Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
Hm, books that I lied about... Well, I never lie in my reviews, but I have lied about books in the presence of certain people for various reasons. I came up with five such instances. I guess I do lie about books, but it doesn't happen that often. I try to not be (too) afraid of hurting other people's feelings or admitting that I like/don't like something.
1. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I've read a few novels by Dickens, but I haven't managed to read Great Expectations (although I want to). The funny thing is, I tend to say that precisely Great Expectations is my favourite Dickens novel. I've only seen the BBC adaptation with Ioan Gruffudd and loved the story so, so much. I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't read the book and only know the story because of the BBC adaptation, so...I lie... It's not exactly "legit" to say you love a book because you know its story, but haven't actually read it. *bows head in shame*
2. Othello, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Oh, I've read a lot of Shakespeare, but I skipped these three although they were required university reading. Yes, even Romeo and Juliet. I know the stories in detail, but I haven't read the plays. When I was talking about Shakespeare with an acquaintance and she said, "Well, who hasn't read these three famous tragedies, anyway?" and laughed, I felt compelled to add that I sure have read them. Her tone totally scared me.:)
3. Amanda Quick's novels. I'm ashamed to confess that I really love to read her novels. I am mostly ashamed because they're just plain Regency porn. I mean, romantic adventures... I said to one of our haughty librarians (we have one in our local library) that I only read one Amanda Quick novel and disliked it, but in truth I've read all of them. Sure, the novels are shallow, but they're fun to read and I love the tortured, yet powerful males Quick comes up with. Amanda Quick's my guilty pleasure for the summer.
4. Ivanhoe by Walter Scott. I persisted for half of the book, but just couldn't continue. I rarely give up on a book, especially on a classic, but Ivanhoe was, I admit, just so very boring. I started reading it because a good friend loves Walter Scott and wrote a fantastic seminar paper on Ivanhoe. She was so enthusiastic about it that I lied to her about how I read the novel and really liked it. At least I didn't say I loved it, only that I liked it.:)
5. Vanity Fair by William Thackeray. I love this massive novel. I've even read it twice. At university, a lot of people really disliked it, so I cowered and said I didn't like it so much myself because it was too long and stretched out. Massive lie. I have grown a better spine since.:) To my credit, it was my first university year, the first semester, so I thought I should just agree with things. I was angry with myself afterwards, so after reading Oliver Twist as the next book on the list, I proudly admitted that while the novel had its merits, I found it boring, although many other people loved it. In this case, I think they lied.
Have you lied about books?
9 comments:
If they such they suck and I say it..but ok perhaps *hides in shame* I didn't like PP as much as I said. The movies are better
+JMJ+
Irena, the theme of your list makes me wonder whether the fear of a literary snob's disdain is responsible for most of the lies we tell about books! Are they really so intimidating? (LOL!)
The culprit next in line would be, of course, fear of an English teacher. ;-)
I'll confess--I just can't stand to read anything by Dickens! I've been tempted to join a read-a-long for Vanity Fair that's coming up in June. I suppose you'd recommend it. Kaye—the road goes ever ever on
I really don't lie. I even boldly tell authors when their works don't click with me.
Hope you'll stop by my blog: Readerbuzz. Not much there this week, but maybe, if you browse a bit, you will find something else of interest. And I do have a great giveaway going on....
I don't lie about books I have or haven't read. If I didn't like a book, I will say that I didn't and the same goes for books I love! Hence the absence of a TTT post for me today!
On a side note, I have actually never read any of the books you mentioned... Rather shameful to admit I have not even read Oliver Twist or anything by Shakespeare...
I don't even know the storyline of Great Expectations. Shame on me. It is on all the top 100 best boooks list and I don't even know the story. Ugh.
Yeah, Macbeth. I always fudge my way through that one.
Here's mine:
http://carabosseslibrary.blogspot.com/2011/05/top-ten-tuesday_24.html
When I was in high school, A Catcher in the Rye was a subject of great controversy. My mom wouldn't let me read it (I have no idea why), but I told people I had read it anyway. I wanted to be cool. When I finally did read it, I thought, Blah! That's what I've been waiting to read? Oh, well. We all do it.
Sorry this is late (blogger wouldn't let me sign in).
You definitely need to read Great Expectations; you've read so many of Dickens's other works that you have to add this one too! Although I am now very intrigued about the BBC adaptation, which I had never heard of until now.
As to the Shakespeare plays, I know they'd be good for me to read but since I already know the story and I have trouble reading plays (because of the formatting), I will probably stay away from them.
I also really want to read Ivanhoe but now I'm worried since you didn't like it. I will still give it a try though at some point.
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