The 1700-1939 Book Club! discussion

I thought it would be interesting to know what books you dislike from this time period. Feel free to list any and tell us why!

Last of the Mohicans....I had a tough time following the story or the characters...maybe not in the right frame of mind as I read it.

I bought the book because I LOVE the movie! (Great music/highly recommend) I was guessing it would seem slow but one day I will try it. Thanks for the warning!

The Last Man by Mary Shelley. I just got done calling Frankenstein one of my favorites in the Hello thread, but this...not as good. I felt sad.

That is funny! The idea for the book sounds interesting and pretty original for the time. If I ever decide to read it I'll have to remember not to expect a work like Frankenstein. Has anyone else read this?

You're totally right about the idea: it's just as audacious and brilliant as Frankenstein was. But for me, it was really badly paced. It's at least twice as long as Frankenstein; imagine if half the pages of Frankenstein weren't very good. It's like wading through quicksand towards treasure: sure, the treasure's great, but the experience still kinda sucks.

Alex wrote: "You're totally right about the idea: it's just as audacious and brilliant as Frankenstein was. But for me, it was really badly paced. It's at least twice as long as Frankenstein; imagine if half th..."

Good description, Alex! I'll stay away from it and keep my good opinion of Shelley!

"The Well of Loneliness" By Radclyffe Hall. Simply put, Hall is a hack. I'll refrain from what could be an epic rant on the issues I have with this novel, but I STRONGLY discourage it.

From what I read this book had a great social impact, good and bad. Could you briefly explain why you think Hall is a hack? Thanks for sharing.

You are correct in that the novel had stirred up quite a social reaction as it brought the term 'lesbian' to the foreground. Point for Hall.

However, I think the social consciousness that Hall evoked came at the expense of bad literature. To begin with, the self-martyrdom themes that permeate the novel are just painfully evident to the point of it being offensive.

More than that, there are a number of passages in the novel that are painfully derivative of Woolf.

I just finished Oliver Twist, and I'm adding it to this list. Most importantly, it's horribly anti-Semitic: Fagin is one of the worst racial caricatures I've ever seen. But even if that weren't there - and that's plenty - it's not a very good book anyway. Just Dickens' second; by the end of the book he seems to have his feet under him, but most of it is maudlin and lame.

Man, did I dislike that book. Read Great Expectations instead.

Ryan wrote: "You are correct in that the novel had stirred up quite a social reaction as it brought the term 'lesbian' to the foreground. Point for Hall.

However, I think the social consciousness that Hall ev..."

Thanks for explaining! I just had to ask so everyone would know why you felt that way. Maybe I will just stick to Woolf.

Alex wrote: "I just finished Oliver Twist, and I'm adding it to this list. Most importantly, it's horribly anti-Semitic: Fagin is one of the worst racial caricatures I've ever seen. But even if that weren't the..."

I haven't read Oliver Twist but did enjoy Great Expectations.

I'm not crazy about Oliver Twist but was able to finish it. Now, The Old Curiousity Shop was another question. Between the long-suffering Little Nell and the evil dwarf villain, I just couldn't get past the first third.

For the record, Dickens is among my very favorite authors.

Anna Karenina ~ This was my first Tolstoy and I was sorely disappointed. I found the characters weak, selfish, hateful, desperate and pigheaded. I can't even decide what got on my nerves more, Levin's flip-flopping or Anna's pity fest. The other characters weren't much more appealing... I did like Kitty though. Too bad the book wasn't more about her.

I don't know. Maybe I just don't get it. Was it supposed to be a picture of the worst trait's humanity has to offer?

What I do know is that War and Peace no longer tickles my curiosity as it once did. It's unfortunate, but I don't know that I have it in me for another Tolstoy.

Oh no, Janice! I love Tolstoy!

I totally agree that his characters are often unlikable; I just...I guess I think real people are often unlikable people too. Tolstoy was the writer who pointed out to me that none of us are as cool as we like to think we are. Not to be too cynical - I think Tolstoy's characters have moments of character and strength, too. They're just frustratingly mixed with weakness, like I am.

Janice wrote: "Was it supposed to be a picture of the worst trait's humanity has to offer? "

Freud liked to call Tolstoy the first psychologist. I think Tolstoy meant to paint a picture of everything humanity is. We are often weak. I think Levin is meant as the redemptive portrait; he grows into a guy who deserves Kitty. But he's also the hardest character to identify with, and he's responsible for some wicked boring philosophical passages, so...yeah, it's kindof a pain in the ass of a book at times.

Sorry, I'm totally being that jerkoff who has to write a whole freakin' essay when all you wanted to say was "I didn't care for this book." :)

Twilight. (Enough said)

Alex wrote: "Oh no, Janice! I love Tolstoy!

I totally agree that his characters are often unlikable; I just...I guess I think real people are often unlikable people too. Tolstoy was the writer who pointed out ..."

hahaha. Not at all! You're not being a jerkoff. I actually appreciate your feedback. It's kind of a relief to know that someone who loves Tolstoy is able to say that the 'characters are often unlikable'. It's refreshingly honest. :)

I suppose with the world being so full of ugliness. Finding myself confronted with 963 pages of it in my leisure reading, put me off. Maybe going in with a less idealized mind set is the trick.

You may have saved Tolstoy for me :) Do you recommend War and Peace? Or for that matter, any of his other work? (A little bit of 'why' would also be awesome:)

Never mind I searched the book and I'm reading the reviews there. Thank anyway for nudging my interest again!

I think AK is more accessible than War & Peace, so I'd be pretty nervous about recommending W&P to you if AK didn't work out great. It's also like 400 pages longer.

What about going for some of his short stories?

I'm not usually an fan of short stories. But I will certainly consider them. Tolstoy has been on my radar for a while now and I'm still curious enough to want a wider taste of his work. I do admit that in this case the smaller commitment of a short story is rather appealing.

I read last of the mohicans as well and had the same problem keeping up with the character. The movie was helpful, it wasn't one I would like to see again

I loved The Last of the Mohicans when I was in Junior High -- most memorable book I read at that age. Read the entire Leatherstocking Tales in 2005, of which Mohicans is #2 and enjoyed the historical fiction saga quite a bit.

Whilst I loved Lady Audley's Secret and John Marchmont's Legacy, I found Mary Braddon's Aurora Floyd to be one of the most diabolically ill-written pieces of fiction ever composed by man or woman.

I've probably read worse books from the period than that (Disraeli? zzzzz) but that one stuck with me because it was so profoundly stupid!

I have that book but have not read it yet. I will keep that in mind!

Jessie wrote: "I can't stand books who's characters partake in adulterous affairs: Lady Chatterley's Lover, Madame Bovary, The Awakening, and The Great Gatsby (all of which I've read).

It could be well-writte..."

I think that's why I had a problem with The Awakening because it almost made it seem like something ok to do instead of trying to get a divorce or being more cautious before marrying (I do get things were totally different back then for women). With Madame Bovary she seemed to suffer more for her decision so there was a lesson in the book. I haven't read The Awakening in a while so I don't totally remember what she went through.

Really? Bummer. I'm going to go ahead and not recommend Anna Karenina to you. :)

I realized the other day that adultery is the plot of every singe TV show ever.

Alex wrote: "Really? Bummer. I'm going to go ahead and not recommend Anna Karenina to you. :)

I realized the other day that adultery is the plot of every singe TV show ever."

Very true. I dont mind as long as they don't glorify adultry. Since people tend to write about real life you sometimes read about the more disagreeable subjects but I hope the message or lesson to the story is something good. Everyone makes bad decisions and adultery is one possibility and you can't give up on everyone who makes bad decisions.

Katie Fford books. In my opinion they were badly written with bad grammer and spelling mistakes. Good plot indicated by the blurb, but couldn't get past this.

I feel like it's controversial to say I didn't enjoy a 'classic' like 'A Room With A View' but I didn't. In fact I hated it. I found it hard to concentrate because the plot wiggled around so much. Italy seemed like a tact on part of the rest of the book. It needed more depth, I just didn't care about any of the events until Cecil turned up and then he just irritated me.
Too vauge, too disjointed. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

Alice wrote: "I feel like it's controversial to say I didn't enjoy a 'classic' like 'A Room With A View' but I didn't. In fact I hated it. I found it hard to concentrate because the plot wiggled around so much. ..."

Alice, I felt the same way about A Room with a View! I didn't enjoy it at all and never finished it. Did you like the movie?

The Great Gatsby, for it feels like you're reading a hollywood movie (no i had not seen flm version before the read) rather than a literary piece. Too much drama with the platonic love the pratagonist has kept in himself for too many years. The mystery is well placed but it was all I could like about this book. I could not relate or attach to any of the characters, they were all too cold and shallowly built. However, it all comes to tastes on reading. And maybe I did miss something, the book is regarded as a brilliant classic after all.

I felt the same way the first time I read it. I was then 'forced' to read it again for a class a couple of years later, and this time I loved it! I think it's excellent and plan to read it again some day.

Gitte wrote: "Alice wrote: "I feel like it's controversial to say I didn't enjoy a 'classic' like 'A Room With A View' but I didn't. In fact I hated it. I found it hard to concentrate because the plot wiggled ar..."

I haven't seen it. My housemate really likes it, but after the book I've been put right off. Is it any good?

Yeliz wrote: "The Great Gatsby, for it feels like you're reading a hollywood movie (no i had not seen flm version before the read) rather than a literary piece. Too much drama with the platonic love the pratagon..."

I didn't like it either. At first I thought it was because I HAD to read it for school. But it's not something I'd normally pick up. I call it 'posh people problems', it just bored me. Especially as I read The Grapes of Wrath at the same time and that was just so much more engaging.

I like The Great Gatsby a lot. I can see if you are looking for a good romance, it wouldn't fill the bill. I always thought it was really about the "American Dream", though that's too shorthand. I also love Fitzgerald's use of language.

Alice wrote: "Gitte wrote: "Alice wrote: "I feel like it's controversial to say I didn't enjoy a 'classic' like 'A Room With A View' but I didn't. In fact I hated it. I found it hard to concentrate because the p..."

Funny that I watched the movie just last week and see this post now :)
It's alright, the movie. The drama is really subdued and 'excited' isn't a word that pops to mind while watching it; but that's Edwardian England for you. I actually look forward to reading the book now.

I despised Wuthering Heights. I think that may be some form of heresy, but I just hated it. Now, I do actually think that says something about the quality of the author. It has to be a great artist to evoke that kind of emotional response from someone.

Becky wrote: "I despised Wuthering Heights. I think that may be some form of heresy, but I just hated it. Now, I do actually think that says something about the quality of the author. It has to be a great artist..."

I am reading that right now! So far I like it but no so much the characters. I'm only on chapter 12. Do you despise it because of the characters?

I did despise it because of the characters. I was rather fond of Emily's blunt prose as I felt it suited the story very well. I really liked the "haunting" scene and her command over the ethereal. I just couldnt get past the characters.

I also despise Wuthering Heights. Catherine was such a weak little codependent thing. I'll take Jane Eyre, thankyouverymuch.

I recently read Age of Innocence and really didn't like it. It was a chore to finish and I was glad when it was over. I'm big on characters and I didn't love any of them. I didn't feel any sort of emotional investment in the story. That being said, I do understand the mindset of the American Gilded Age much better because of it, so I'm ultimately glad I read it. It just felt like reading for school.

I would not recommend Jude the Obscure; Thomas Hardy isn't known for his happy endings but this one was had the most terrible, hopeless ending I have ever read. On a side note my favorite book is coincidentally Far from the Madding Crowd.

I read This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald a few weeks ago - such a disappointment! I loved Gatsby and had high expectations for this one ... I even think I nominated it for a group read a while back - now I'm glad it didn't win!

A Woman's Life by Guy de Maupassant is one that I can't recommend...it's simply tedious...I know it's also a social commentary, but I just had to put it down unread...
Lady Chatterly's Lover...good grief...what a bore...

Its interesting that people have said they disliked A Room with a View as I absolutely hated A Passage to Indiaalso by E M Forster. Oh my goodness it was dry! Quite beyond boring,and the only bit of the plot I remember was about an Indian being accused of rape simply because he was an Indian and she was an upper class English woman, No evidence was asked for, So between the boring bits I just got angry. Although Forster wrote novels that suck, his short stories are amazing and brilliant if you can get your hands on any,

Elaine wrote: "Its interesting that people have said they disliked A Room with a View as I absolutely hated A Passage to Indiaalso by E M Forster. Oh my goodness it was dry! Quite beyond boring,and the only bit o..."

I don't like Forster's writing style - I find it boring just like you wrote.

The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens. I thought it was such a great premise! A curiosity shop with all sorts of interesting objects in it. What an opportunity for a great story. NOT! It was horrible and boring and it never picked up.

Joanne

Joanne wrote: "The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens. I thought it was such a great premise! A curiosity shop with all sorts of interesting objects in it. What an opportunity for a great story. NOT! It w..."

I always feel that way with Charles Dickens - he's just not for me!

Janice wrote: "Anna Karenina ~ This was my first Tolstoy and I was sorely disappointed. I found the characters weak, selfish, hateful, desperate and pigheaded. I can't even decide what got on my nerves more, Levi..."

I agree with you on Anna Karenina - I dropped out, because I didn't like the characters...

"Gorski Vijenac" by Petar Petrovik Njegos, if you're not faniliar with life in Montenegro or the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire you will never understand it. An important political, but not literate piece of work.