Not So Great Expectations

[Nicolle]

I see what you mean but I still think it is one of the better books in this world. I guess the hype built around the book was probably by people who haven't read the book!

[[deleted user]]

I agree with you about all the Hype....maybe they were going off the movie?? I don't know I haven't seen it but maybe they added more to what I thought was missing

[Nicolle]

I haven't seen the film but my friend has and she described it to me before I read the book. It included odd things which didn't happen in the book like Dracula raping someone when he is in that mist form. Not sure what that is all about...?

[[deleted user]]

Not sure but that could be why everyone thinks that Dracula is Scary!!!

[Nicolle]

Possibly. I think nowadays we are also decensorised (is that a word?!?) by the media ect.

[[deleted user]]

AGREED!!!! I guess when it was written it would have been a scary book....Look at Psycho for instance...the shower scene was known as one of the scariest scenes ever....LOL...I laughed when I saw it...not scary..more like a what the hell kinda moment!!!!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I did find some parts of Dracula scary, such as when Harker confronts the three brides, when they chase Dracula out of Mina's room, and when Lucy rises up from the grave and they have to kill her.

[[deleted user]]

I found the Lucy scene to be heart breaking and not scary...

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

It was that as well for me.

[Jimmy]

I don't read much horror so found Dracula scary; I guess if you are expecting it to be the scariest book you've ever read it won't be.

On Portarit of an Artist as a Young man - yes it is difficult to read, but not pointless - it gives interesting insights into Joyce himself; I remember there is a poetic verse near the end of the book that summarises a turning point in Joyce's thoughts at that time. I always finish any book I read, as there is always something in them to be discovered.

The book that least satisfied my expectations was Joseph Conrad's Nostromo, a bit too political for my liking, but I may be persuaded to try it again...if I run out of everthing else on my selves.

[Nicolle]

Jimmy wrote: "I don't read much horror so found Dracula scary; I guess if you are expecting it to be the scariest book you've ever read it won't be.

On Portarit of an Artist as a Young man - yes it is diffic..."

I have Nostromo and am planning on reading soon, we could possibly buddy read it??

[Jimmy]

Yeah, its a possible if I ever locate my copy...I'll keep an eye on the buddy reads board for whenever you get round to starting it

[Nicolle]

ok

[Terri Lynn]

I love Great Expectations. I also love the movie version from the 1940's done by David Lean. It brings the book to life.

[[deleted user]]

I have not yet read Great Expectations....but it is on my TBR list!!!

[Julia]

Phew! I'm so pleased to find I'm not the only one struggling to enjoy Charlie's works. Having said that, he left behind a great legacy, especially for tv programme makers not to mention the 'silver screen'. And he didn't do London any harm either. I believe there's even a stairway along the Thames's embankment called 'Nancy's Steps.'
I've never managed to read any of Steinbeck's novels more than once either. Great books, fantastic atmosphere and terrific characters. I started with The Red Pony and ended with Mice & Men and those two completed my Steinbeck reading.
Really looking forward to re-reading Harper Lee with company. Julia x

[Fei Fei]

Fiona wrote: "The Tale of Two Cities by Dickens left me snoring. It was so unlike anything I've read by him so it was a bit of a surprise. The beginning I thought was fantastic but after that... the characters w..."

I'm reading a lot of people here hating A Tale of Two Cities. In it's defense, I'm gonna say that ALL it's hype lies in book 3. I did not get the hype of the book until I actually finished the very last sentence. My suggestion is: skim the Parts I & II (you won't miss too much, read Sparks Notes if you get confused. heh. ) then slow down and absorb the last part. I'm not the biggest fan of Dickens but out of all his books, this one is actually my favorite.

There have been many that disappointed me or were only "ok" in my opinion. Sometimes it's the prose, the plot or one (or more) teeth-grindingly annoying character/caricature.
- Sense & Sensibility: the girls had little of either
- Mansfield Park: gah! Fanny!
- Hodgson's Secret Garden & Little Princess
- Wuthering Heights
- The Little Prince: I read it as a child and thought it silly. Read it as an adult and still thought it ridiculous
- Most of Margaret Atwood's novels, in particular: The Handmaiden's Tale
- Brave New World

[Nicolle]

Fallensnow wrote: "Fiona wrote: "The Tale of Two Cities by Dickens left me snoring. It was so unlike anything I've read by him so it was a bit of a surprise. The beginning I thought was fantastic but after that... th..."

I trudged through A Tale of Two Cities and never got to part three. You have given me the will (only a little though) to retry it. Thankyou.

[[deleted user]]

I haven't made it to that book yet....so did no one enjoy it at all???

[Chrissie]

I agree with James Joyce. I read part of Dubliners, and while it was initially engaging, it started to read like an atlas.

[Mariyam]

I haven't read many so that's why I'm in this group, but I was a little disappointed by Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Had it been a YA book or something I would have liked it, but there was so much hype about it from people I knew and it increased my expectations.

[Joanne]

The Handmaid's Tale and Brave New World are some of my favourite books!

I've never attempted any Dickens, and after reading this thread, may wait another decade or two (I'm 26 right now).

I pretty much always insist on finishing any book I start, even if I hate it (dunno why since it's such a waste of time), but I just couldnt finish either Heart of Darkness or A Clockwork Orange (although I did like the movie)

[Nicolle]

I couldn't finish Heart of Darkness either. I would've finished it but it was due back in the library (my excuse hah!).

I did enjoy A Clockwork Orange though it was slightly disturbing and the language took a while to get used to.

[[deleted user]]

Joanne wrote: "The Handmaid's Tale and Brave New World are some of my favourite books!

I've never attempted any Dickens, and after reading this thread, may wait another decade or two (I'm 26 right now).

I pret..."


I can't not finish a book either....I feel like I at least owe it to the author since they took the time to write it...plus the book stays with me and I feel guilty...

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I didn't like Heart of Darkness...at all!

[Nicolle]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I didn't like Heart of Darkness...at all!"

Really?! That is one of your favourite genres aswell isn't it?! Must be bad...

[[deleted user]]

I agree Robin....Its just like any book out there....not everybody is going to like every book out there!!

[Nicolle]

Robin_fictionista wrote: "Quinn wrote: "I'm with Rachel - I've never been much of a Dickens fan..."
I definitely think there is a misconception in the mainstream that if it's a classic, you must love it or there is somethin..."

Many classics are on the best ever books list and also on the worst books ever list, so I think it is perception and personal taste really.

[Rhonda]

Robin_fictionista wrote: "Quinn wrote: "I'm with Rachel - I've never been much of a Dickens fan..."
I definitely think there is a misconception in the mainstream that if it's a classic, you must love it or there is somethin..."

I agree. I have been in a Classics Book Club for six years and we are all over the map on liking the books - except for a univeral dislike for William Faulkner. We keep reminding ourselves that a book doesn't become a classic because it's well-loved, its based on what is going on in the world at large and the literary world and how it advances or comments on those worlds at the time.

[Bill]

The most recent classic I have read that was a huge disappointment was Gulliver's Travels. Maybe it was all the references to how his bodily functions were handled in Lilliput. It was just tedious to get through.

[Sam]

Wuthering Heights was an eye gouger for me!! Also, started but never finished Tale of Two Cities...will give that one another go though I think ;)

[Nicolle]

Sam wrote: "Wuthering Heights was an eye gouger for me!! Also, started but never finished Tale of Two Cities...will give that one another go though I think ;)"

I haven't read Wuthering Heights but my friend did and hated it but upon re-reading about a year later she realised it was fantastic.

[Deborah]

My Antonia by Willa Cather and The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers are the worst books I have ever read.

[Nicolle]

And thankfully I have never heard of them!

[Susan O]

Deb wrote: "My Antonia by Willa Cather and The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers are the worst books I have ever read."

After reading The Member of the Wedding in high school, I read everything else she wrote. However, I haven't had the desire to revisit any of them.

[Deborah]

I read The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by her as well and I loved it. Haha that's so weird that I can't stand one of her books but adore the other.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Nicolle wrote: "Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I didn't like Heart of Darkness...at all!"

Really?! That is one of your favourite genres aswell isn't it?! Must be bad..."

I like dark fiction, but not that kind of dark, I guess.

[Susinok]

I didn't care for Jane Eyre that much. I felt like whe was cheated at the end with Rochester.

I liked Wuthering Heights much better.

But mind you it's been 30 years since I've read either one of them.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I have yet to read Wuthering Heights. I'm girding my loins for it.

[Hermione]

Deb wrote: "My Antonia by Willa Cather and The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers are the worst books I have ever read."

I loved My Ántonia when I read it two years ago, but I completely agree with you on The Member of the Wedding! I could NOT get through that book, no matter what I tried...

[Lily]

Tierney wrote: "Great Expectations, actually, I found incredibly boring. It didn't help that I *had* to read it, but I found pretty much all of the characters to be horrible people and I just wasn't interested eno..."

I didn't like Great Expectations either, but I really enjoyed some other books of his(Such as The Prince and the Pauper, The Christmas Carol, and A Tale of Two Cities)I suggest giving one of them a try ;)

[[deleted user]]

My confession is Henry James. I've tried The Bostonians and The Portrait of a Lady twice and to no avail. I feel like I should like him because he's such a big figure in the literary canon. I told myself I'd give it a few years and let my comprehension develop and perhaps, I’ll enjoy him more.

[[deleted user]]

You know, that's a good idea. Try and start with a short story and work into the more lengthy ones. It could be something simple like adjusting to the writing style.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Mupples, I don't think Henry James' writing style is for me. I read Turn of the Screw and I was very underwhelmed.

[Melissa (ladybug)]

Everyman wrote: "Quinn wrote: "I'm with Rachel - I've never been much of a Dickens fan."

In my experience as a high school English teacher, very few people under the age of about 30 or even 40 like Dickens. There..."

:D Actually, I guess I was one of those few. I loved and still do, Dickens as a child under 12. I was always a prolific reader and was reading college level books by the time I was 8. :D

[[deleted user]]

Probably the only classic I didn't like so much AT FIRST was A Tale of Two Cities because I didn't have as much historical background, that was in high school. I liked it much more once I had a better understanding of the Reign of Terror and the French Revolution.

[Melissa (ladybug)]

Perhaps the only classics I could not get into were Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, The Scarlet Letter, and Lord of the Flies. I don't really know why I didn't like them, but can't like them all :D I started to read them and just could not get beyond the first few pages. :(

[Nicolle]

I admit thoughJane Eyreis my favourite book it is quite hard to grasp all the characters and what is going on for a while, I myself had to keep flipping back and forth between pages to remember who certain characters were. I am so glad I forced myself into it though. Maybe try again in a few years?

[Jonathan]

I finally worked out the few classics so far I honestly haven't liked. I'm probably going to give them another go because I was rushed when I read them/attempted. Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd and Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Something about them didn't grab me. Also I find Jane Austen rather dry although she comes up with brilliant storylines. Yet as soon as exams are over I will be jumping into classic novel reading all the more.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Jane Eyre starts out rough, but once you push past the first few pages, it's so worth reading, IMHO. I don't know what it is, but I love Nathaniel Hawthorne. His gothic stylings completely appeal to me.

Anyone else have trouble with Henry James' overly flowery writing style?