classic? pshaw.

[Cytherene]

I'm going to go out on a limb, here...and probably get the skin flayed from my bones, but here goes:

William Golding's "Lord of the Flies."

Maybe it's the fact that I had to analyze the living blue daylight out of it in my Sophomore year of high school (a step I normally save for AFTER I've read the book through at least once), but this book bothers me. It's grotesque in some parts, and I have a hard time connecting with the characters, the situation...anything, really. It may just be that it's been simply too long since I last read it, but I was not wildly impressed with my first go-'round. The only character I can even PARTLY associate with dies towards the middle of the book--if I'm recalling it correctly.

Just my two cents, and you're more than plenty welcome to disagree.

[Shoyru_Lover]

I'm sure a lot of it is really good. it's just that when you study it under school.. the fun is kinda taken out of it.

[Lillie]

I just re-read a post by Cassi --

How can you not like Gone with the Wind?! I've never, ever read another book where you can love and hate a character at the same time. It's such a unique feeling.

I guess the general conclusion is "each to his/her own". After all, there can't be a single book that everybody in the world appreciates. The worst part is probably being forced to read a book and over-analyse it every step of the way. A few times something that doesn't make sense is explained and people can go, "Oh! I see the light!" but for the most part, I think over-analysing one's favourite books would take the enjoyment out of them as well.

Moral of the story: read books before they are read together in class and don't take English literature for a degree.

Now someone talk me out of taking English literature for my degree.

[Cassi]

Dunno, Lillie. Maybe reading it was just feeling too much like a chore. I mean, it wasn't bad, and I can, to some extent, see the merits of it, but...I just didn't enjoy it.

[Josephine]

I know it's not really a classic... but Bridget Jones's Diary.

Hated the book. Hated the films more.