The Count of Monte Cristo was a terrible choice for a book discussion.
Tom Send a noteboard - 09/01/2010 07:41:01 PM
I'm now royally pissed about the January book club choice. The book is a pile of horseshit. It has no compelling ideas, the prose is not all that good and it's too long.
I keep thinking to myself as I'm reading it, "So just WHAT is there to discuss here?" The answer, of course, is nothing. There's no reason to have a discussion of a book about which little to nothing can be said.
This gets back to Raserei's point about people posting "Neat book!" or "Fun read!". At least if we had read a book with substance we could talk about the big ideas of the book, its significance and the beauty of its writing.
I will finish the book shortly, but this is the sum and substance of my thoughts on it. It deserves nothing more. If I were 12 years old, I'm sure it would be a fun adventure book to read. I would recommend it to children in that general age range.
I keep thinking to myself as I'm reading it, "So just WHAT is there to discuss here?" The answer, of course, is nothing. There's no reason to have a discussion of a book about which little to nothing can be said.
This gets back to Raserei's point about people posting "Neat book!" or "Fun read!". At least if we had read a book with substance we could talk about the big ideas of the book, its significance and the beauty of its writing.
I will finish the book shortly, but this is the sum and substance of my thoughts on it. It deserves nothing more. If I were 12 years old, I'm sure it would be a fun adventure book to read. I would recommend it to children in that general age range.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
The Count of Monte Cristo was a terrible choice for a book discussion.
- 09/01/2010 07:41:01 PM
1504 Views
Hey, now (copy/paste)
- 09/01/2010 07:48:56 PM
1052 Views
People should think about these things before recommending books.
- 09/01/2010 08:13:10 PM
1073 Views
Which is why I voted for Bulgakov's M & M.
- 09/01/2010 10:56:00 PM
1140 Views
I disagree slightly
- 09/01/2010 09:07:12 PM
944 Views
Well, by that standard a Jackie Collins novel is worthy of debate. 
- 10/01/2010 01:08:04 AM
1000 Views
- 10/01/2010 01:08:04 AM
1000 Views
Oh, I almost forgot
- 10/01/2010 01:11:50 AM
994 Views
Ooh...I'd love to hear them!!! What did Eco say to trash Dumas? *NM*
- 10/01/2010 01:19:43 AM
376 Views
Here's the French translation from Eco's work on supermen
- 10/01/2010 01:39:28 AM
1060 Views
I love it. Strangely enough, though, he wrote an introduction to the book.
- 10/01/2010 01:54:24 AM
921 Views
Not really strange as Eco has long been fascinated by this book
- 11/01/2010 05:01:56 PM
949 Views
Did he mention it in his book on ugliness?
- 11/01/2010 05:12:55 PM
836 Views
Re: Here's the French translation from Eco's work on supermen
- 11/01/2010 03:49:15 PM
1046 Views
That's fascinating. Of course, I disagree with Eco's praise.
- 11/01/2010 05:12:25 PM
870 Views
Re: That's fascinating. Of course, I disagree with Eco's praise.
- 11/01/2010 06:22:24 PM
1141 Views
I agree that abridging it would not work well.
- 12/01/2010 04:06:26 PM
1022 Views
I think there are plenty of things that can be discussed.
- 09/01/2010 10:00:06 PM
1201 Views
Discussed and put to rest in 5 minutes or less, perhaps.
- 10/01/2010 01:17:02 AM
1063 Views
Depends on who you are, one would imagine.
- 10/01/2010 08:16:11 AM
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<pretentious>Well, why should we cater to the lowest common denominator?
- 11/01/2010 02:17:03 AM
1019 Views
I'd laugh...
- 11/01/2010 07:21:38 PM
797 Views
I don't get that. Well, of course I do from Tom, but let's put him aside for this discussion.
- 12/01/2010 03:35:21 AM
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It's frustrating though...
- 12/01/2010 04:18:37 AM
1073 Views
I think if you posted that (or something like it) people would reply to it.
- 12/01/2010 05:08:53 AM
1076 Views
Perhaps.
- 12/01/2010 05:26:38 AM
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Given the people who have read the Kushiel books, I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.
- 12/01/2010 05:58:33 AM
855 Views
You're not.
- 12/01/2010 02:16:09 PM
920 Views
Her next series sounds interesting
- 12/01/2010 02:20:17 PM
788 Views
It does, but the reviews I've seen aren't too enthusiastic.
- 12/01/2010 02:29:26 PM
830 Views
Yes, but how so?
- 12/01/2010 02:39:59 PM
929 Views
Well...
- 13/01/2010 07:03:08 PM
993 Views
Honestly...
- 13/01/2010 07:51:14 PM
971 Views
Absolutely.
- 14/01/2010 12:55:00 PM
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Re: Absolutely.
- 14/01/2010 01:57:47 PM
943 Views
In short, not a good name for a daughter. At least not one with an interest in Classics.
- 15/01/2010 05:32:35 AM
921 Views
I'm staying far, far away from Seneca.
- 15/01/2010 02:01:49 PM
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Ah, yes. The Apocolocyntosis. Possibly the least amusing humor ever penned. I hate Seneca. *NM*
- 16/01/2010 02:14:32 AM
353 Views
I really don't think it would.
- 12/01/2010 07:49:32 AM
989 Views
I have tried before.
- 12/01/2010 01:59:24 PM
897 Views
If it is well-written and defends the value of the book, I don't see why you shouldn't post it.
- 12/01/2010 05:12:58 PM
1069 Views
True, true.
I'm quite enjoying it.
- 09/01/2010 10:40:30 PM
951 Views
A kid's book of adventure doesn't translate into a good book club discussion.
- 10/01/2010 01:21:11 AM
872 Views
I have to agree
- 11/01/2010 12:36:55 AM
1013 Views
How did you find deeper meaning (pun intended) in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? *NM*
- 11/01/2010 02:17:55 AM
382 Views