Question #8: No way. No how. Not now. Not ever.

[Lauren]

I've had to read for school A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch and Crime and Punishment. Haven't finished te second one. Maybe one day. I have decided that I will read no more russian lit. Sorry, just can't. And I have tried and failed miserably to read Wuthering Heights. I've read and enjoyed Jane Eyre, but you can't force me to read Wuthering Heights. NO, NO, NEVER. Just plain will not happen. End of story. And I have never read a modern fantasy, (i think) sci-fi, and almost no romance. It's sad but true that just about ANYONE can write a book in one of those genres and have it be called good, it's a bad sign of how they have degraded. Anyway, my two cents. And when I say modern, I basically mean those paperback books people can get for 6$ at almost any sort of store. I've even seen them in gas stations. Yall know what I'm talking about, I hope.

[Sheila]

I flat out refused to read Twilight. However I was conned into it. Friends kept going on and on about this series. I read Twilight and I think it sucked.

Apparently Im the only one in my group of friends.

Also I refuse to read Lord of the Rings. I have zero interest in that sort of story line. I was going to say Harry Potter but I went out and bought a used HP book so I might read it.

[Tina]

Hm, nothing yet as of now. Except that I'm not such a big fan of classics. It's not that I would never read them, but I just have a hard time reading them. Same with historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction. I'm more of a realistic type of girl when it comes to books. :P

Oh wait. Now I know. Haruki Murakami. I know a lot of people like Murakami's books but I'm just not into it. And they're expensive here.

[Rachel]

Sheila wrote: "I flat out refused to read Twilight. However I was conned into it. Friends kept going on and on about this series. I read Twilight and I think it sucked.

Apparently Im the only one in my group o..."

Sheila wrote: "I flat out refused to read Twilight. However I was conned into it. Friends kept going on and on about this series. I read Twilight and I think it sucked.

Apparently Im the only one in my group o..."

I was also conned into reading the Twilight series and I didn't think it was that incredibly good either, but I didn't mind reading it (well, towards the end it was just awful.) But I read most of the Harry Potter series as my last 6 books last year and it was okay. I wouldn't have bothered to read it if my family wasn't harping on and on about it, and I think it's really creative, but eh. My life didn't change for it.

[Alicia]

In school I had to read The Hobbit in 8th grade, it was the most painful experience of my reading career. I will never read or even watch LOTR triology. I am also against Steinbeck after reading Cannery Row in high school. I think being forced to read certian books growing up can kind of make you close minded about certain authors when you are older.

I swore I would never read Harry Potter. I hate sci-fi, fantasy and all that. My sister loved them so much I finally told her I would try one. When it was time for the last one to come out, I waited in line with her at midnight to get our copies.

[librarian4Him02]

Hmm...I don't think I'd pick up a bodice ripper type romance book again. I got my fill of those earlier in life and have no interest in going back. Ditto for Anne Rice, Steven King, and Dean R. Koontz.

Oh, and the Twilight series or other vampire books. I tend to have strange dreams after reading such books and I value my sleep too much :)

Other than that, I'm pretty open to trying new things.

[Danine]

I think being forced to read certain books growing up can kind of make you close minded about certain authors when you are older.

I agree! In high school I was made to read 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'. Because of that I detest reading any Mark Twain. I don't tell this to people as I fear persecution and know that I could possibly be stoned for uttering such blasphemy. Blame Mr. Lind. He made me read it.

[Catamorandi]

I don't care to read the TWILIGHT series, The Chronicles of Narnia. I have no interest in TWILIGHT (I am sure this makes you really, really love me). It is too popular, and the content doesn't suit me. Also, I have no desire to read The Chronicles of Narnia.(Another popular choice, I am sure). I tried the first one and couldn't even get through one quarter of it, three different times. I have been told by several people that the first one is the best one. I have no desire to read the rest of the first one or any of the others.

[Tara]

I'm sure I'm going to get slammed, but I flat out refuse to read The DaVinci Code or any other of Dan Brown's books. It kills me that some guy can write fiction and all of a sudden people everywhere are questioning their faith. Dan Brown = prophet? I don't think so...

[Lisa]

Romance novels, sci-fi, horror.

Okay--I might read something from the last two if they came very highly recommended from someone who really knows my taste. But romance I just can't do.

[Dawn]

HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO U.

I BOUGHT IT FOR THE HYPE OF THE MOVIE AND IT WAS A DATING GUIDE. SO BAD I ACTUALLY GOT 20 PAGES IN BUT WILL NEVER GO BACK. THANKFULLY I SOLD IT ON AMAZON.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A STORY AND IT IS NOT.

[Meranda]

I won't read any books that have a picture of a half naked man, kissing a half naked woman on the cover. ehhhhhh. I do however buy a lot of them because my Grandma loves them, so I pick them up for her whenever I find them cheap!

And I will also never read The Lord of the Rings. Or watch the movies. Harry Potter is as much fanatsy as I get.. And I just like those because I love magic!

[Carrie]

The longer I thought about this, the longer my list got. It didn't help that so many people were making valid points.

Most of what I refuse to read is brought on my things I had to wade through in school. Because of Huckleberry Finn, I won't ever read Mark Twain again, same goes for Charles Dickens, thanks to Great Expectations. Catcher in the Rye and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man both drove me nuts; I didn't finish them, and I don't ever intend to return to them.

And what post about never's would be complete without mentioning Twilight. I read the first one before they started getting attention because it was a vampire book...'nuf said. It turned out I couldn't stand the characters, or the plot (perhaps lack thereof), or anything about it. Regardless of how other people feel about the follow up books, I flat out refuse to touch them with a ten foot pole.

[Felis]

After reading 3 books from Coelho, I will not read his book again, ever. Also, anything from James Redfield. I guess I just hate that new-age spiritualism things.

[Jessica]

Sheila wrote: "I flat out refused to read Twilight. However I was conned into it. Friends kept going on and on about this series. I read Twilight and I think it sucked.

Apparently Im the only one in my group o..."

I was the same way about Twilight... but I just got started and now I'm totally sucked in...

I will probably never read anything by Melville though...I sparknoted my way through Billy Budd in high school and can't stand Moby Dick.

[Jasmine]

Tom sawyer i HATE it with a passion

[Cam]

Oprah is the kiss of death for me as well, it's okay if I've read them before hand but after being suckered into reading Toni Morrison's 'Paradise' as being the BEST book she (Oprah) had read at that time, NEVER AGAIN! and NEVER AGAIN Toni Morrison!

[Dianne]

Dan Brown

[Jen]

My won't-touch-with-a-ten-foot-pole list would have to include any romance books (GAG!), chick lit. books, or anything that has Oprah's Book Club stamped on it. I also agree with an earlier poster who said they wouldn't read Steven King, Anne Rice or Dean Koontz ever again. Ditto!
I read the Twilight series because my step daughters were raving about them. That was a several hours I won't ever get back. But my DSDs are happy they have someone else to chatter with about the books, so I guess that made it worth it. Sort of.

[Tina]

I don't think I would flat out refuse to read anything new. If it's an author I've read and didn't like, but it has been awhile since I formed that opinion, I might give it another shot.

As for Oprah, Twilight, and all the others, my philosophy is, at least it gets people to read. That alone opens the door to so many other possibilities that I can't completely ignore them.

[Random]

I won't say never without trying a little a few samples which are supposed to be good.

As of this point I don' touch chick lit or romance (with the exception of Asaro). They just seem to seriously lack any interesting plots and the characters and so wooden.

True love isn't passionate kisses under a full moon and happily ever afters. True love is waking up in the morning next to a partner who has been up all night throwing up with the flu and STILL kissing them good morning. True love is not being bothered by a wet tooth brush. Its sharing all of your faults and imperfections and finding that you are loved even more because of them.

Personally I tend to like SF because it often covers concepts and ideas which traditional fiction won't touch.

Overall I'll read anything with good plots and good characterization.

[Jen]

Good point, Tina, on the authors, Oprah, etc. that get people to read. Maybe we are a bit biased because we don't have to be prodded to open a book and get lost for hours!

[Connie]

Wow, a lot of closed minded people on this board. I never say never. As far as Oprah, it's hit or miss. Just because she says she liked something doesn't mean you will, however, she picked Faulkner (I liked "As I Lay Dying" and hated "The Sound and the Fury"), Steinbeck and a few others when she was going back to classics for a while. I've read several of the books from her club that ended up being some of the best books I've ever read ie. Wally Lamb's "I Know This Much is True," Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle," "White Oleander" and "Fall On Your Knees." Then again I absolutely hated "The House of Sand and Fog."

[Jamie]

Well put, Connie. I happened upon several old Oprah's Book Club selections at the used bookstore and several of them were great. I'm very glad to have read "White Oleander" and "East of Eden" with these labels. I agree about "The House of Sand and Fog" but I would agree with your overall point that just because Oprah choose the book, doesn't mean it is crap.

[Jamie]

"Stones from the River" was an Oprah choice and one of my few five star reads. ;)

[Molly]

Connie wrote: "Wow, a lot of closed minded people on this board. I never say never. As far as Oprah, it's hit or miss. Just because she says she liked something doesn't mean you will, however, she picked Faulk..."

Although I do think some of her selections tend to share the same overall themes, she does pick a lot of books that I have enjoyed and was the reason that I discovered Elie Wiesel's Night which is something that I think everyone should read.

[Leslie]

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
It just doesn't appeal to me and seems too gushy.

[Brian]

kind of hard to put any title or author here... i haven't been through my second childhood yet. no telling what kind of crap i'll pick up then. might even like it.

[[deleted user]]

twilight.

[Jen B]

Never say never...how do I know I won't like it unless I try it?

That said, it might take some teeth pulling to convince me to read certain classics (Moby Dick, Crime and Punishment, War and Peace, any of the Lord of the Rings books). And I had bad AP English experiences with James Joyce and DH Lawrence...still get shudders thinking about Dubliners and Sons & Lovers...

[Lisa]

I have two sons that love the LOTR trilogy of movies which has meant that on more than one occasion I have had to sit through them. Having seen them, there is no way I would ever read the books. What is the appeal of either the books or the movies?

[Molly]

Lisa wrote: "I have two sons that love the LOTR trilogy of movies...What is the appeal of either the books or the movies?"

Wellll - Viggo for one. I haven't read the books but would like to some day. From the movies I enjoy the special effects and battles and the character developments - though it can be confusing. And did I mention Viggo?

[Vanessa]

I agree I wouldn't read LOTR's series. I read the Hobbit in high school and hated it. I do have to say I remembered a lot about it when I saw the movies with my DD. It was very helpful that I had read The Hobbit way back then. We also saw the play in London about three years ago and believe it or not they did the trilogy in three hours and I thought it was amazing. The staging was magical and my youngest DD who never read the books or saw the movies got the storyline and loved it as well. In the end I still wouldn't read the books!

[Danielle]

Beth wrote: "Moby Dick.

No. Just no.

I assign myself 1-2 classics a year and I’ll probably spend the rest of my life passing on old Moby. The plot has zero appeal to me. I can’t be convinced.
"


HAHA I couldnt think of what mine was but you just reminded me. I will NEVER read that book. SO BORING. I tried junior year when we got assigned. I just couldn't sit through it

[Maphead]

Twilight.

[Mary]

I kept saying that I wouldn't read Twilight and finally got sucked in (it's really bad). I kept saying that I wouldn't read The Secret and my curiosity finally got the better of me (wish for it and it will come--give me a break). I kept saying that I wouldn't read another Stephen King after reading Lisey's Story (what happened? I used to love him) and ended up buying Duma Key. BUT, I gave it away without reading it. Sorry SK, but I'm done with you.

[Michael]

Mary wrote: "I kept saying that I wouldn't read Twilight and finally got sucked in (it's really bad). I kept saying that I wouldn't read The Secret and my curiosity finally got the better of me (wish for it an..."

It's a shame. Duma Key was vintage King IMHO. Dark, scary and utterly compelling reading.

[Mary]

Michael wrote: "Mary wrote: "I kept saying that I wouldn't read Twilight and finally got sucked in (it's really bad). I kept saying that I wouldn't read The Secret and my curiosity finally got the better of me (w..."

I'll keep that in the back of my mind. I'm totally hooked on Bookmooch, and I can mooch it back in the future if I choose to! Thanks.

[Lexi]

I refused to read the Harry Potter books for so long. When the first movie came out I HATED reading so I just went and saw the movie. That continued through the first 5 movies. Then I went out and bought 6 and 7 and read and loved them. Just last month I decided I was going to read all the Harry Potter books before the next movie came out, not it is my favorite series.

I well probably never read the Lord of the Rings (But I said the same thing about Harry Potter...)

[Wendy]

Abby wrote: "I too am in the camp of never wanting to read James Frey's "memoir," but I picked up his new book Bright Shiny Morning and really enjoyed it. (Amusingly, there is a big disclaimer at the beginning ..."

James Frey's memoir was a very, very interesting insight into drug addiction and its relationship to early childhood medical conditions and hospitalizations.

[Wendy]

Sydney wrote: "I'll probably get flogged for this...
Harry Potter, Twilight, Lord of the Rings. Just not into them. I get that people love them. I'm just not in to fantasy.

Also not going to read James Frey..."He did not totally lie at all. In fact his lies were irrelevant as to the part of the book that is important- why people become drug addicted. His lie was that he spent three months in jail instead of one month. It was not the big deal Oprah made it out to be. She made a fuss and later apologized to him saying "it was only business" shame on Oprah. Read the book it was very interesting..

[FromAna]

diaries of Anne Frank

[Molly]

Wendy wrote: "Also not going to read James Frey..."He did not totally lie at all. In fact his lies were irrelevant as to the part of the book that is important..."

I loved A Million Little Pieces. I read it just before the uproar. He knows how to write a great book.

I will say that I was under the impression that his love interest in the book, as well as the traumatizing accident from his past, were not portrayed accurately.

I had read accounts that the accident he describes did not in fact involve him and the real life families of the victims were troubled by his basing that portion of his book on their deceased relatives.

My understanding was also that he did not in fact have any such relationship with the woman in re-hab and the heart-wrenching experience that they went through did not happen - at least not to him. That part was bothersome to me because the drama and cliff-hanger at the end motivates the reader to go buy his next book to find out what happens. I felt used by that ploy. But if you say that somewhere this was proved to be factual I would be interested in knowing that.

All that said - I felt that his book did a better job in explaining what it must feel like to be addicted to something better than anyone or anything ever has been able to do for me. It gave me a greater understanding of the how's and why's and he did not sugar coat things. I don't doubt that he went through this process and works with staying sober every day. If he embellished details for dramatic book selling purposes he should have put that disclaimer to begin with. But memoirs sell better than fiction so I think that may have been a motivating factor - and one that is wrong. It is a shame - the most gripping opening lines to a book I have ever read.

[Wendy]

Molly wrote: "Wendy wrote: "Also not going to read James Frey..."He did not totally lie at all. In fact his lies were irrelevant as to the part of the book that is important..."

I loved A Million Little Piece..."It is a junkies' truth and so I give him wide berth. Personally I was riveted by his portrayal of his anger and the analysis of the source of his drug dependence. This part was likely based on truth.

[Molly]

Wendy wrote: "Personally I was riveted by his portrayal of his anger and the analysis of the source of his drug dependence. This part was likely based on truth...."

Agreed. That is why it is unfortunate that the embellished parts shown to be less than factual took away from the real grit that had great impact. I recommend it for anyone struggling with an addicted loved one - gives some interesting perspective.

[Maryann]

Ditto most of the above. Add JOHN GRISHAM as unreadable and preposterous plots. Waller also, gag me. LOVE Moby Dick! Try again, to those who will not read.

[Jay]

I completed the first book of the Twilight Series. I vowed to not read the remaining books.

[Becky]

Emily wrote: "The Grapes of Wrath. I have been assigned the novel three times and three times bullshitted my way to an A " Lol. Me, too. Three times have I discussed the symbolism of Rose of Sharon without ever reading the book. :)

[Becky]

I read the first book in the Twilight series and won't read the rest. I'm on a one woman crusade to offer alternate vampire romances to those who want to read that series (which now apparently includes my mother). I also will never read an Oprah book, and think it's hilarious that she recommended Faulkner, who I really, really tried hard to read and like (just because he's Southern Gothic and that sounded cool) - but I found it impossible to do so. And I don't read Chuck P. anymore either. I really liked his early stuff, but I'm so over him. He's all about the shock value now, no substance left. Would never read Ayn Rand (Robbie in Dirty Dancing, the jerk, loves The Fountainhead), I HAVE read Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard and I enjoyed it, eventually, but I'll never read anything else by him. Or the DaVinci Code. I wouldn't read a Presidential biography unless I was stranded on a deserted island. Also, I despise books set during the Revolutionary and Civil War (I think because we were taught all about those two wars only OVER AND OVER again) Great question!

[Becky]

Symbol wrote: "I've never been able to bring myself to read a romance. However, I might eventually be convinced to take a look at one..."This makes me nervous, like I might possibly be your last chance to ever break into this genre, but my advice is to pick a historical era that you enjoy and then read a romance novel set in that time period. That's mostly what I enjoy about romance novels - you get a nice, predictable love story and much cool information. I mean, if anyone ever comes to me with a question concerning the Regency period (what clothes people wore, the fact they only served lemonade at Almack's) I'm on it. :) If you want a specific book, I convinced a friend of mine to read romances by starting her on "The Rose and the Flame" by Patricia Phillips - set in the time of Mary Tudor, they also go to Spain, lots of cool history stuff. Also - try not to be TOO turned off by the blurbs on the back of romances (she was a rose ripe for the plucking, etc., etc.) - usually the story inside is FAR less purple than that.