Books I Loathed discussion

John Steinbeck would have to come near the top of the list of authors I loathe. Does anyone else loathe Steinbeck?

I haven't read Steinbeck recently, but liked him when I did. What makes you dislike his work ?

I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I ever read by the man except for Travels with Charlie.

Why is it you loathe him?

I find Steinbeck's style to be very dull. I particularly disliked The Grapes of Wrath which I thought was very heavy-handed.

Well, Dfordoom, I think I know what you mean about "The Grapes Of Wrath." I felt that way about "A Star Called Henry," and "Tortilla Curtain." Neither by Steinbeck, but they made me feel sledgehammered.

I always get annoyed by books that I feel are pressuring me into feeling an emotional response. Of course most writers do want an emotional response, but if you notice it then it's not being done effectively.

Amen.

Has anyone read The Pearl? Dreadful book, turned me off to Steinbeck in general and here's why: I don't so much mind his writing style, and the story was interesting, but the ending makes it all feel like a waste of time. I don't want to read another of his books because I suspect if I like it, he will ruin it in the very last paragraph of the book again, and make the entire read feel like a waste of time.. maybe if I read nearly to the end I could enjoy it .. like watching the first two seasons of Arrested Development .. same basic principle ..

Gabby, I totally agree. We were forced to read The Pearl for 8th grade English, and while I hardly remember the book, I do remember loathing it deeply. I was just glad that I wasn't actually taking the class – I was skipping it – so I got to read the 90 page horror in one sitting, rather than dragging it out forever!

I recently reread The Grapes of Wrath (it has been many years since high school) and found I loved it! The language is wonderful; so descriptive I could "see" and "taste" the dust. I realized that when I was 16 or 17 and reading it for the first time I lacked the life experience to appreciate the story in it's fullness. Knowing now how the book was ostracized, banned and burned because it threatened the great food farmers of California with the organization of farmer's unions has reinforced what a courageous work this was at the time. This great American story was awarded the Pulitzer in 1940.
Bored by it at 16 I am so happy I picked it up again. Guess it is time to reread The Red Pony and The Pearl! Hey Sr Mary Christine, if you are still out there, my apologies for not understanding your appreciation of Steinbeck!

This is a problem English teachers will never solve.
Do you teach YA books in high school, that often aren't worth the time spent, or the important books the students can't quite understand yet.

We taught the second, tried to make it meaningful in their world and hoped they would reread it as they grew. It seems to be the right choice as I get so many letters on Facebook,thanking me.

Still it's a tough choice and comes down to HOW it's taught.

OF MICE AND MEN!!! I have only read that book, but yes, yes, yes, a thousand times YES!!! I DO NOT LIKE STEINBECK! What was that?? I said this in another discussion, but the dialogue was the visual equivalent to nails on a chalk board for me.

I was assigned The Grapes of Wrath when I was a senior in high school - with TWO WEEKS LEFT in my high school career. I didn't make it past the first page. In fact, I think only one person in the class actually read the book. Way too plodding and heavy for me, and as I said, that was just the first page. (But hey, we didn't really care - we were DONE.)

Oddly enough, though, I did like Of Mice and Men. Maybe because (subject matter aside) it was a bit lighter of a book.