The Literary List
I've been reading off this list from The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List and did posts on the The Romance List and the Fantasy List. I now just polished off the Literary Fiction List so thought I'd post on those
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The big exception for me would be Empire Falls, which I loved, though it's been a while since I've read it, so I don't feel particularly qualified to come to its defense now. :) I remember that I hated the very end, but that I was thrilled to death with the rest of it, and I'll stick it in the pile to be reread directly so that I can try to look at it with your eyes.
I reread Kavalier and Clay this past weekend, and being re-immersed in it made me love it even more than I had the first time--and sent me into one of those spirals of ambition/depression that only books I truly love and truly ADMIRE can do. Damn, I love that book. I've got a big fat pile of Michael Chabon next to my bed now.
On your recommendation, I will try Middlesex again. I rarely abandon a book, though I abandoned that one. However, who knows. Sometimes one's mindset/attention span at any given time can impair what would have otherwise been great enjoyment.
Thanks for posting these lists--I'm always fascinated to see what you're reading and what you thought as you did.
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I think it just hit so many pet peeves of mine. Take italics for instance. So many authors use it as it its' this artistic gauze--but it's hard to read and completely necessary in long passages--particularly for flashback. So I was irritated before I ever reached the first chapter. I also hated Janine--not simply the character but the idea of the character. She was such a complete bimbo bitch it all felt borderline misogynist to me. That said, I could see what others might love in it. Touches of humor. Some great character sketches. Rich themes. I liked the father/daughter relationship in particular giving how miserable most "literary" families are.
I reread Kavalier and Clay this past weekend, and being re-immersed in it made me love it even more than I had the first time--and sent me into one of those spirals of ambition/depression that only books I truly love and truly ADMIRE can do.
If it helps, you're one of the few fanfic authors that made me feel that way...
Damn, I love that book. I've got a big fat pile of Michael Chabon next to my bed now.
I have one friend who doesn't like Chabon *does not understand* I adored that book. This list came so close to a natural bell curve I decided to force the issue--give the top four five stars, the next eight four, etc. There was never any doubt Chabon (and Handmaid's Tale would be in that top four. I dithered about others. Kavalier and Clay was just an incredible reading experience and I most definitely will be reading more Chabon.
On your recommendation, I will try Middlesex again. I rarely abandon a book, though I abandoned that one. However, who knows. Sometimes one's mindset/attention span at any given time can impair what would have otherwise been great enjoyment.
This is true. Even sometimes what you read before the book. In my case, it was to Middlesex's favor since I read it right after Delillo's Underworld--or trying to. If there's no doubt Chabon and Atwood are my top two--well there was never any doubt which book I thought the worst. I can imagine Middlesex's sheer length can be intimidating, but I really did find it an engaging and thought-provoking read.
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Sorry to barge into your comment, but I just had to say how glad I was to read this, because I didn't realize other people felt this way, too. "This is fabulous; I love this -- now I feel terrible." /g/ I've had this reaction to both pro- and fanfic writers.
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*glares at you for being one of those people*
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