WORST BOOK YOU'VE EVER READ??

Back in October of 2009 I put forth the question to book bloggers, "What is the worst book you've ever read?"   And, recently (December) an article came out in the Wallstreet Journal by Alexandra Alter reviewing a list of "Worst Books". (visit link to article)  To my surprise, Ms. Alter actually contacted me for an interview about why I raised the question.

Hello,

I write about books for the Wall Street Journal and am putting together a story about some of the "worst books" lists coming out. I saw a thread on books blogs by Kristina Daniels, who asked "What is the Absolutely Worst Book You've Ever Read?" and I hoped to interview her about why she raised the question and whether the responses surprised her.

I can be reached at the number below, or if you prefer, you can email me your contact information and a convenient time to call.

Thanks very much,

Alexandra Alter
The Wall Street Journal
1211 Avenue of the Americas, 4th floor
New York, NY 10036

Story of my life, I just got the email and think it is too late to participate in the reviews, but here are some of the books avid readers contributed:
Twilight (by far the most reported "worst book")
The Secret
Catcher In The Rye
Vampire Diaries
Gulliver's Travels
Time Travelor's Wife
Wicked
Digital Fortress
Blonde Roots
Skystone
Citizen Girl
The Gargoyle
The Life of Pi
The Polished Hoe
The God Whale
Passage To India
Ethan Frome
Women About Town
A Partisan's Daughter
Julia's Chocolate
and readers also responded with disliked authors and genres: Patterson, V.C. Andrews, Self Help Books
(to see more visit link above)
I guess I posed the question because I'm reading the top 100 books and wanted to investigate how many responses would include novels from that list. Random House.  
For those of you that read my blog enteries on living through "Ulysses" (see archives), or have struggled through a monolith yourselves, the question "Worst Book?" is something readers like to share. Let's face it, we are more likely to respond to something we disliked than something we loved.....i.e. people will share a bad restaurant with more people than a good one.....or something like that. So book bloggers, What bad books have you read lately?

LOLITA MEETS AMERICAN PSYCHO

LOLITA was published in 1955 and released in the U.S. in 1958. I cannot stress enough Vladimir Nabokov’s Afterword in fully understanding Lolita. This is probably one of the best, if not the best, books I’ve ever read. The writing style immediately reminded me of American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, which also produced shock and disgust while  generating appreciation for its satirical and gory theme.

Patrick Bateman is the protagonist in American Psycho who embodies all that is superficial and materialistic in society.

“I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.”

Just as in American Psycho, Lolita’s theme is repulsive. And, Humbert Humbert (a name subliminally effective like Dick Diver in Tender Is The Night by Fitzgerald) is the lead in this debauched story. He doesn’t generate any sympathy; albeit, his sociopathic, matter of fact style is married to a morose dark cynical humor that is irresistible to the reader. In discussing Lolita, it’s a feeling akin to when someone says “my wallet is missing” and even though you didn’t take it you feel guilty and must establish your innocence. Just as now, I feel the compulsion of stressing my disapproval of the subject matter of Lolita and was squeamish many times throughout. I also questioned the nature of the author. It didn’t seem possible that someone could write in this kind of narrative style and present a character so real without sharing some components of that character’s personality. This is why Nobokov’s afterword is necessary for the reader. It answers all those nagging questions that come up.


“Humbert Humbert is a European intellectual adrift in America, haunted by memories of a lost adolescent love. When he meets his ideal nymphet in the shape of 12-year-old Dolores Haze, he constructs an elaborate plot to seduce her, but first he must get rid of her mother. In spite of his diabolical wit, reality proves to be more slippery than Humbert's feverish fantasies, and Lolita refuses to conform to his image of the perfect lover.”

The additional component that is extraordinarily impressive is the perfection of Nobotov word usage (especially considering English was a second language to his native Russian). I rescanned many passage just for the sheer beauty of the writing; it literally is poetic! This is why on “Kris’ Rating List” (see below) I have placed Lolita as number one. I welcome other impressions.

LA JOLLA LOLITA

Okay, first of all, in looking over my hasty entries lately I have noticed several embarrassing typos and spelling errors! (Blush, blush, wagging foot with down cast gaze). Well I'm out of Maine and in La Jolla, California where it is absolutely gorgeous. I walked along the beach today with my two boys ten and eight and we saw all the seals basking in the sun and they had lots of babies as well (which of course are the cutest things on earth with their big brown eyes!) I can't help but worry for them that they will be shark bait. How horrible!



In my winter travels from Hawaii to Maine to California I have managed to read quite a few books: Howard's End, A Room With A View, A Passage to India (all by Forster), Deliverance (Dickey) and Lolita (Nobotov). There are so many aspects to Lolita that I don't even know where to begin. So that will be for another day. I'd love to hear impressions of Lolita from other bloggers!

DELIVERANCE

DELIVERANCE BY JAMES DICKEY
PUBLISHED 1970
"The setting is the Georgia wilderness, where the state's most remote white-water river awaits.  In the thundering froth of that river, in its steep, echoing stone canyons, four men on a canoe trip discover a freedom and exhilaration beyond compare.  And then, in a moment or horror, the adventure turns into a struggle for survival as one man becomes a human hunter who is offered his own harrowing deliverance."

Deliverance makes you think, how would I handle a situation like this? What compromises would I make? Could I be a hero?
Drew, Lewis, Ed and Bobby are just regular guys.  We all know them or have met people like them.  Drew is that guy you met in college briefly and then happen to run into years later to discover he's just the way you thought he would be.  These fellas are your boss, your brother, your husband.

Do you want to commune with nature, but it's somthing you put on the side burner?
I have too much work....
It's too much energy; I would have to get off the couch.....
There are bugs, and bears and Big Foot.....
I don't have the gear....etc etc etc
And these guys are no different, they want to go but they have their doubts and aren't exactly conditioned for the wilderness like their friend survivalist and bow hunter Lewis.
Although ladden with doubts and lots of complaints, they decide to do a river run in the remote mountains of Georgia. In the beginning, things are good. The men are awakened, enlightened, and Ed experiences a self awareness he doesn't feel back in the city working 9-5 at his advertising business. His friend Lewis is an excellent archer and Ed has become proficient himself. He's looking forward to actually making his first kill (little does he know, his first kill will be another human being).  However, suddenly without warning....things take a decidedly nasty turn as Bobby and Ed, in one of the canoes, happen upon two foul and filthy hillbillies (dueling banjos commence) who are in the mood for romance! As one exclaims, "You ain't going no-where!" Triple YIKES!! And, you can feel the creepy crawlies on that banjo string..... twang!!
This is where my mind went nuts, "Ed shouldn't have said they were alone!" "They definately should have not let the other guy go!" "OMG, what would I do if that was me?"  And so on.......
If you haven't read Deliverance it is an emotional ride for sure and can be read in a day. It really made me question what would I be able to do if a situation warranted killing to survive? Would I be able to act? Or would I freeze and blubber like a baby? Most of us haven't found ourselves alone in the woods with randy hillbillies (Thank God!) but have needed deliverance from other scary situations. I wonder if most of it is innate (survival instinct) or training?? Thoughts?

BLOG NEGLECT!

The worst thing to do, if one has a blog, is to neglect it! But since coming to Maine I haven't had access to a computer regulary and with the holidays...well....need I say more! 
Last time I checked in I was putting out a call for impressions of Forster and his works!  A couple of takers thus far so will continue to put that together.  I have however finished reading all of Forster's novels on the Random House list: Room With A View, Howard's End, A Passage to India.
Currently I am reading Deliverence.  I wanted to get away from the never ending spew of English hyper-steriod etiquette:
http://www.roadjunky.com/cultureguide/1404/etiquette-and-manners-english-culture-guide
"In a desperate bid to avoid emotion, the English have developed an entire language around the evasion of embarrassing situations:
"Oh Dittums, can you ever forgive me!"
"Dash it, that was rather a blow.’

‘I don’t suppose you could possibly..’
‘I’m terribly sorry…’
‘Would it be too much trouble to…’
and the like.....
I can't think of a more pertinent 180 degree turn!
Which author would you rather read?
Forster of Dickey?

What I've decided to do for Forster is to collect other blogger's experiences, thoughts and reflections on the following novels: Howard's End, Passage to India, Room With A View (or Forster).  Just a little something...literally a few sentences is fine or a small review is great.  I know everyone is busy this time of year...but  the season is about sharing and caring so I thought it would be nice to read and share different reflections on the same novels.

Send comments/reviews to my email: bookreviewsbykris@gmail.com

and include your link!  Thanks!

HOLY BUSY

I am now here:

But had been here a few days ago......

Needless to say, I'm a little crazy after 15 hours of travel time with a 9 and an 8 year old...not cooperative travlers to say the least....Them:  "I need a snack" "He hit me" "I want the window seat" "He took my PSP" "He called me a dummy"
Me: "Okay, you just ate you're going to be okay" "No hitting please we are on an airplane" "You'll get the window seat on the connecting flight" "Share the PSP or I'll have to take it away" "No name calling guys" then it goes to threats "Shut up right now or when we get off this plane......"  "I've had it, you're both selfish, other people have paid good money to be on this plane" (as if they're concerned with this) and finally, "You're not getting anything from Santa...you're on the the bad list for sure"
It's amazing how children can hold adults hostage and reduce them (me) to blubbering messes in very little time.
Okay....so that is why I haven't been on my blog...time change, mental breakdown, etc.
I finished reading Howard's End and am finishing A Passage to India (snore).  I have had the most trying time writing a review for Howard's End....a complete block.  Anything I write sounds contrived or completely boring.  I'm not sure why.  I would be interested in posting two contrasting reviews of Howard's End if anyone out there would be willing.  Let me know!  Okay, off to fight some more battles in the name of parenthood.  Wish me luck...I might be Baker Acted by Christmas.