to think this is the most over-rated book ever

[SlightlyJaded]

'If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things'

I love books. From big dramatic plotlines and epic storylines to subtle and beautfifully written prose with well drawn characters. I like quirky books, classic books, modern literature, poetry - anything well written or engaging.

I almost never have to 'force' myself to finish a book but always do finish a book if I've started (why do we do that? ) but thought 'If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things' was the dullest most over-rated dross I've ever read.

Or did I miss something?

And yes, this should be in books, but I prefer AIBU

Do people still have their MN set to pages? How do you cope? Switch your MN preferences!

I knew if he was still about UD would mention that Ukranian tractor book.

Yes, I couldn't read American Psycho now, though I have read each novel by BEE (and I think The Informers is the most disturbing. The latest one Imperial Bedrooms is quite disappointing)

Thecatatemygymsuit I love Manhattan lit too (especially Jay McInenary Story of my life).

I agree about Ukranian Tractors, a pointless book.

Has anyone else struggled with Ann Enright?

Oh my word how can you hate Oscar and Lucinda? Are you, well, a bit odd?

"Queen Mum" went on the BBQ last summer. I hated that heap of shite.

Edgar I need to second the vote for Saki. I think The Open Window is the best short story ever ever ever.

Marina tractor woman is a nasty little xenophobe as I should have guessed because all her books have a front cover recommendation from the Daily Mail.

Please what is the alternative to pages?

Marina tractor women is forrin herself, unlikely to be a huge xenophobe I would think? I liked Two Caravans, but according to this thread I have Literally No Taste in Books.

No I think she's ok about her own immigration but distinctly got the impression that she was less keen on that of others.

Time Travellers Wife was a load of nonsense IMO

"see all messages"

Sigh, I adore most of the books nominated here........Remarkable Things poetically and gradually, through repetition each time adding a little more, builds up a picture of so many intermingled lives, each beautifully drawn, and then crescendoes to an exciting finish. I adore the portrayal of the old couple. I want that to be me and my OP in 30 years time.

I also loved The Belljar - very few books have ever really captured depression without being unutterably depressing, and The Curious Incident portays autism so deftly....perhaps both are me (autistic, depressed once)......but I def hate Jane Eyre. I would rather pull out my own teeth than read that again.

Tractor woman had me ROFL. That and Salmon Fishing.

Oh, you can so keep the Slap. Don't anyone bother with it.

If it's any consolation I secretly like Lord of the Rings...

Do you mean me unruly? Or does Edgar like Saki too? I love The Unrest Cure and - ooh all of them.

I don't have pages btw, you can put your settings to showing threads on one huge giant page. That was the only reason I registered in the first place!

I didn't like O & L either. Her fecking eyelids are heavy, I get it. So are mine whenever I try to read your painful drivel.

I would imagine foreigners are capable of being xenophobic about people who aren't the same nationality as them...

Georgimama - isn't she Ukrainian? Doesn't she write about Ukrainians? (Disclaimer - she may well not, I liked 2 Caravans but was a library read a while back and didn't love enough to buy)

One I finished but particularly hated was Ludmilla's Broken English (I think it's called) by DBC Pierre. I had loved Vernon God Little (yes, I have Literally No Taste In Books) but really didn't see the point of how unutterably horrible and desolate the ending of LBE was. And therefore resented the woman-hours involved in getting to that point.

I love Oscar & Lucinda, love love love it. I lent it to my in-the-middle-of-an-English-degree MIL who got to about end-minus-20-pages saying "well it was obvious it was all going to turn out all right" - er, no, did you actually read the bit before that?

I thought Edgar had posted about Saki? Very difficult when scanning 6 new pages of people trashing the Time traveler's wife since I last posted ;)

I think the plot of tractors in Lithuanian is a bit xenophobic in itself? Also possible for m/c people from a country not to like poor people from same country which I think is her ishoo?

Ukranian not Lithuanian. And nowt wrong with trashing TTW!

POETRY. ANY Poetry. I HATE it. cant understand a single bloody word of it. Its just incomprehensible to me, never makes sense, always sounds pretentious, arty farty nonsense words, which never say anything of any sense

Saki is great, I must re-read - what the one about the cat? Tractor lady is shite. I was going to buy the slap, I won't now. I just started Life of Pi on my ebook, was bored two pages in but thought it was because I was hungover. I won't bother now. I loved the description of Anita Brookner's books, they are maddening - middle aged well off woman takes a walk at dusk, moves to Paris, is still depressed - so true, but have to admit I have read them all and love them!

USoRight, I agree! And I have an Eng Lit degree! Although I do like a bit of war poetry, and nonsense verse. And maybe a bit of Lochinvar and Once more unto the breech and the Lady of Shallot, and the Ballad of Reading Gaol. Hmm, that's quite a bit I suppose.

saki as DD says 'I love it'

love love love

he is very naughty, and to the point. his women are real, intelligent, feeling...and utter reprobates!

uSoRight

USOWrong about poetry. it's like trying to be as good as an author - if not better - employing fewer words.

I have space in my heart for..

Wendy cope
Ted Hughes
Tessimond
Blake
Kipling
Rimbaud

and many others. They have written their tomes in limericks, and their grimoires in rhyme. Poetry is the ultimate in textual gratification.

franca I loved Bright lights big city too, but suspect it wouldn't stand up to a re-read.
Hated that Ukrainian tractor book too - another one I abandoned really early on.

How very dare you criticise 'Remains of the Day'?! Although I do concede that bugger all happens during the entire book and I do find myself shouting, 'Just bloody kiss her!'

Actually, I think I may have appalling taste in literaure, because I love Jane Eyre, The Time Traveler's Wife (despite its many inconsistencies) and 1000 Splendid Suns. Am partial to Wuthering Heights too, although I've never understood why people think it's a love story.

Nearly died of boredom at 6th Form when reading 'Krapp's Last Tape' and what's that play they make you read at school, involving stoning a baby in a pram? Dire!

Liked Hary Potter but the last few were beyond silly.

Just laughed out loud at Unrulysun's definition of Hardy!

Does anyone else find their Literature Tolerance Level has gone down since they neared 40?... Or just since having children and gaining more life experience in general?

I loved books when I was 22 which I am pretty sure would annoy the shit out of me right now.

I hate any book where someone does something out of character, or for narrative convenience, or has a life which they just wouldn't be able to afford, or is smug, or... All sorts of things which the younger me probably wouldn't notice and probably subconsciously thought "this is what being grown-up is like."

Glastocat.. Do you hate it too when you hear a soppy, lyrical voice spouting incomprehensible gobbldygook, as though its some profound moment of enlightenment, and you go ...What??? Is it only me. I love reading good literary english too, but POETRY ARGH. James BLOODY Joyce, cant understand a word, Under milk wood? Whats that all about. Its so repetative asome of it - has to be or it wont rhyme!
(Must admit - do love the one about the man trying to get into his ladies underwear, quote (ish)' The grave's a fine and private place, but none, I think, do there embrace ' That is witty!!!