Unpopular Literary Opinions

[chonies]

I love Things Fall Apart, and is possibly one of my favorites, ever.

I don't really think I have anything special to add to this thread, so I'll just start flinging in all directions. I haven't read more than a chapter or two of the Harry Potter series (and frankly, having been a bookstore drone at no fewer than two midnight Harry Potter releases I have lingering irritability). I like some children's literature, but not in a squealy way--I don't like all anthropological theory, either. I can't manage to slog through Jane Austen (but I love the Brontes). I can't bear science fiction or fantasy. I couldn't make it through the Chronicles of Narnia, no matter how hard I tried--I only made it through Horse and His Boy, which I liked, but I couldn't stand the rest. BOOORRRING!

I frequently don't understand the Booker prize winners. I also have extremely low tolerance for "graphic novels." I loved Maus and Persepolis but I can't really deal with the rest of genre. Am I unhip, or just a dullard ?

[tinyshoes]

I don't remember if I mentioned this upthread, but I don't give a crap about Jane Austen. I used to think I was the only female who didn't like her, but chonies reassured me that I'm not the only one, so thanks, chonies. Now I don't feel so alone.

[hailxenu]

Hate- absolutely, passionately hate- all Dan Brown books.
Book sales show that my opinion is unpopular.

[polygal]

I've had to read Things Fall Apart on three separate occasions for various school-related activities, and I have barely finished it once. And I could only ever remember enough information about it to BS my way through various essays/questions on it.

And this was an unpopular opinion while I was in high school, but the best book that we had to read was Brave New World. That was hands-down my favorite, and everyone else in my class thought it was torture.

[dwanollah]

brookie said:

sleepy said:

Nah, Dwan, go by "Mistress." As for that other mod, gawd, she's such a B!

Tee hee hee. Nervous giggles. I *superheart* Brookie.

Well, at least I can spell your name correctly. From Dwan's last post:

Anyway, Sleepyy, I'll be doing more of what I've been doing -- writing critically and teaching

Ahem.....

*takes a bow*

We had a book and CD trading party on Sunday. EVERYONE brought at least one Dan Brown book to get rid of, and no one picked up new ones. The local Out of the Closet will be benefiting from our copious Dan Brown deposit.

[petals]

I hate chick lit.

I like Victorian literature, but I also read comic books. <geek>

And in the darkness of my home, when I'm all alone and no one can see what I am doing, I'll read a Stephen King book. Even his newer stuff. But if you ask me about it, I'll never admit it.

And I think Charles Dickens is one of the funniest, most intelligent writers ever.

[spinsterliz]

petals said:

I hate chick lit.

I used to like it when it first came out, but now, sooo much chick lit is exactly the same. Female protagonist who's got a snide (but, unfortunately, not usually very funny) sense of humor? Check. Nosy, overbearing mother of protagonist? Check. Smart-ass male character protagonist is gonna fall in love with after exchanging so-called witty banter with him for 100 pages? Check. Protagonist always drinking lattes? Check. Sassy friends of protagonist saying things like, "Hey girl, there's nothing a pair of new shoes can't cure"? Check. Protagonist working for a chic magazine? Check. At least one mention of Manalo Blahniks? Check. Protagonist living in New York, Los Angeles, or London? Check. Gay male friend who gives Protagonist advice on dating? Check. At least one character (not neccessarily protagonist) who's got wedding jitters? Check.

Man, it's all just so boring now.

[heyalice]

Now the trend is baby-lit.
Girl finds dude, marries dude, gets pregnant, WHAT? I can't fit into my Prada skiirt, Manolo-Jimmy-Christian shoes? It goes on and I hate them all..

[spinsterliz]

Oooh, that sounds horrible. I've yet to read babylit but I can just picture it and how unrealistic it is. (What kind of mother is more worried about fitting into her Gucci pants than running around after the baby or changing diapers or making pediatricians' appointments? Why, an uber-chic one, of course! Puke.)

[tinyshoes]

I thought liking chick lit was the unpopular opinion, since I always get weird looks from people when I bring one of my fluffy titles on BART. I have to agree that a lot of it is pretty much a repeat of the same formula. Usually, as long as I stay away from the glamor-lit variety (Blaniks, cosmos, and jobs in PR or publishing) I'm pretty okay with it.

As for baby lit? Yuk. I don't like kids much in real life, so why would I want them populating my escapist literary crack?