Confess your literary ignorance

[Orang Utan]

Meaning: they keep these lists fairly conventional, like littlebabyjesus said.

Still don't get ya

 

[D'wards]

I got a B in A level English (back when they were hard, amiright mid-lifers!) without reading any of the books. Thanks Brodie, and yer notes.

 

[alfajobrob]

I've never read To Kill A Mockingbird
I've never read any Philip Roth, John Updike or William Faulkner.
I've not read a word of Don Quixote
I've never read any Mark Twain, Herman Melville, Ernest Hemingway or Victor Hugo.

It's the last sentence that gets me.....wtf.

 

[Cheesypoof]

Still don't get ya

I am indeed replying to littlebabyjesus.

 

[alfajobrob]

It's taken me about 30 years to get quarter of the way through volume 1 of War and Peace.

Thats ok..it's on the BBC now

They probably went through it in about 45mins..lol

 

[D'wards]

Camus is on my list. Hope its not too difficult.

Nah, piece of cake. Could do it in an afternoon. Its a good book for those who sometimes feel a bit abnormal in "normal" society too, if you know what I mean

 

[Orang Utan]

I am indeed replying to littlebabyjesus.

Thats not what I didn't understand!
Never mind. I googled Sammy Glick.
Your post didn't make any sense.

 

[xes]

I think I've only read 2 books. (off my own back, not counting school stuff, and I never read stuff at school either) And both the books I read were wibble.

 

[ViolentPanda]

never read and never will read any jane austen

Same here. Seeing the various TV adaptations in the '70s and '80s put me right off.

 

[alfajobrob]

Nah, piece of cake. Could do it in an afternoon. Its a good book for those who sometimes feel a bit abnormal in "normal" society too, if you know what I mean

I tried but couldn't do Camus......

 

[alfajobrob]

I think I've only read 2 books. (off my own back, not counting school stuff, and I never read stuff at school either) And both the books I read were wibble.

Worse than Hitler.

Do you not find any subjects fascinating?

 

[ViolentPanda]

I love 20th Century fiction, particularly from the deep south and what generally falls into the legacy of Faulkner's The Sound And The Fury, but the only time I tried to read it about 20 years ago I found it very hard going and gave up on it. Keep meaning to try again, maybe this year

What about Nick Cave's "And the Ass Saw the Angel"? Now there's some deep south 20th century fiction for ya!

 

[alfajobrob]

What about Nick Cave's "And the Ass Saw the Angel"? Now there's some deep south 20th century fiction for ya!

Sounds more like a porn film.

Is it any good?

 

[xes]

Worse than Hitler.

Books, maan, they trance me out. I remember once at school (aged about 12) We were supposed to be following the book, each taking turns in reading out loud. Well, I'd got bored at some point and was reading the back page, about forth coming releases and shit you could do. The teacher called my name out, and I just stood up and read "Join the Puffin club" out loud and proud. And sat back down. I wasn't being naughty or baying for attention, books just send me off on my own somewhere, to my quiet place.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I got a B in A level English (back when they were hard, amiright mid-lifers!) without reading any of the books. Thanks Brodie, and yer notes.

There are so many levels of wrong in that post.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Sounds more like a porn film.

Is it any good?

I really liked it. Very "southern Gothic" in places, but not so much that it made you want to fall asleep (which is what some of Faulkner's writing does to me ).

 

[kittyP]

I've never read To Kill A Mockingbird
I've never read any Philip Roth, John Updike or William Faulkner.
I've not read a word of Don Quixote
I've never read any Mark Twain, Herman Melville, Ernest Hemingway or Victor Hugo.

I have never read any of them either apart from small excerpts from TKAMB

 

[xes]

Books, maan, they trance me out. I remember once at school (aged about 12) We were supposed to be following the book, each taking turns in reading out loud. Well, I'd got bored at some point and was reading the back page, about forth coming releases and shit you could do. The teacher called my name out, and I just stood up and read "Join the Puffin club" out loud and proud. And sat back down. I wasn't being naughty or baying for attention, books just send me off on my own somewhere, to my quiet place.

The really fucking odd thing about this, is...I think I'd make a really good writer.

The only thing I ever got A's in, was creative writing.

 

[D'wards]

I love 20th Century fiction, particularly from the deep south and what generally falls into the legacy of Faulkner's The Sound And The Fury, but the only time I tried to read it about 20 years ago I found it very hard going and gave up on it. Keep meaning to try again, maybe this year

Suttree by the genius Cormac McCarthy might be to your taste - not a lot really happens but (I assume) it paints a good picture of life on the Tennessee river in the 50s.

 

[kittyP]

I've never read any Shakespear. Every time I've tried I've thought it bollocks after a couple of pages.

I think for a majority of people Shakespeare is not really to be sat down and read alone like one would a novel.
The language does not flow in most peoples internal reading voices.
But read or studied as a group and/or listened to read by others, not necessarily performed on stage (although that is where it really wins) it comes alive and (IMHO) is well worth the hype.

 

[chilango]

I've only read 18 off this list of 100 Best Novels (and I reckon I read most of those by the time I was 40 - I've been reading 'middlebrow' fiction for the last 15 years )
The 100 best novels written in English: the full list

I've read about a dozen of those. Am familiar with about a dozen more. Its a shit list.

 

[alfajobrob]

The really fucking odd thing about this, is...I think I'd make a really good writer.

The only thing I ever got A's in, was creative writing.

That's probably because you have never read any decent literature?

If I was to only heard Bros and Morrisey along with state sponsored songs then yeah I would think Fuck yeah! make a great Musician!!!

 

[xes]

That's probably because you have never read any decent literature?

If I was to only heard Bros and Morrisey along with state sponsored songs then yeah I would think Fuck yeah! make a great Musician!!!

In my head, it's because I've got no past influences, and have a new mind, untouched to unleash on the world, spawning film franchises and spin off series.

unreality fucking rules.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I've only read 18 off this list of 100 Best Novels (and I reckon I read most of those by the time I was 40 - I've been reading 'middlebrow' fiction for the last 15 years )
The 100 best novels written in English: the full list

35. Like you, most of 'em before I was 40.

 

[alfajobrob]

I've read about a dozen of those. Am familiar with about a dozen more. Its a shit list.

20+ but only because I have too much time on my hands and no life. Agreed it's a shit list as well - a disgraceful lack of Sci Fi for a start!

 

[chilango]

I really think I should read Girlfriend in a coma and We need to talk about Kevin, but I have no intention of doing so.

Girlfriend in a coma is great. Really great.

 

[8115]

Girlfriend in a coma is great. Really great.

Maybe one for 2016 then.

 

[kittyP]

try 'the signalman'

Have you seen the short 70's TV dramatisation of The Signalman with Denholm Elliott?
One of the most chilling things I have ever seen on screen.
My dad and I watch it nearly ever Christmas together

 

[alfajobrob]

Have you seen the short 70's TV dramatisation of The Signalman with Denholm Elliott?
One of the most chilling things I have ever seen on screen.
My dad and I watch it nearly ever Christmas together

Is it as disturbing as...

 

[chilango]

Maybe one for 2016 then.

Possibly Coupland's best. Though Generation X is the seminal work and I have a soft spot for Life After God and The Gum Thief.