Guilty secrets: books we SAY we've read...but haven't - Page 3

kasippu · May 18th, 2009, 11:59 AM

Is the bible considered literature and does it go under fiction or non fiction?

buttmunch · June 2nd, 2009, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kasippu

Actually I find myself more embarrassed by the books I do read
I call them my porno. Because yes I read Tolstoy, Flaubert Wilde and even Lord Byron and really fall in love with the language and the words but then I have what I call my porn: the chick-lit, I devour them
Even more the biographies of really stupid nonsignificant people (posh spice I even threw it in the dustbin after reading so nobody would ever know) or gossipy unauthorized ones like the books of Christopher Andersen. It feels dirty reading them but I loooooove it

Hahaha...I've had that happen. I'll just be in teh mood to read some brain candy, like Jackie Collins or similar but have to sort of hide the cover when I'm in public. I hate the idea of strangers thinking I'm the sort of person who reads this crap, although sometimes it just has to be done.

LaFolie · June 2nd, 2009, 09:16 AM

Can't bring myself to read the Bible. Other than that, I'd never lie about reading a book. After years of studying literature, I must say I've developed quite a taste for not-so-easy-to-read fiction and I make a point of reading as many classics as I can for my own culture even though I'm not guaranteed to enjoy a book on the strength of its classic status.

Oh, btw, Sput, Madame Bovary is a brilliant book!!! I love it when books have a slightly metafictional twist.

Chalet · June 2nd, 2009, 01:57 PM

I never read 1984 but I trust so many people here that I'm going to buy it. Longest books I've read, enjoyed and remember are Gone With The Wind, Anna Karenina and The Thornbirds. I read Flaubert's stories without being told to. That's about it. No bible, no James Joyce, no Grisham. All of F. Scott Fitzgerald. He's and Dylan Thomas are my guys for beautiful language.

sputnik · June 2nd, 2009, 02:19 PM

f. scott fitzgerald can make you cry just describing something ordinary.

Penny Lane · June 2nd, 2009, 05:02 PM

I don't lie about books I've read because that means I can't have a meaningful conversation about said book with another person.. which is one of the things I enjoy most about reading books. I love reading a book, "digesting" it so to speak, and then analyzing it/comparing notes on it with friends or family or just random, non-creepy people at the coffee shop. I shouldn't base my literary choices on their level of social desirability.

stella blue · June 15th, 2009, 02:08 AM

99% of people who say they've read Ulysses haven't.

I haven't either.

Janet296 · June 25th, 2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hummus

I've never even heard of 1984! I read books according to what I like, not what others think I should read.

The books I love the best are World History text books that occasionally come home with the resident student.

Hummus, I will assume that you are fairly young. You will constantly here the term 1984 referenced. It's used when people feel that the government is invading their privacy too much. It is a great read and very chilling to me.

Chimera · June 25th, 2009, 08:13 AM

Couldn't read Ulysses, but when I was a poet (or thought I) was, I used to pop into it to steal poem titles. Example: Do You Pay Rent for that Tower?

Sleuth · June 25th, 2009, 06:39 PM

To Kill a Mockingbird /Harper Lee ... I had to write an essay in high school... I read a few chapters but did not have the time to finish it before the essay was due.

Lorna Doone - My Nanna gave it to me, I read the first chapter but wasn't interested. I lied to her about reading it and told her it was a great book!

00Kimmi00 · July 5th, 2009, 04:43 AM

I'm 20 now, but when I was 16 I went out and bought quite a few classics because I loved (and still do love!) the idea of literature.

War and Peace...I must have gotten through 100 pages and while I could DEFINATELY appreciate the authors outstanding description of the characters and their behaviourisms....there is just no way the story could keep me interested.

I had to read the Great Gatsby for school, and I was the only one who loved it; any author who can make a story about nearly nothing, sound so profound deserves the accolades.

I have Dracula, The Illiad, Crime and Punishment amongst others...but I havn't gotten around to reading them....are they worth it, REALLY?

buttmunch · July 5th, 2009, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleuth

To Kill a Mockingbird /Harper Lee ... I had to write an essay in high school... I read a few chapters but did not have the time to finish it before the essay was due.

Lorna Doone - My Nanna gave it to me, I read the first chapter but wasn't interested. I lied to her about reading it and told her it was a great book!

I recommend going back to Mockingbird because it really is one of the most amazing books you'll ever read. I think a lot of people on this board will back taht up. Give it a shot.

Janet296 · July 6th, 2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buttmunch

I recommend going back to Mockingbird because it really is one of the most amazing books you'll ever read. I think a lot of people on this board will back taht up. Give it a shot.

I agree that To Kill a Mockingbird is an amazing book. Being that I'm from the south, it's amazing to see how far we have come.

Penny Lane · July 6th, 2009, 05:39 PM

I'm going to jump on the TKAM bandwagon.. really an amazing book. It's written in such a way that you feel like you're an integral part of the adventure and coming-of-age the characters go through.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00Kimmi00

I have Dracula, The Illiad, Crime and Punishment amongst others...but I havn't gotten around to reading them....are they worth it, REALLY?

I really loved Crime and Punishment.. I may be biased, though, because I am partial to Dostoevsky.. but I'd recommend for you to give it a try.

buttmunch · July 6th, 2009, 08:46 PM

Another Dostoevsky fan here. He can be hard work (and what Russian can't, eh?) but he's worth the effort. Crime and Punishment (once you wade through the name thing) is brilliant.