What are you reading now?

[Petrushka]

My sense is that members would prefer to move back to the original topic: What are you reading now?

Yes please. This thread is usually a haven of peace and tranquility, the discourse civilised and recommendations often of interest.

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes please. This thread is usually a haven of peace and tranquility, the discourse civilised and recommendations often of interest.

I expect you won't be attracted to the thread from 2014 which I re-opened this afternoon then, Petrushka!

[Ian Thumwood]

I have to say Huxley' ' Brave new world ' is one of the worst novels I have read. Part of the issue is that the science is very bad but I also felt it was predictable to the point of being stereotypical. Science fiction is usually over rated. Not a fan. Only Gatsby , Proust and T E Lawrence's 7 pillars rank even lower as classic lit that has disappointed me.

I would say that the one classic which greatly surprised me was Frankenstein. I had low expectations but felt it was really profound.

[vinteuil]

Huxley's ' Brave new world ' is one of the worst novels I have read. / ... / Only Gatsby , Proust and T E Lawrence's 7 pillars rank even lower as classic lit that has disappointed me...

... ah, but I read Proust for the jokes



.

[Jonathan]

Currently reading another murder mystery story, not one written by J D Kirk (who also wrote the Space Team series I've mentioned before) - this is by Kate Ellis. Her main character is a policeman who did a degree in archaeology, his name is Wesley Peterson. I'm thoroughly enjoying "An unhallowed grave" and have several others in the series to read.

I seem to be reading a great deal of crime fiction at the moment and it's making me consider trying to write a murder mystery as my next book. It would probably have a supernatural twist or be set in the near future though. Hmm...

[Ein Heldenleben]

... ah, but I read Proust for the jokes



.

And rightly so . Parts are laugh out loud funny albeit in a macabre way. “Nonsense ,Swann you’ll outlive us all.”

[french frank]

I have to say Huxley' ' Brave new world ' is one of the worst novels I have read. [...]. Only Gatsby , Proust and T E Lawrence's 7 pillars rank even lower as classic lit that has disappointed me.

It's an interesting claim. If 'worst' means you didn't enjoy them at all, it's fair comment. If, of course, it's an assertion of absolute literary value it becomes problematic.

I agree with vinteuil about Proust's humour. But then I also find Borges hilarious yet I'm given to understand not everyone does. I wouldn't say my literary judgement is any finer; but I am very lucky in finding something to enjoy where others don't. Others may consider themselves lucky in finding, say, Andy McNab or Frederick Forsyth enjoyable. In the end posterity will form its own judgement(s).

[Ian Thumwood]

French Frank

I had really high expectations of Huxley yet the opening scheme with babies in test tubes struck me as ridiculous. I think the predictable nature of the book was what annoyed me as you could tell exactly what would happy next. It became annoying.

There are a number of books that I feel are overrated. Proust was frustrating and I never got beyond the first volume.

[vinteuil]

There are a number of books that I feel are overrated. Proust was frustrating and I never got beyond the first volume.

... ah, you found it frustrating. Perhaps Proust is not for you. But I don't think you can go on to say he is over-rated just because you were frustrated : many others feel differently...

[french frank]

French Frank

I had really high expectations of Huxley yet the opening scheme with babies in test tubes struck me as ridiculous. I think the predictable nature of the book was what annoyed me as you could tell exactly what would happy next. It became annoying.

There are a number of books that I feel are overrated. Proust was frustrating and I never got beyond the first volume.

I think that if I found that my opinion of something deviated from the generally held view, I would ponder on why that was and wonder whether, dear Brutus, the fault was in myself.

[Ian Thumwood]

I think that if I found that my opinion of something deviated from the generally held view, I would ponder on why that was and wonder whether, dear Brutus, the fault was in myself.

My reaction was not too dissimilar but more along the lines of why I felt similar books were better. In the case of the Huxley, its vision of a future seemed clumsy and inaccurate whereas Orwell's 1984 just seems timeless insofar that it seems to mirror each political generation. With Proust, the language may be beautiful whereas Alain-Fournier actually told a better story more quickly with similar language. Furthermore, I also found Swann to be an annoying character. I went through a stage of reading French literature and was recommended Proust by a friend. At first I loved it but nothing seemed to happen in the book. Much preferred Zola although he wrote a few stinkers.

Literally reputation is fascinating. Books are deeply personal and do feel let down if a book has a good reputation and I dislike it. It is equally fair to say that I feel some writers have a style of writing that should be considered higher. The prime example for me is James Herriot. His ability to recount an incident always struck me as a masterclass in succinct English.

[Ian Thumwood]

Vintieul

I found Proust annoying because Swann could not see that he was being used by his partner. Just found that idea really annoying . I love humour in writing and could find none in that book.

I was also told that the Flash man series were a great read and really funny too. If you take the posterity argument, I read the first volume and ,whilst set in the First Afghan war , the book smacked on the 1960s when it was written. I did not find it that funny and , if you knew your history, the plot was very predictable. Attitudes also change and I felt alot of this book very very uncomfortable to read due to very sexist ideas and the racist attitudes. It can be read as a satire but, if you are aware of the author's political views which were akin to Farage, the books sit uncomfortably. Maybe one writer who is not for posterity but who should be cancelled ? ?

I really appreciate the dry humour of Atkinson and Kerr. It will be interesting to see how they age.

[DracoM]

Novels of Susan Hill, 'Michael Innes' etc

[smittims]

How refreshing it is for this thread to return to Ian dismissing the whole of a la recherche in four words! Do try again, Ian; here are lifetime rewards in Proust if you give it time (no pun intended ).

And take comfort; you're not the first to be baffled by some aspects of the series. I think it was Sidney Schiff who excalimed in exasperation ' Just how old is he supposed to be? One minute his mother has to kiss him goodnight in bed, then he's off to a brothel with Bloch...'

Looking back, I think I found le Temps retrouve the most satisfying.

[richardfinegold]

I rarely agree with Ian on anything but I will admit to finding Proust difficult. I would like to find a class, perhaps on line, that takes me through it