The Readers discussion
Episode Discussions
>
Episode 28: Should we only read amazing books
date
newest »
newest »
Hi Andrew,You make an excellent point. This is in particular why I like reading groups. Not only do they often help me read outside of my comfort zone, but the discussions around the book (s) can also provide real insight as to why a book I only found to be “just OK” is “amazing” to others in the group (or vice versa).
I thought this was interesting as well and although some of the books I read are what I consider mediocre, if I am truly despising a book, I won't stay with it. And I thought it was interesting that Simon (or was it Gavin?) will stick with a book that is so bad it makes him mad. And I was getting mad even thinking of wasting my time reading a book that is terribly written, etc.!! I have too few minutes in my life to spend it reading bad books. Fair to mediocre, yes. Bad, no way! :-)That said, one person's amazing book may be someone's rubbish read! I've adored books and have recommended them on only to be met with, "it was OK" or "I couldn't get into it." And I've been on the receiving end of rave recommendations and have them turn out to be disappointing from my viewpoint.
i think it's important to understand what you don't like about a book, but not to the point of torture. i don't need to read an entire book to necessarily know why i don't like it. but i can see andrew's point of reading for understanding. i guess it's like my husband, a musician, says, "i listen to things like lady gaga, so i can know why i don't like it." but i wouldn't sit through a bad movie to know why i didn't like it if i could tell it was going to be awful in the first ten minutes.
Well, one advantage to reading a bad book all the way to the end is be able to really understand some of the more scathing (and generally funny…at the author’s expense and sometimes at the expense of those who did like it) reviews/rants here on goodreads. My own reviews are not particularly insightful or articulate. But some people (you know who they are) are just hilarious.
These are really good points. After reading Elizabeth's comment I realize I've never powered through a book I felt was bad, and in fact bail out of books pretty quickly. I guess it's those books that fall into the mediocre or not quite amazing category that are sometimes worthwhile.
i had a college professor that said, "you have to read some of the mediocare bestsellers to remember what real literature is when you read it." i think that applies here too.
I loved this discussion of topic. Some books I enjoy reading more than others, the process is fun and addicting and you just have to read them for that reason. Particular authors for me are like that, I just like the way they write, which usually makes their books amazing to me. However, there are others I don't really enjoy the process of reading, but I love discussing them with other people later. Sometimes I remember those more than the really fun books, and for that reason they have value to me because I can discuss them with other people and deep conversations. For me one of these authors would be Toni Morrison. I haven't enjoyed reading her books so much as much as I have enjoyed discussing them and getting feedback on the topic from other people.
Andrew wrote: "These are really good points. After reading Elizabeth's comment I realize I've never powered through a book I felt was bad, and in fact bail out of books pretty quickly. I guess it's those books th..."I powered through
because so many people (whose opinions I respected) thought highly of it and enjoyed it. I hated it and threw it across the room when I was finished. But I was glad I did. It helped me know myself and my taste better than I did before.
Ruthiella wrote: "Well, one advantage to reading a bad book all the way to the end is be able to really understand some of the more scathing (and generally funny…at the author’s expense and sometimes at the expense..." That is so true. I have to crack up sometimes over the reviews people leave on goodreads. If a person hates a book on here, they are PASSIONATE about it!
@ rita,i own a copy, but i still haven't read it. somehow, i don't think i ever will.
Elizabeth wrote: "@ rita,i own a copy, but i still haven't read it. somehow, i don't think i ever will."
I'm glad I did, if for no other reason that to be completely certain that I don't want to read another book by him.
people feel very passionate about this book. i'm out. i need time for books worth the effort.
I have to leave a note for Simon--I also like to have the shelves of books with the unread books in my bedroom and the favorites books in the living room. This way the unread books are easily accessible, people can see my favorites in the living room, and anything that was ok but not great will make it to a give-it-away box instead of my regular book shelf. It's obsessive, BUT, I do get excited when I see all of the books I want to read within reaching distance of my nightstand. Love the podcast guys!
I think you have to read quite far in a book to know what your final opinion will be, and then well, you might as well finish it - sometimes anyway :-) Unless the language is really really poor, or the book irritates me way too much, I'll finish it.I recently gave up on Think of a Number (Dave Gurney, #1)
because it was so slow paced, and too repetitive.
I'd like to think that life is too short to read books that ain't amazing and my to-read list is far too huge. But I'm also believe we have to try different books, but don't be afraid to abandon
I still find myself having to finish any book I start and I realise it has made me wary of trying new authors, particularly if the book in question is a bit of a doorstep. Just the other day a friend was recommending John Irving and when I commented on the size of the books we were looking at she said that each one she read she wished had been longer. To try and get over this my 12 for 2012 was 12 books by authors I've never read before, although I have found myself picking out shortish books just in case....
Simon wrote: "Jason I have problems with books which are doorstops full stop. I always think of all the books I could read instead, oops. I used to read every book cover to cover. I can't be faffed any more."
I probably shouldn't have started Swann's Way when I have several books sitting on the bedside table that I'm really excited about getting to, I can't give up on it completely but it has turned me into a multi reader which I didn't used to do either.
As an aside I heard you say on the podcast recently that you hated Dead Babies, could I just say that I think it's his worst book by a distance. I'm a huge Amis fan, his name is the second most frequent entry on the dreaded spreadhseet, so if you ever feel you ought to give him another chance then you might be pleasantly surprised. If Dead Babies was the first of his I had read I doubt if I would have bothered with the 14 others - although think what I could have read instead...
Going way back up to Message #7, I agree with Elizabeth's professor... up to a point. When I was younger (sigh), I felt I needed to plow through a book even if I thought it was bad/mediocre, so that I'd better understand what makes a good/amazing book. But now that I'm older (sigh), I tend to agree with those who say that life is too short to continue reading a bad book. I have no problem setting aside such a book and starting another one that's on my bookshelf.
I think it's in part important because understanding why we don't like a particular book can ultimately help us explore, where as giving up quickly without really articulating why can lead us to quickly give up on a genre or author without a legitimate chance.
it's an interesting topic for Simon and Gavin to bring up in the same episode as the Summer Reading List, which is partly meant to expand our reading horizons. I for one plan on powering through any of the list books even if I don't like them, and figuring out exactly why, and of course subjecting goodreads to my criticisms.