Books you didn't "get". - Page 3 - Writers Forum

Akumu · 02-16-2007, 06:23 PM

The Trial by Franz Kafka is one of my all-time favorites, and is really easy to "get" in my opinion. First off, it's not really about Man vs. Himself or whatever you call it (I heard this mentioned earlier in the thread), but about Man vs. the system. Or better yet, the lack of man's desire to fight the system even when, quite extremely in Jozef K.'s case, his life depends on it.

Someone said that the "lack of information" in the book was disconcerting for some reason. The only information that lacks are the trivialities such as names and places, descriptions of people or people who look entirely the same (and, mind you, this is specific to some other, if not all works by Kafka) which aren't at all important to understand the plot line. You must understand that this is not a crime novel, and it is not important at all what crime Jozef K. has committed (although to the more lucid reader, his "crime" should be clear after reading the book). To understand the book, I'd recommend reading the chapter in the church once again; the story the vicar tells Jozef is crucial to understanding the point of the whole novel. So if you feel you didn't understand the novel, even if you've already read it ages ago, I'd recommend reading it again and paying special attention to this specific part.

Happy reading.

Cipher2 · 02-17-2007, 02:17 PM

The Trial...that has reminded me that I never finished it. I have liked the short stories and 'fragments' from Kafka previously, maybe I should try again. Sorry, lost the point of this post.

Rob · 02-17-2007, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mswietek

One book I did not get, but hope to try again was Donald Barthelme's Snow White. I really enjoyed The Dead Father, but Snow White was just impenetrable to me.

I haven't read any of his longer stuff, but I've read a fair number of his short stories lately and for the most part loved them.

Cheers,
Omni

seravance · 02-17-2007, 03:49 PM

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski .

I heard so many great things about this book, like how weird and messed up it is and how everyone should read it. I started it and didn't see the big deal. The gigantic, irrelevant footnotes just annoying and never made it very far. I'm sure I'll pick it up again soon and try to finish it (just because I bought it and not reading it would be an even bigger waste of money.)

Some of Chuck Palahniuk's books. I liked Fight Club and Invisible Monsters, I couldn't stand Diary, barely made it through Choke and couldn't finish Lullaby. I don't know what the big deal is about him, he has a few decent novels and then some that don't even come close to entertaining (Diary). He describes things that could (should) be left alone and goes on about pointless things. He has an interesting writing style, but I just don't get some of his books or all the hype surrounding him.

Varine · 02-24-2007, 01:44 AM

The entire Foundation series by Asimov (I believe). Although I read them when I was small and immature, I failed to see what was happening in any of them. Perhaps my interest was lost, but I would get to a point and just sit there and say WTF? And then continue on in a similar fashion chapter by chapter.

quarterscot · 02-25-2007, 03:22 AM

I really enjoyed the Foundation books when I read them, though suspect I wouldn't now. They're probably not written for the "small and immature." More for the teenage and somewhat pretentious.

Wilderness · 02-25-2007, 07:02 AM

The Scent of your breath by Melissa P.
WEIRDEST book ever...but fantastic. I get it but I dont. I will forever be mystified. (But I still recommend it)

Lani

Kelly Cyr · 02-25-2007, 09:48 AM

I read Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code to find out why the book sold 65 million copies (what the publisher claims anyways). He knocked down the Catholic church very well saying they had no love for the feminine mystique. I found that laughable for how many churchs are there that are named after the Blessed Mary? Thousands and worldwide. Yes, the book moved fast and was all mystery based, but the analytical reasons he stated were all wrong, if not very far-fetched. So I figured the book sold because of his controversial claims of Jesus and Mary Magdalene's relationship and the DaVinci masterpiece of supposedly the figure by Jesus in the Last Supper was Mary Magdalene. His writing was very imaginative but the last chapter was very disappointing. It was just a lead-in to his next sequel of the book. The book sold 65 million copies. Why? Because it had great promotion and publicity or what? Anyone have a clue? Because it was not a great book, yet the trailer of the movie, you thought it was the most distinguished work there was.
Baffled,

Ilan Bouchard · 02-25-2007, 11:00 AM

Catch-22 was one of the only books I've ever read that I didn't finish. It seemed every situation was inherently the same; the premise of a catch-22 was interesting for the first few chapters but after a while the book was repetitive, repetitive, repetitive. I only made it halfway through.

swimfanatic · 03-12-2007, 08:34 PM

The Redwall series was a series I was really into when I was younger. I don't remember the author who wrote it. The first one I read was really good, but as I moved on to the next one and the next one after that (he has about 50 of them), I realized that they were all the same. They're all about some animal, usually a mouse or whatever, going off to fight this evil villian, usually a badger or ferret. I got sick of them pretty quickly.

Someone was talking about Artemis Fowl. I read that book when I was younger, too, and didn't understand it.

Animal Farm was also mentioned. It was a required read for us in 8th grade. Didn't like it at all, though I can't say that I didn't understand it. I just don't understand why it's so popular.

Finally, there's Lord of the Flies, which our English teacher is forcing us to read now. I understand it, but what I don't get is why people claim that it's so 'awesome.' It's so gruesome and unsettling that it's hardly enjoyable. A lot of the characters with good, redeeming qualities are killed off by the end of the book. Like I said, not something I enjoy.

G. Palmer · 03-13-2007, 03:10 AM

The whole part of Lord Of The Flies you're meant to get is how 'gruesome and unsettling' it is. I didn't like it earlier this term when our teacher made us read it, but eventually as it got moving I really enjoyed it. It also makes some pretty disturbing observations about human nature. It is in many respects dull and boring, but it got to a point where I really enjoyed it.

I agree completely with the Da Vinci Code - I couldn't stand it (or anything by Brown for that matter)

John Grisham - I never 'got' him, I enjoyed his earlier books, though there was nothing overtly special about them besides having fairly interesting plots. I tried to read 'The Street Lawyer' but had to put it down for it's dullness (The first person writing didn't help) I enjoyed King of Torts, though it was nothing special as I said.

I'll grant them one thing though - they're published and make money.

Vanest · 03-13-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Addison

... I've never understood the appeal of Steinbeck. I've tried Grapes of Wrath, Cannery Row, and The Pearl, but only ever made it through the latter, and that because of its brevity.

I totally agree with you! When I was in high school, we were forced to read The Red Pony. I won't even start rambling on about how much I hated it...

Scott Tuplin · 03-14-2007, 01:39 PM

Lord of The Rings, the entire trilogy. I had to read The Hobbit in school (when I was about 11 or 12) but I didn't mind because I quite enjoyed it. Then after the films came out, which I saw, I picked up copies of all three books but hardly made it past Elrond's Council in The Fellowship of the Ring. Bored me stupid. Not the classic fantasy I was expecting.

Aurora_Borealis · 03-15-2007, 05:19 PM

I can't say that I didn't 'get' several of the books that I have read, just that I didn't connect with the author's opinions or the plotline/characters in general. I think that Lord of the Flies is right up there, along with The End, by Lemony Snicket, as well as several of the novels that were required reading in elementary school (the names have escaped me now). Of course, Mein Kampf would have to be one of the books in which I absolutely did not connect with the author's opinions.

Malkamazing · 03-17-2007, 06:12 PM

A few days ago I began reading this book titled: Blood Red, Snow White. Not only did it make no sense, but it was dull. After about 2 hours of reading several chapters, I tossed the book aside; not lightly, but threw it with all my strength.