Top Ten Tuesday: Out of the loop

[christina_reads]

It's been a while since I last posted, mostly because I'm reading Ursula K. Le Guin's Lavinia and I just can't get into it. So, to make it up to you (because I'm sure you have all been distraught by my absence), here is my contribution to this week's Top Ten Tuesday -- books that everyone has read but me:

Comments

[iamfitz]

I read the first Sookie Stackhouse books. "Meh" sums it up for me pretty well. Not awful, but I wasn't hooked.

The Hunger Games, on the other hand, put that hook right through me. No, not great literature, but I couldn't read it fast enough. The first book was the strongest, I thought, but I'd recommend the whole series, even if you do know how it ends. The author knew just what she was doing most of the time and I was glad to go along for the ride. This one really surprised me with how compelling it was.

I tried to read The Da Vinci Code. I guess the underlying theory intrigued a lot of people, but it's an old theory and one that's not so shocking anymore, or at least I thought. And anyone who has read any conspiracy literature probably already knew about Opus Dei. None of that was the problem. The problem was the incredibly bad, I mean really fiercely bad writing. I tried, I really did, and got about halfway through, but I just couldn't do it. I'd be able to choke down about four pages at a time, but I didn't care at

[christina_reads]

I may get around to The Hunger Games eventually. Maybe in a few years, when everyone has stopped talking about it incessantly! I don't know why I'm so contrary and stubborn, but as long as people are talking it up so much, I just don't want to be involved.

As for The Da Vinci Code, I'd heard from a few people whose opinions I trust that the writing style was terrible. Combine that with its (apparently) utterly ridiculous portrayal of history, and I really don't see myself enjoying that book at all. (And no, I haven't read the Left Behind books, because I'm pretty sure they would drive me insane.)

[iamfitz]

Aww, don't hold the hype against the books. I'm guessing that some of this is generated by Hollywood, trying to keep interest up for the movie.

I only read the first chapter of the first "Left Behind" book, and it was so absurd (and so poorly written) that I stopped there. I've no interest in the subject to begin with, so it wasn't hard to ignore them. But seriously, they had Israel become a superpower by figuring out how to grow crops in the desert. That's just a lack of imagination right there. As for the Biblical stuff, I've read enough about it to think that it has very little to do with Jesus and a whole lot to do with feeling special and self-righteous. "I'm saved, you're not, so you better do as I say and let me judge how well you're doing it!" To me, that's not religion, that's just a really big clique.

[ms_geekette]

You're not the only person that hasn't read Hunger Games...I haven't read it either. Actually, I've only read 3 of the books on your list, and YOU MUST READ GAME OF THRONES! ;-D It's long, but it was a fairly quick read for me, although certainly not as quick as the Sookie Stackhouse book. 1 normal book=a few chapters of a Song of Ice and Fire novel.

[christina_reads]

Haha, well, I can deal with the occasional long book. Don't worry -- A Song of Ice and Fire is definitely on my TBR list!

[kiwiria]

I haven't read "The Help" or "Sookie Stackhouse" either. The others I've ever read or never heard of :)

[christina_reads]

Well I assume that the bestseller lists would be somewhat different in Denmark!

[kiwiria]

a) Not as much as you'd think ;)
b) I don't pay attention to Danish bestseller lists anyway, considering I buy pretty much all my books online or abroad ;)

[aurillia]

I really enjoy the Sookie Stackhouse books, as I think you probably know, but I'm definitely not going to push vampire books onto anyone!

I keep picking up Wolf Hall but it's about Cromwell and he was such a bastard I just can't bring myself to be interested in reading it.

I've seen The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on quite a few lists so far. It's a bit slow at first but I do recommend it!

Ah, the time has come and gone to read The Da Vinci Code, that's for sure. It felt dated as soon as I finished reading it back in, ah, 2002 I think it was. Before it became a bestseller. I wouldn't have read it otherwise, that's for sure.

Yeah I think at this point you are the only one who hasn't read The Hunger Games! Just joking ;)

I did Top Ten Tuesday this week, if you want to see my list.

[christina_reads]

Haha...my problem is that I was never into vampires to begin with, and now they're everywhere which makes it so much worse!

And yes, I know everyone else has read The Hunger Games. I have reconciled myself to being out of this particular loop.

Off to see your list now!