ARmy Rumour SErvice

**Chef** · 26-06-2012, 22:47

I am an avid reader, and on holidays, or other times when there will be reading time, I take many books. One week is about ten to twelve inches of new paperback, plus a few standards, GMF, Pratchett, etc. Now the thing is I try to read some of the books that one should read, but some of the classics I can't even begin on, Dickens, I find turgid, likewise Hemingway, I tried 'For whom the bells toll' Spanish civil war, a period that interests me, shortish book, good starting point I thought. Couldn't get interested at all.

Are there some standard books/famous authors that leave you wondering what all the fuss is about?

**bitterandtwisted** · 26-06-2012, 22:52

The wife gets the arrse if I take the bumpber edition of readers wifes (the triple laminated edition) on holiday with me. Well they do say picture pains a thousand words.

**Fifth_Columnist** · 26-06-2012, 22:55

I have re-discovered Dickens in the last 2 years, having struggled with him at school. I have to admit to becoming addicted and have now completed all the main novels and am moving on to his more obscure works. I would recommend The Old Curiosity Shop, Little Dorrit and Martin Chuzzlewit - I become so absorbed that I had to find out what happened next, even at the expense of enough sleep...

I have just started 'Thus Spake Zarathustra' by Nietzsche, as I feel I 'ought' to read more philosophy. I am struggling to get through his sister's introduction - I hope he is better than she is!

**robroy** · 26-06-2012, 22:58

Originally Posted by Chef

I am an avid reader, and on holidays, or other times when there will be reading time, I take many books. One week is about ten to twelve inches of new paperback, plus a few standards, GMF, Pratchett, etc. Now the thing is I try to read some of the books that one should read, but some of the classics I can't even begin on, Dickens, I find turgid, likewise Hemingway, I tried 'For whom the bells toll' Spanish civil war, a period that interests me, shortish book, good starting point I thought. Couldn't get interested at all.

Are there some standard books/famous authors that leave you wondering what all the fuss is about?

The Book of Mormon, I scan read it a few years ago and thought "what the f**k" I've never seen so much bollocks in all my life.

**Cold_Collation** · 26-06-2012, 22:58

'For whom the bell tolls'

Homer's 'Odyssey'.

I really, really tried. Honest.

**notaspartan** · 26-06-2012, 22:59

The Kite Runner... Boss said read it 2 years ago, for that I just can't.

**Zarathustra** · 26-06-2012, 23:00

I tried reading The Picture of Dorian Gray, I got a couple of chapters in but jsut couldn't stick with it and gave up. I also found the Silmarilion unreadable.

**ivan_the_tolerable** · 26-06-2012, 23:01

Tolkien. Dull and plodding. Still, resulted in some reasonably decent films.

**King_of_the_Burpas** · 26-06-2012, 23:05

Originally Posted by ivan_the_tolerable

Tolkien. Dull and plodding.

Well said.

Somebody will mention Finnegan's Wake eventually and with good reason.

To be honest any book ever put on a Booker Prize shortlist is likely to be a bag of bollocks as well.

And I can't stand Jane Austen's books. She must the most overrated author in the history of English Literature.