Books You've Thrown Away

[Peggy Lane]

Pillars might be one of those books that you have to be young to love. I read it in middle school and adored it, but when World Without End came out last year I was less than impressed.

[Deleted]

I used to make myself finish every book I started. Yes, it made life suck. That changed when I read Anywhere but Here and The Lost Father by Mona Simpson. She was very critically acclaimed. Each book was 500 pages plus and I read every one and nothing happened! It was horrible, each book seemed to drag on forever. I think something crossed over in me after that. I now have no problem not reading a book. Case in point: Twilight. I only got through the first chapter.

[Deleted]

Mar 23, 2009 17:57:50 GMT -4 @georgianna said:

I just remembered that I haven't thrown it away exactly, but Pillars of the Earth. This is just not doing it for me. I thought I was going to get a sweeping historical epic, but it seems more like a soap opera set in the Middle Ages.

Years ago a friend loaned me that book. I just kind of trudged through it. How could a book with so many characters and plotlines manage to be so boring? Out of curiousity I skimmed through the Amazon reader reviews and couldn't get over how many people said "This is absolutely the best book I've ever read!!!"

[BinkyBetsy]

Does anyone want to buy a copy of Absolute Beginners by Colin MacInnes? It seems to be a rare enough find that I might be able to recoup some of what I paid. See, I saw the movie in '85 or '86, whenever it was. I understand why it wasn't a hit, though I loved the visuals. But so many people claimed it had been an awesome book, and the movie was bad primarily because it was a bad adaptation, I had it in the back of my mind to check out the book someday. Finally got a used copy off Amazon. I was fifty pages in when I realized, like Georgia said, NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. So I'm looking to resell it.

[Deleted]

Disclaimer: I have always loved Michael J. Fox and always will. My heart goes out to him and his family and all those who suffer from Parkinsons.

That said - Always Looking Up - meet trashcan. The book starts with Michael describing his daily routine. It is touching and poignant. The rest - not so much. To be fair, I only read the first section which was titled "Work," but that was enough. I bought the book because I have always found Michael to be funny, smart, and kind-hearted and I wanted to read about his journey so far. I'm not into reading about the super wonderful adventures and entitlements that celebrity brings. The incredible hotels, flying on the Concorde, the exotic trips, the parties, the super-coolest moment riding the the pace car for the Tour de France with his celebrity friends (it goes on...and on...and on like this). I don't care about closure of a TV show's cast of characters, and I'm really not into Lance Armstrong hero-worship when I find him, frankly to be a tool and douchebag. Sorry Michael.

[trifle]

BinkyBetsy, you're taking me back. I loved Absolute Beginners when it came out in the '80's and I bought the book. Which I couldn't get into, so I just skimmed it. Unfortunately, I don't think I held onto my copy.

The funy thing is, even though I didn't get into the book, I still remember certain lines from it. Maybe I was just too young.

[Smilla]

As part of an April Fool's Day prank, I bought (for one cent at a going-out-of-business sale) and read Jewel's A Night Without Armor. Now that the prank is over, I don't know what to do with the "text." I almost never actually throw away books, but I can't think of a used book store that will take it (most I go to always have several copies in stock) and I don't want to inflict it on any friends or family members.

[dwanollah]

Apr 9, 2009 19:56:23 GMT -4 Smilla said:

As part of an April Fool's Day prank, I bought (for one cent at a going-out-of-business sale) and read Jewel's A Night Without Armor. Now that the prank is over, I don't know what to do with the "text." I almost never actually throw away books, but I can't think of a used book store that will take it (most I go to always have several copies in stock) and I don't want to inflict it on any friends or family members.

Put it in the bathroom...?

[Deleted]

Or donate it to a library book sale, it's amazing the crap people will buy if it's only 50 cents.

[Smilla]

Oh, library book sale--good tip (sorry, Dwan, I think even the bathroom is too good for Jewel).