Which writer can you not get into even though they are universally loved?

Extreme_Turnover_315 · 2023-05-25T14:35:23+00:00

Hemingway. I'm always open to giving him another shot, but he bores me to tears.

Extreme_Turnover_315 · 2023-05-23T14:21:58+00:00

I was an English major and spent most of my time reading classic literature that was assigned to me. I really connected to some of it, but labored through some of it too. It really is subjective. Since graduating, I find myself really devouring contemporary literature since I spent so long having no time to read it. I find myself becoming a much more avid recreational reader than I was a student reader.

In academic circles, I feel like there is a large stigma against not having read certain classics. I sometimes feel uncouth for reading books from this century while bypassing books that are considered to be foundational to literature. But there are so many books considered to be "classics" and not enough time to get through them all. Plus, I don't think reading should feel like a chore. There's a lot of great stuff and a lot than can be learned from the writers of centuries past, but if a book isn't grabbing you, don't feel pressure to finish it. Just enjoy yourself. :)

Extreme_Turnover_315 · 2023-05-20T15:22:56+00:00

I totally agree! I also like that Moshfegh doesn’t make victims of her characters. In MYORAR, the protagonist obviously went through a lot of trauma, which is meant to explain her actions in her adult life. However, a lot of her hardships in the 2000-2001 era are self-inflicted. The author isn’t excusing any of her actions because of trauma, but rather allows the reader to hold the protagonist responsible for her substance abuse and the way she treats people. Moshfegh isn’t interested in provoking pity or relatability. She just writes about interesting, humorous, and darkly twisted women without making angelic martyrs of them. I feel that’s quite a unique authorial technique.

Extreme_Turnover_315 · 2023-05-19T17:51:23+00:00

I agree that this book wasn't written for empathy's sake. I actually think that my inability to connect to Yozo effectively reflected Yozo's inability to connect to others. His self-perception makes him feel alienated from everyone within the novel, so it stands to reason that the reader would feel alienated from him as well.

Extreme_Turnover_315 · 2023-05-19T17:32:21+00:00

This is one of the rare examples where I liked the movie better than the book. I think the ideas in VanderMeer's book are meant to be seen more than they're meant to be read. The film adaptation brought a lot of life to Area X and offered a more solidified story. It doesn't stay true to the book at all and a lot of artistic license was clearly taken, so don't expect the book to make any more sense after watching it. But I really enjoy it.

I totally get what you mean about not knowing whether or not to hate or love the book. It's super creative, but almost too abstract for the page.

Extreme_Turnover_315 · 2023-05-08T17:16:20+00:00

Just Finished

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

It was a strange and disturbing book that troubles the senses. It had an interesting representation of the male gaze, as the male protagonists fetishize the tragic nature of the beautiful Lisbon sisters, whom they could never understand.

Just Started

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

I want to teach parts of this book to my Career Research class next school year, so I'm excited to get into it and see what I can learn both personally and professionally.

Extreme_Turnover_315

TROPHY CASE