books. (Well, maybe a little if that's the only thing I know about them.) I just think they have shitty taste in books! However, I HAVE been known to re-work a snap judgement after finding out the reverse. "Wait! She loved that book? I thought I was the only person cool enough to love that book! She must OK after all!"
lori - ;) thanksafter reading smetchie's thoughts i feel that i may think less of someone who reads something just to look like they read popular or intellectual books rather than reading what they really enjoy
(i write some very confusing thoughts)
Made sense to me too Kevin, I may be worried if I were you :).
I don't think any more highly of some one who would sit down and read War and Peace so why would I think less of someone who reads romance novels. It takes all kinds to make the world go round, and I've been proven the fool more than once about preconceptions based on one piece of data.
I would have to say "shitty" is a matter of opinion. Will I judge? Sad to say, but probably. However, I try to keep an open mind and remember everyone is different and I'd hate the world to be monotonous. But I would still be human enough to wonder WTH is wrong with them. Ha ha.
He's never around when you really need him.
Now all we need is Wilma and Betty.And Rubbles.
Jim left a few days ago, which is why threads turned up as unread even though there were no new comments.Don't know why, I wish he would come back.
Damn that Jim, I want an official welcome!
Yes, he's deleted, Bun.
Wilma wrote: "BunWat wrote: "Wait, what? Jim left??"psst Bun ... Barney is Jim ... it's a secret."
Oh!!! Yay!!!
I guess you have to be friends with someone on GR to compare books?I think less of people with "Paladino for Governor" signs in their yard.
I just got one of those automated campaign phone calls telling me to vote for Paladino!
Terminalcoffee
Books mentioned in this topic
The Selfish Gene (other topics)The Suicide Effect (other topics)
The Sex Club (other topics)
The Baby Thief (other topics)
Secrets to Die for (other topics)
More...
Did I tell you about the conversation with my aunt, in which I suddenly realized she had never recommended a book of fiction to me, in all of her years of book recommendations? I asked her about it, and she said that she hadn't read fiction in years, and that she didn't think her brain would let her anymore. She said reading fiction involves committing yourself to involvement in another world, and she doesn't have time for that commitment.