What are you reading?
March 13, 2013 - 4:14 PM
March 13, 2013 - 4:14 PM
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Thursday, May 23, 2013
THE ROANOKE TIMES
I am excited to find this site today. I enjoy reading and interested in suggestions according to my likes, also.
William Gibson – Zero History
I finally got around to reading the “Hunger Games” series. I’ve blown through the first two and just started on the third. I’ve really enjoyed them so far.
Who’s your favorite character? I was partial to Peta and Finnick.
I took your survey.
I am re-reading Les Miserables on my Kindle. It is not speed reading friendly this time either. So much so that I started three other books this past week just to break up the monotony of his s-l-o-w pace. The other three are just two historical romances (best escape ever!) and one mystery “X Plagues” By: Mary Nealy which seems like it will be very interesting and has some religious intonations. It starts off with a bang!
Are you reading the abridged version? Even that version isn’t short.
Sandi, I’m with you on Les Miserables. The writing is so pendantic that it’s sleep inducing. I’ve read reviews that state Hugo’s writing is “above any comprehendible human standards.” Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems to me that the purpose of writing is to engage the reader, not to dissuade them from reading. He’s also called the “Charles Dickens of France.” Again, I disagree. To me, it’s a joy to read Dickens work, but it’s a chore to read Hugo’s work. I truly want to like him, but it’s difficult to do.
I tried to read it back in high school when I first discovered the musical. I only got to the part where Marius saw Cosette in the park. Just couldn’t get through the rest.
No it is not abridged and agreed it is a slow slog. He makes it far more labor intensive than any favorite writer would. If the purpose is to use millions of words to tell the story, he succeeds. If the purpose is to tell the story while making it interesting to read and keeping the reader engaged, he fails. I will not become a Hugo fan.
Thomas Hardy writes in the vernacular of his time and yet he tells a good story and keeps me coming back, I will even read his books twice. His books are like visiting the time, Hugo is like doing time!
I think if you cut out all the extra words it’s a good story.