What’s the hardest/most challenging book you’ve ever read? Was it worth the effort? Did you read it by choice or was it an assignment/obligation?
Anything by John Steinbeck. Of Mice and Men and Cannery Row are standard fare for any English Lit class, and mine was no exception. I was force fed them until I wanted to scream.
I'm a fan of lighter books with happy endings. The deep, symbolic, depressing "Oprah" books aren't something for me. I prefer genre fiction: romance, cozy mysteries, fantasy, science fiction where the good guys typically win. I like to close a book after reading the last page and have a smile on my face and a sigh in my heart.
Steinbeck does neither of those things. Perhaps I'm edified now, but when I think of authors I would never purposely read, he is the first to cross my mind. So, was it worth the effort? I passed the class, so I suppose it was. But it wasn't fun or even interesting.
I haven't heard about this one, but I agree with you on the lighter books with happy endings issue. :)
ReplyDeleteHere's my BTT post :)
Vicky @ Books, Biscuits & Tea
I like happy endings also.
ReplyDeletehere's mine:
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/10/booking-through-thursday_27.html
I've heard the same about these, thankfully they weren't forced one me :D
ReplyDeleteHere's my BTT - House Millar series
Aine
I agree. I thought that all the Steinbeck books they made me read in school were depressing. I have only read one book of his I liked and that one was written as propaganda for World War 2 so it was very different from his other books.
ReplyDeleteI really liked of Mice and men, and fortunately I've also read one of the lighter Steinbeck books: Sweet Thursday. I read them as an adult though, as we're force fed different books in Norwegian schools :-)
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