Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

Ugh. Has anyone else read this? I'm entirely missing the point, I think, and I'd just as well stop, but I'm wondering if there's anything toward the end that brings this all together. I get that it's a satire on modern life, but that's not helping me any.

No not yet. I didn't like the only Ballard I've read and this one I've heard is particulary unpleasant.

I did finish reading it last night, but I didn't find anything at the end that changed my mind. After writing down my review, I looked at some of the others--generally, people had a high opinion. Sometimes, even if I don't like a book, I can read some other thoughts on it, which, while it may not make me dislike the book any less, can at least give me an understanding of what makes it appealing to others. I couldn't really pick up on anything this time that made me see the book any different, so I guess I just have to chalk it up to the idea that different delivery methods are more effective with some people than with others.

I believe I understood that Ballard was trying to write something over the top, something shocking, in order to communicate the emptiness of modern life and our way of using technology to interact with one another. But I just couldn't relate it to anything in my life, even taking it as a wild exaggeration. Instead of effective commentary, I just thought it tediously unpleasant.

Bryan wrote: "Ugh. Has anyone else read this? I'm entirely missing the point, I think, and I'd just as well stop, but I'm wondering if there's anything toward the end that brings this all together. I get that it..."

I stopped reading it. I had a hard time getting past the obsession with bodily fluids. I have thought about picking it up again, but it sounds like it doesn't get much better. I liked the movie, though.

I think watching Cronenberg's movie first helped me appreciate the novel. It's not for everyone as Ballard is one of those authors who feels the need to shock in order to get his point across. I found "The Atrocity Exhibition" much harder to enjoy.

Poliana wrote: "I think watching Cronenberg's movie first helped me appreciate the novel. It's not for everyone as Ballard is one of those authors who feels the need to shock in order to get his point across. I fo..."

Saw the film Crash years ago and i didn't enjoyed it. I think it has put me off reading the book!