Having spent a lot of time talking about books I have read, I simply could not resist this fun prompt from Orang-utan Librarian to talk about books I won’t. Here’s some of the books I’ll probably never read.
A really hyped book you’re not interested in reading
Dystopia is so marketable now, am I right? Hollywood’s been scraping the bottom of the dystopian barrel for some time, so when I see a book like The Handmaid’s Tale jumping in popularity because a series has been based off it, I have the hipster inclination to eschew it. It might be good, I don’t know. I actually find the premise somewhat intriguing. Still, every time I hear someone say, “we’re literally living The Handmaid’s Tale right now,” I just really want to know what their definition of “literally” is and also could you read another book please?
A series you won’t start/won’t be finishing
I loved the first book in the first Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series and read to the third, Life, The Universe, and Everything. I appreciate Adams’ writing style, humor, and imaginative world building, but by that third book I was fatigued by the nonsensical existentialism as well as annoyed by the character arcs. I’m not all that motivated to read the last two if it’s more of the same.
A classic that you’re just not interested in
This one makes me feel bad and dumb, but I won’t be picking up* a copy of Les Mis any time soon. I’m a quick reader, but dang, this book looks long (and maybe a little boring…please don’t stone me!)
Any genres you’ve never read
I don’t and won’t read erotica. To me, it’s just porn on paper, so I can hardly count it as even reading. Especially the above pictured drivel (sorry!)
A book on your shelves you’ll probably never actually read
A friend loaned me East of Eden years ago. I placed it on my bookshelf, with every intention of reading it, and it hasn’t moved in that entire time. I’ve read and enjoyed a lot of Steinbeck, but every time I’ve thought, “I should read this!” I have immediately picked up something else instead. I don’t know why, but it KEEPS HAPPENING. I hope I change my mind, but for now, on my shelf it remains.
Who’s next? I challenge Andrew Milbourne, Muted Mouthful, and Amyofhearthridge. And of course, anyone else who thinks this looks fun!
*Just noticed that it’s 49 cents today on Kindle so, I may not be “picking it up” but I did purchase a copy in the event I change my mind, as well as an obscene number of other deeply discounted books. CURSE YOU, KINDLE!
Challenge accepted.
I had to read Handmaid’s Tale in one of my high school English classes. Absolutely loathed it. Partly because it was billed as “one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written” when it’s not sci-fi at all, but mostly because it’s erotica thinly disguised as an anti-religion “warning.” And anyone who thinks we’re literally living that story now either has never actually read the book or else has a seriously warped view of reality.
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Oh geez, well, guess it was a good choice to not read it! She also wrote Oryx and Crake, right? I thought that book sounded a lot better.
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EL James looks literate only – possibly – when compared to our Commander in Cheese. I read these books for two reasons:
The first got them on my kindle, and yes…I bought the three pack deal. It was a dare, since I was criticizing them based off of conversations I kept somehow getting involved in about them. Now…*now* I understand that you *can* fairly accurately judge a book by the conversations you witness about it. My friends are smart people, smart enough that when I suspected “group stroke” while hearing them babble on about this 50 Shades book, I knew they were reading down.
Way down. James’ gift for dialogue was obviously a White Elephant.
Secondly, I read them for the Portland and PNW connection. Little did I know at the time that the connection to “that hardware store I used to go to!” or the fictitious condo in Seattle right down the street from me were the only positive takeaways this series would provide me.
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Hahaha! Thank you for the laugh, I needed that today 😂
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Dude East of Eden is an incredible book and also I want that back. 😜
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Oh my goodness I thought Elisabeth gave me that book! Did she borrow it from you?
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Don’t think so, but reading it was an assignment she gave me to keep being friends. It was highly motivating!
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Oh man, I’ll have to get that back to you!
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hahhaa I hear you about the handmaid’s tale (also I hate that book, so I’d hardly recommend it to anyone 😉 ) I think fair enough on these! And fifty shade is most certainly drivel! Awesome answers- glad you did this!
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hahah love your cheery writing style, found you through ‘peer recognition’ on ‘atleastihaveafrigginglass”s blog. And hoooo boi am i glad I found you! sigh I just seem to be finding everyone through someone, o well. No regrets 😉 Great post!!
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Thank you and glad you enjoy it!
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No worries! and darn right I did hahah, looking forward to more 😀
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