What is the worst book(s) you have ever read?

[distracted]

“In Cold Blood” wasn’t what I was thinking of, though it may be well written.I was thinking of his story “A Christmas Memory”-I think that was the title.Lovely, bittersweet story about his childhood in Alabama.We went to a reading by an English prof. from a local college who explained the sad details of Truman Capote’s childhood.Makes you understand where the weirdness of his adulthood came from.And how vulnerable kids can be.Really sad.
I pretty much only read non-fiction, too.A lot of fiction’s not worth reading.Especially the newer stuff.

so what kind of sad stuff happened in his life?

I kinda don’t like reading about gay people…

but i’ve always been interested in knowing WHY they went that route… I think it’s usually a strong mother who is close to her children combined w/ distant, unloving father… (?) or i should say unavailable father…

 

[distracted]

I tried to read Moby Dick when I was probably 12. I gave up after 30 pages of the guy trying to find a hotel. And people think Lord of the Rings is drawn out.

But the worst book, gotta be Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow. It was assigned in my English class in my Catholic high school. We were the last class to read it, because it was totally inappropriate and my mom and I got it removed from the curriculum. The principle and the president didn’t know what was in it. A friend and I actually got to read a different book because I refused to read that rubbish.

cool… i’m glad some schools listen to parents…

 

[distracted]

And don’t get smart with me, Distracted. It’s uncalled for and unappreciated.

i was NOT getting smart… I WANTED to know what books you like…

Geeze…

 

[txlassy]

How about the worst book you couldn’t read? Ever since I found out those letters on the pages made word and those words would take me to others places, times, to learning and adventures and out of myself; I have loved to read… I would imagine it started in the 2nd grade. By 6th grade I was reading high school books… I just tell you this so you will understand when I say

I could NOT read Scarlet Letter…was asigned it in high school. I would try to read it… and after a couple of sentences would fall asleep… I just couldn’t do it… I listened in class so my grade on that test wasn’t too bad, but probably the worse grade I ever got…

 

[nkbeth]

How about books you like that are on many most hated lists?

In high school I wrote an essay comparing “Jane Eyre” and “Pride and Prejudice” (and Austen & Bronte). I got a D in the class because it was late. I’m not fond of the teacher …But I still like the books & movies!

 

[Squeakmew]

I saw Billy Budd on someone’s most hated list. I actually liked that book.

I liked Animal Farm, too. Although I was too young when I read it to really understand the symbolism, but my mom explained it to me.

Because I had the ability to read books that were above my grade level, my mom decided to give me a “grown up” book to see if I would be able to read it. I was 10 at the time, and the book she chose was “Joy In The Morning”. I came upon a very explicit scene and was shocked, to say the least. After that, she was more careful to screen any of her books before letting me read them.

 

[Cracker_Mom]

so what kind of sad stuff happened in his life?

I kinda don’t like reading about gay people…

but i’ve always been interested in knowing WHY they went that route… I think it’s usually a strong mother who is close to her children combined w/ distant, unloving father… (?) or i should say unavailable father…

Sounds like both his parents abandoned him at a young age & left him with relatives in AL.He then was shipped off to a military boarding school & separated from the only person who really cared for him, an elderly cousin whom he wrote about in the short story.And he lost his dog.
It really is a beautifully written story.Funny & sad.Nothing about homosexuality.At the end of the reading most folks were crying.Poor little kid who grew up into a strange man.

 

[srlucado]

Sounds like both his parents abandoned him at a young age & left him with relatives in AL.He then was shipped off to a military boarding school & separated from the only person who really cared for him, an elderly cousin whom he wrote about in the short story.And he lost his dog.
It really is a beautifully written story.Funny & sad.Nothing about homosexuality.At the end of the reading most folks were crying.Poor little kid who grew up into a strange man.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee Harper writes about Capote in the character of Dill, the strange boy who comes to stay with his aunt for the summer.

 

[distracted]

I could NOT read Scarlet Letter…was asigned it in high school. I would try to read it… and after a couple of sentences would fall asleep… I just couldn’t do it… I listened in class so my grade on that test wasn’t too bad, but probably the worse grade I ever got…

some parts of the Last Tsar were like that… he just went into too much boring detail…

i just skim through boring stuff, though… I don’t have time to 'waste"… on stupid unnecessary details…

 

[distracted]

Sounds like both his parents abandoned him at a young age & left him with relatives in AL.He then was shipped off to a military boarding school & separated from the only person who really cared for him, an elderly cousin whom he wrote about in the short story.And he lost his dog.
It really is a beautifully written story.Funny & sad.Nothing about homosexuality.At the end of the reading most folks were crying.Poor little kid who grew up into a strange man.

thanks…

was something strange about him besides being gay? I’ve never read anything written by him…

 

[distracted]

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee Harper writes about Capote in the character of Dill, the strange boy who comes to stay with his aunt for the summer.

i heard some Blacks don’t like that book because too much focus on the father/lawyer and not on the unjust sentence the black guy got…

you know… If i was Black I’d be angrier than h—

As it is, i am not Black, and i am angrier than h—

 

[cthulhubryan]

I could NOT read Scarlet Letter…was asigned it in high school. I would try to read it… and after a couple of sentences would fall asleep… I just couldn’t do it… I listened in class so my grade on that test wasn’t too bad, but probably the worse grade I ever got…

The Scarlet Letter was atrocious! It is an unreadable p.o.c. English teachers are taught how to destroy great literature and how to pass off junk as literature. Hawthorne wrote other, much better, books but Scarlet Letter :nope: (unfortunately there are no smilies for holding your nose.)

 

[Cracker_Mom]

thanks…

was something strange about him besides being gay? I’ve never read anything written by him…

There probably was but I’m not well versed enough in his background to answer.He certainly was a flamboyant,troubled, & peculiar adult.