The most enjoyable book you've ever read that people you like and respect really trashed

from Elemental Forums

We invert the last question--so instead of a book you've really hated that friends recommended highly to you, now we have a book you ended up liking a great deal, that friends and such panned.

 

I'd have to go with the fourth part (book) of Gulliver's Travels. Back in junior high (which for those of you who aren't USian, means about twelve to fourteen years of age) I read the version in my school library. It consisted of the first three parts of GT, but not the controversial fourth part in which Swift portrayed a land where horses were noble, sensible, wise creatures, and humans were despicable brutes filled with low cunning. And nothing identifying what was missing got mentioned anywhere on the school copy.

 

Of course, I had to mention what a fascinating fourth section it had in a book review, which led to a furious teacher who acted as though I'd stolen her virginity (which I suspect was still intact in her sixties), and an administration that threatened me with suspension. Nothing came of it, but it certainly demonstrated several curious reasons people have for bowdlerizing the writings of others, and passing it off as accurate.

 

Over to you.

 

books
53,577 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

The Prince of Nothing trilogy is the best fantasy series I've ever read. It incorporates modern philosophy with a fresh fantasy setting, and it is the only fantasy series I've ever read that didn't make religion an absolute bore to read about.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I'm retired, so my life experience extends back to the previous millennium. I first read the LOTR epic back in middle school (twice, loved it). It wasn't very popular back then - not like today with 2 hobbit movies, and one LOTR movie.  back then it was 'unpopular' to like reading, especially a long book. 

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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting ElanaAhova, reply 2
not like today with 2 hobbit movies, and one LOTR movie.

Must be an alternate universe too....;)

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

feels like an alternate universe, now... lol, all the books I loved as a youth were so counter to the prevailing culture.  Now, they are mande into 3D movies.  Time warp, anyone?

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting ElanaAhova, reply 4
feels like an alternate universe, now... lol,

Just to clarify...at last count there were 3 LOTR movies....and the Hobbit's gonna be a 3-bit one as well...;)

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 5


Quoting ElanaAhova, reply 4feels like an alternate universe, now... lol,

Just to clarify...at last count there were 3 LOTR movies....and the Hobbit's gonna be a 3-bit one as well...

 

Long term memory isn't always what it was when if you flourished in the "last millennium." And I speak as one who did.

 

I first read LotR back in college, more than 40 years ago. Had my criticisms then; still do; but the sweep of the thing, and the music of its language, carries all before it. As much is true in its own way of The Ring Ouroboros, by another member of the same elite social group as Tolkien, to whom reality revolved around all the noble "upper types" who were automatically fit to rule, and a very few select low clowns. ;)

 

I don't recall LotR being attacked, though. Perhaps it was too early in its travels through the US, but it didn't make much of a dent. And while I'm sure at least a few hippie types loved it, it would have been a great irony for the group as a whole to embrace a novel built around nobility's natural superiority (except in one or two cases) to everyone else.

 

But I digress. Heller's Catch 22 and the novels of both Vonnegut and Bradbury were fiercely attacked while I was young, on largely ideological grounds. Much the same reasons for attacking them still exist, but since people have largely given up the quaint idea of reading for fun and thought, no on really cares any longer. It's like a Ukrainian acquaintance of mine (actually, the girl friend of my brother-in-law) says: censorship in the old Soviet was because people took ideas seriously. In cultures where ideas have little to no value, censorship isn't necessary.

 

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

 A brief history of time by Stephen Hawking. It was a real page turner

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Glazunov1, reply 6
I first read LotR back in college, more than 40 years ago.

I was 16 or 17 .....so that'd be 42 years ago....didn't know much of it other than I'd read the Hobbit a few uears earlier.  Enjoyed it so much I started reading it on a Sunday....finished it on the Wednesday and began re-reading it on the Thursday.....not too shabby for a 1000+ page book.

Don't recall much attacking of Catch22...not in AUS, anyway....but thought it was pretty good....

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Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top

4 way tie

"The User Illusion" by Tor Norretranders
"The Einstein factor" by Win Wenger and Richard Poe
"Illusions" by Richard Bach
"Wheat Belly" by William Davis

Imagine a world where perception, solution oriented critical thinking and forward outlooks meet the current problems created by the harmful aspects of the status quo head on...

*sigh*

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Panzer Leader by Guderian. A amazing read. At least for me, not so much for my friends.

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting TechNoWeb, reply 7

 A brief history of time by Stephen Hawking. It was a real page turner

You liked that better than "The Elegant Universe?"

You should give "Hyperspace" by Michio Kaku a try... he captures the imagination far better than Hawkings can...

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

One of mine best i.e. Game of Thrones...Awesome story with great characters...Interesting but right now I am busy in exams..I will start after mine exams..

 

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting LORD-ORION, reply 11

Quoting TechNoWeb, reply 7
 A brief history of time by Stephen Hawking. It was a real page turner

You liked that better than "The Elegant Universe?"

You should give "Hyperspace" by Michio Kaku a try... he captures the imagination far better than Hawkings can...

 

I'll have to give it a read.

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

This is an easy one for me. I read a TON of fantasy and sci fi. Fantasy is my favorite genre. That being said, I very much enjoyed the Sword of Truth series. All of my friends a good portion of the internet hate it with a passion.

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting LORD-ORION, reply 11
You should give "Hyperspace" by Michio Kaku a try... he captures the imagination far better than Hawkings can...

I actually read that as a kid back when it came out. I suppose it has aged pretty well since n-dimensional theory hasn't really gone anywhere in the 20 years since then...