Hello To All - And happy Inauguration Day!!
Since it's Tuesday, we have a shorter week to post comments, so here's one question that hopefully will peak your interest and get those brain juices flowing: Let us know what book/movie/audio that you read/watched/listened to this past year that totally turned you off. You really didn't like it! You hated it! And why!
For example, I turned totally against the tide (including Oprah) on "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle". True, it was well written (especially for a first time author), but for pete's sake, Hamlet in Wisconsin? Hamlet is Shakespeare's alone and now we have so many trying to outdo him! I didn't like this book because of the over-used Hamlet factor (which was huge) and because I thought it was a slow read and I really didn't like any of the characters except perhaps for Almondine (who is Ophelia in dog drag). Give me a break!
Enough of my ranting. How about you out there in RAVALA land? What did you indulge in during this past year that truly grated on you for one or another reason?
Please chime in - and forgive my over the top emoting regarding Edgar but I had a hard time holding back.
Susan C.
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6 comments:
Great idea, Susan! The CD of Edgar just came in for me, and now you have saved me from having to listen to 15 tapes when there are others out there I really want to hear! I just tried to read the recently published book "Kieron Smith, Boy" by Scot author James Kelman. Was looking forward to it, as I like all things "Scotia". It got a good review, "If you can roll with the Scots dialect, the narrative is rewarding, bleak and marvelous". Well, if you can plough through that thick Glaswegian dialect, and the bleak WilliamFaulknerstreamofconsciousness writing, you might perhaps enjoy the book. I got as far as the first 10 pages or so. This gets a real red light!
Oh, I hope I don't offend anyone, but I really didn't like the movie version of Marley and Me. Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson are fairly good actors, but to me, they were not believable in those roles. I was talking to my son about how much I disliked that movie and he said that he had read the book too, and was surprised that they even tried to make a movie out of the book. We both felt that this book is not one that lends itself to movie making. Does anyone else have feelings about this one? I'm just curious.
I stopped reading Edgar Sawtelle about 2/3 of the way through. I was relieved that it was due back at the library. I thought it was a very slow read. After someone told me it was based on Hamlet, the ending seemed predictable. I thought other people would tell me it was wonderful, and I was just too impatient. So I'm glad to hear from others who weren't thrilled either. Alice
I read the book Katie, The Real Story. About Katie Couric by Edward Klein. It is an unauthorized biography, and I could see why. I only read the whole thing to see if he ever had a nice thing to say about her, which he did not.
I couldn't get through Edgar in the allotted 3 weeks, either. The DVD I was disappointed in was Wall-E. While I appreciated the message I didn't find the robots appealing- too cutesy for me but maybe kids liked them. But then, I don't think kids would understand the message- was this an adult movie or a kid's movie?? Way too slow moving, too, I fell asleep!
I agree about the book "The story of Edgar Sawtelle". I have started the book three times and still can not get through it. It is too slow for me. Maybe at a later date when I don't have more interesting things to read.
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