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claragold
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« on: May 30, 2008, 12:46:11 AM » |
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I think the longest famous book I read was 1200 pages of Les Miserables (English). I'm talking about one single book, not a set of volumes.
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Yes, indeed!
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king_ghidorah
Disgruntled and looking for a little gruntle
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 1,249
Give me three steps, give me three steps, mister.
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« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2008, 01:33:20 AM » |
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Amityville Horror.
Actually read it like 12 times already...not so great a book but just can't stop once I start.
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Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling??
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oldfullprof
Not really retired...
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 7,754
Representation is not reproduction!
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« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2008, 07:02:08 AM » |
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I just finished Shogun. Too much talk. About 1,200 pages.
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« Last Edit: May 30, 2008, 07:02:40 AM by oldassocprof »
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Someone please tell me to start entering data, rather than screwing off here.
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phdbliss
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« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2008, 07:11:34 AM » |
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Sleeping With The Enemy - yep, the one that the Julia Roberts movie came from. I must have read that thing 10 times.
<Slinks away red-faced.>
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aristof_ns
it's harder to get a TT job than to become a
Senior member
Posts: 857
PhD ISO LAC
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« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2008, 10:16:24 AM » |
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For college, I did manage to read ALL of:
Thucydides
The Republic
Tom Jones
Don Quixote
War and Peace
Brothers K
Iliad
Odyssey
Divine Comedy
Leviathan
Almanac of the Dead
A couple summers ago, I also made my way through:
Jerusalem Delivered
Orlando Furioso
The Lusiad
Tristram Shandy
Wow, given how many shorter works I have NOT finished, I'm not doing so badly!
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Is not American literature the minor literature par excellence, insofar as America claims to federate the most diverse minorities, “a Nation swarming with nations”? —Gilles Deleuze
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oldfullprof
Not really retired...
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 7,754
Representation is not reproduction!
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« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2008, 11:07:44 AM » |
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The Power of One is sort of a narcissistic exegesis that's briefly stimulating. Then you come to realize that no-one succeeds like this. Note: the author admits to fudging this up...
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Someone please tell me to start entering data, rather than screwing off here.
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mickeymantle
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« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2008, 04:49:17 PM » |
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I read Samuel Richardson's CLARISSA a few years ago, which is reputed to be the longest novel in English literature--over 1,400 pages! I would say that it was not a great experience overall, but there were some illuminating passages, particularly about the social system in England during the 1700s.
I have read DON QUIXOTE twice, TOM JONES once, and several of Dickens's longer novels, but have not found them especially memorable or enthralling.
Another reader, however, mentioned LES MISERABLES. I read that several years ago, and found it one of the best novels I've ever read. Taste to some extent is in the eye of the beholder....
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madhatter
We proudly present the fora's Least
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,673
Just killing time
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« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2008, 05:05:44 PM » |
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I survived Godel, Escher, Bach: The Eternal Golden Braid. It took six years of leaving it on my bedside table before I finally started bringing it on airplanes. And nothing else. I was forced to finish it, at a rate of about 500 miles per chapter.
I also got through A Brief History of Time. Only later did I learn that the accepted practice was to buy the book but not read it. D'oh!
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"I may be an evil scientist, but it doesn't take a degree purchased from the Internet with your ex-wife's money to know how special and important you are to me." -- Dr. Doofenschmirtz
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fossil
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« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2008, 07:41:20 PM » |
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When I was 15 or so, I read "Tristram Shandy" from cover to cover in a couple of days. A few years later, I read "Moby Dick" in one sitting.
Those are the books that have stayed with me for decades.
On the other hand, as a high school student I dutifully went through "Pride and Prejudice". My thought at the time was that I had wasted hours of my life following the fortunes of people about whom I couldn't give a damn. Since then, given the Olympian status of Austen in lit depts. everywhere, I've tried now and then to read her. I just can't finish any of her stuff, no matter how much effort I put into it. I still don't give a damn about any of those appalling people.
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mended_drum
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« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2008, 07:48:30 PM » |
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The worst long book I ever finished was Stephen King's It.
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aristof_ns
it's harder to get a TT job than to become a
Senior member
Posts: 857
PhD ISO LAC
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« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2008, 09:16:13 AM » |
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How could I forget?
The Tale of Genji (2x)
The Tale of the Heike
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms
********
I'm surprised by all the Austen-bashing. I'mbe curious to know how many of those who can't read her are men and how many are women....
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Is not American literature the minor literature par excellence, insofar as America claims to federate the most diverse minorities, “a Nation swarming with nations”? —Gilles Deleuze
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claragold
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« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2008, 09:37:58 AM » |
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Another reader, however, mentioned LES MISERABLES. I read that several years ago, and found it one of the best novels I've ever read. Taste to some extent is in the eye of the beholder....
I also liked it very much. And it was great to be able to read the completely unabridged translation edition. I have the impression the most popular translated versions of the book are at least somewhat abridged. What is unfortunate is that there are so many specific political and cultural references in the unabridged version, that you really need an accompanying guide to understand it well. |
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Yes, indeed!
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claragold
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« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2008, 09:55:30 AM » |
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I'm surprised by all the Austen-bashing. I'mbe curious to know how many of those who can't read her are men and how many are women....
I can't read her, but I love the British TV and film adaptations. Not to be confused with the detestable casting of that banal blond cretin of Gwyneth Bwyneth as one of the main characters of "Emma." |
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Yes, indeed!
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claragold
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« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2008, 09:59:45 AM » |
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Amityville Horror.
Actually read it like 12 times already...not so great a book but just can't stop once I start.
That's amazing, I don't think I've read any book more than three, maximum four times. |
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Yes, indeed!
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dr_dre
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« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2008, 11:31:42 AM » |
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I can't stand Austen. I love Lifetime movies, but I don't read them.
I read The Power of Full Engagement from cover to cover. Heh.
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