Grudge Against Literature

Nov 07, 2008 13:34

AAGH THEY HAVE ETHAN FROME ON BBC7.

I AM BECOMING IRASCIBLY BORED JUST LOOKING AT THE TITLE.

book, bbc

Leave a comment

Comments 20

purlicue November 7 2008, 21:41:48 UTC
So I suppose if I offered you membership to the Starkfield Sledding Club you would decline?

Reply

twirlynoodle November 7 2008, 21:49:47 UTC
ARGH I HATE THAT BOOK ARGH ARGH MOST USELESS BOOK EVER!

Seriously. I am hard to please but usually fairly forgiving; there are very few books or movies that I actually regret reading/seeing. But I would very dearly like to get back the hours spent reading, discussing, and testing on Ethan Frome in high school.

ARGH PICKLE DISH ARGH.

Reply

purlicue November 8 2008, 00:19:26 UTC
Hahaha, we never watched the movie, but we spent an altogether ludicrous amount of time going through the text, after which I had every symbol and branded into my mind.

Hahahahahaha OH ~*PICKLE DISH*~. See, now I'm kind of horrified that I had up until this point forgotten all about the book, as it is one of the bleakest and soul-crushing pieces of literature I have ever read (I suppose I can understand its ~ literary merit ~ in terms of describing the ~desolate landscape of the human soul~, but I'm pretty sure I did not need it pointed out with such enthusiasm) . :(

(INCIDENTALLY how have you been doing? I am trapped in college at the moment, swamped by hideous amounts of homework and obligation-- already I miss childhood, woe.)

Reply

twirlynoodle November 8 2008, 03:32:45 UTC
I never watched the movie either (they made a movie? HOW? Do people use it to put fussy children to sleep?); I was referring to a couple other films that stole part of my life away. But that's another matter.

WHY do we have to study this book in school? What does it say? Surely something with this much literary reverence paid to it should have something profound to say about the human experience beyond 'Life sucks and then you die [or possibly not die and live instead a bleak and ironic half-life that makes you long for death].' There are plenty of 'life sucks and then you die' books out there with good characterization, insights into life, the universe, and everything, and maybe even actual events.* WHY ETHAN FROME? Unless it's part of a vast educational conspiracy to make kids believe all great literature is a waste of time.
*This is not absolutely requisite because Copenhagen is one of my very favourite pieces of literature (albeit a play, not a novel) and only one thing actually happens in it. Even that thing is in doubt ( ... )

Reply


magicnme November 7 2008, 22:10:03 UTC
LOL, oi.

Bad 10th grade english memories.

Reply


ari_enchanted November 7 2008, 23:00:47 UTC
Edith Wharton bleeeeehhhh.

Reply


pressrecord November 7 2008, 23:56:31 UTC
Ugh....Edith Wharton...Ethan Frome....*has headache....throws up*

Okay...I feel better now.

Reply


crimsnfirestorm November 8 2008, 00:13:26 UTC
I am so glad that someone else hates that book to the degree that I do. Though it is fun to horrify those who have not read it: "They sled into a tree. No, seriously."

Reply

twirlynoodle November 8 2008, 00:17:42 UTC
Do you mention that this is the only thing that happens in the entire book, and you have to wade through two hundred pages of navel-gazing and empty angst to get there?

Oh wait, also, a pickle dish breaks. AAAAGH.

I am similarly glad to know I am not the only Frome hater.

Reply

twirlynoodle November 8 2008, 03:40:55 UTC
P.S. Did it ever occur to you that possibly Ms Wharton only had them do this because she could think of no other way to just make the book stop?

Reply

crimsnfirestorm November 8 2008, 06:51:36 UTC
That or she had the most twisted sense of humor ever.

Reply


Leave a comment

Up