Booking Through Thursday asks:How about, “What’s the worst ‘best’ book you’ve ever read — the one everyone says is so great, but you can’t figure out why?”
The "worst 'best' book" that I have ever read (at least that I can remember) has to be "Frankenstein". I just could not finish it. The writing was so heavy. I know that Shelley wrote the book in a style and manner that was popular for her time but so me it was just too much. It was like trying to learn new words for the SATs. I had to stop reading it.
But as a good note, Learn Out Loud, has a great summary of the book. It is really cool because they have a reader who reads important passages of the story that give you most of the basic information that is needed. It is read in the writers actual words so the style doesn't really change. I really felt after listening to the 22 minute audio that I had read the book myself. I even felt that I should go back and read it.
I read Frankenstein for a British lit class a few years ago, and I was actually really into it! I started reading thinking I was going to despise the whole story and want to pluck out my eyes when trying to finish it, but I was pleasantly surprised. :) It was much sadder than I thought it would be, and I felt more for the "monster" than anyone. I read the whole thing in two nights!
ReplyDeleteI have not managed to make it through this book either.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea -- trying the audio version of a difficult book.
ReplyDeletehttp://barneysbookblog.blogspot.com/
Didn't read it and now I'm sure I never will :)
ReplyDeleteHaven't read Frankenstein yet, but it seems like one of those books that you have to be in the mood for otherwise you just won't enjoy it no matter what.
ReplyDeleteI really like reading the "classics" on my kindle, so I can look up archaic words as they come. Frankenstein is on my tbr list, and I hope to [try] to get into it this year. I think I'll give it the old 50 page rule though :)
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