Booking Through Thursday
October 2nd, 2008
What, in your opinion, is the best book that you haven’t liked? Mind you, I don’t mean your most-hated book–oh, no. I mean the most accomplished, skilled, well-written, impressive book that you just simply didn’t like.Like, for movies–I can acknowledge that Citizen Kane is a tour de force and is all sorts of wonderful, cinematically speaking, but . . . I just don’t like it. I find it impressive and quite an accomplishment, but it’s not my cup of tea.So . . . what book (or books) is your Citizen Kane?
Crime and Punishment. The old joke is that it was crime to write it and a punishment to have to read it. I go one step further and say that forcing this train-wreck on anyone is a violation of the Geneva Convention’s restrictions on torture, and any perpetrator should be forced to read the unabridged dictionary (the only work that could possibly any more boring) as a penalty. Dostoevsky’s works are an insult to the paper and ink used in their printing. I wouldn’t use them to line the litter box because I respect my cats more than to make them urinate on such as that.
Why yes, I can get rather passionate about books. Why do you ask?
The imagery is clever. The story is acceptably well-structured. I can’t comment on the language, as I read it in translation, though I am told it is quite excellent. In following the accepted techniques of the time, it is artfully executed.
The characters are awful. We are supposed to identify with a man who murdered a woman because he thought he was a “superman”, a higher type of person, and therefore unbound by law or morality. Understand, I read science fiction and fantasy. I can identify with a space-faring blob, an over-worked demon, or a dragon having a bad hair day without a problem. It’s rare when I say a book pushed it too far, but this one pushed it way too far. I don’t want to spend 400+ pages in the mind of that kind of evil creature. I don’t want to travel an adventure in the presence of a man with whom I wouldn’t even be comfortable crossing the street.
Entry Filed under: Reading
9 Comments Add your own
1. Sally | October 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 am
Thoughtful answer. I do think that the length has something to do with the revulsion. If it’s slow going, then over 400 pages is nothing less than torture. I’ve listed more. Come visit.
Happy BTT.
2. Booking Through Thursday:&hellip | October 2nd, 2008 at 9:32 am
[...] Ivy: Crime and Punishment (she not only hated it, but tore it “a well-deserved new one”
and she did, go and see, it’s pretty brutal. [...]
3. unfinishedperson | October 2nd, 2008 at 9:34 am
While I cannot agree with you, I do think your answer is…uh…very inventive.
I had to come over and read your review after you said you tore it a new one. It was too tempting.
My answer, in which I highlight your answer as one of my favorites this week, is here.
4. Booking Through Thursday:&hellip | October 2nd, 2008 at 9:55 am
[...] Ivy: Crime and Punishment (she not only hated it, but tore it “a well-deserved new one”
and she did, go and see, it’s pretty brutal. [...]
5. deb | October 2nd, 2008 at 10:12 am
Crime and Punishment – a book I’ve avoided all of my life and will continue to avoid now that I’ve read your post lol!
Thanks for visiting today
6. Helen Hunt | October 2nd, 2008 at 10:50 am
May be I didn’t get you right – did you mean you tore a new book?
It’s hard to believe though, well, I just had to come and read the whole thing here…
7. Matt | October 2nd, 2008 at 11:19 am
I cannot agree with you although it’s a very thoughtful and well-argued answer. My dissertation was based on Dostoevsky and Crime & Punishment. It’s more of a psychological study and is a foundation of existentialism. Much of the story does take place in the first couple chapters.
8. Tina Kubala | October 2nd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I wouldn’t even attempt. You should be proud of yourself for making the effort. I got 20 pages into Anna Karinaina (sp, too lazy to Google) and decided the Russian upper crust wasn’t worth my time
9. Ivy’s Vine » &hellip | November 20th, 2008 at 9:50 am
[...] Fine Print of Self Publishing fit that category). Third is the book that is simply awful (see my review of Crime and Punishment for how one of those reviews read, but thankfully nothing I was sent as a reviewer’s copy has [...]
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