Suggested by Janet:How about, “What’s the worst ‘best’ book you’ve ever read — the one everyone says is so great, but you can’t figure out why?”
My response:
At first, I thought I'd have a hard time answering this question, but unfortunately a book did come to mind and I'm prepared for any rebuttal I may get from other bloggers, but I just didn't get why this book was raved about. The book is OUT STEALING HORSES by Norwegian author Per Petterson. I had this book on my Wish List for over a year and wanted to read it so badly, especially after reading all of the glowing reviews. It was also an award-winning book of 2007. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. Frankly, I was bored through most of the book. I thought maybe something was lost in the translation from Norwegian to English, but I honestly think it was the story itself that was lacking. I'm not the type of reader that likes to abandon books, so I crawled my way through it. I thought perhaps if I just kept reading it was bound to get better, but it just didn't happen for me.
Have you read OUT STEALING HORSES? If so, please let me know if you felt the same way. For more Booking Through Thursday comments, click here.
I read the first 50 or so pages last year before putting it aside. I'd like to try it another time though - maybe it was not the right book for my mood then. So many people loved it...
ReplyDeleteI give up after the first 50 pages too... unless it is a book club book.
ReplyDeletehttp://barneysbookblog.blogspot.com
Aww, I actually want to read this one! I'll move it down on my TBR list though.
ReplyDeleteNO!! I'm so disappointed. My book club votes on our summer selections this Sunday and 2 people are suggesting this one. It's been on my TBR for a while now. Shoot now I will have to rethink that!
ReplyDeleteI just got this one in the last few weeks, after it was on my WL forever too!
ReplyDeleteSwapna, Lisa and Melissa - I'm so sorry if I've ruined the book for you!! I feel bad now. But different people like different books, so you may feel the opposite of me. I hope you will still read the book. I'd be curious to know what you thought about it. Again, I'm so sorry!
ReplyDeleteI've learned not to trust those award books. Or, at the very least, borrow them from the library instead of spending my money.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't stand this book, either. I read the whole thing because I was supposed to discuss it with a couple of friends. I didn't think the translation was very good, as I felt they kept beating me over the head trying to remind me the book wasn't originally written in english. You can see my review here.
ReplyDeleteI think you need to make up your own mind though. I read a bunch of reviews about Off Season by A.R. Siddons that people said was awful. I liked all her other books so read it anyway and I really liked it. Ok, the ending was a little strange, but still a good book, imho.
ReplyDeleteMy BTT is here
I appreciate his writing more than the story, which doesn't seem to go anywhere.
ReplyDeleteMy pick for this week is Da Vinci Code. It doesn't have any competitor. The literary blunders and infelicities just confound me.
I have this on my TBR pile for many of the same reason that you read it. But I haven't picked up a copy yet. I had heard that the translation was a little odd. Could be why I haven't run out ti get a copy. I figure I will get to it eventually.
ReplyDeleteMy neighborhood book group read this, but I couldn't get thru it. Like you, I suspected it was "lost in translation" for me, but everyone else in the group really "got" it!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't crazy about *Three Cups of Tea* (my review is here). I like the work Mortenson is doing, but I found the writing in the memoir (which, incidentally, was written by someone else!) to be painfully bad.
This was a good BTT, interesting question!