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July 13, 2004 Hi, I'm Charles Dickens, and I'm Overrated For the record, I'm not a booksnob, I'm a bookslut. I read 'em and leave 'em. Books are an interesting topic of discussion. You'd have to understand my kooky personality to see how much humor I find in ripping on our "great works of literature" to shreds. My previous list was based on books I'd actually read or attempted to read. That leaves a lot out. Please understand that my tongue and cheek disdain for Dickens and Homer is tinted with a bit of respect and honor. After all, they are "great" authors. So all you Dickens lovers don't have to get your panties (or boxers) in a wad. I'll give them their due for long-windedness. There was a moment when I enjoyed Great Expectations. The end. I imagine if I would ever meet Dickens the conversation might go as such: Ambra: So Mr. Dickens, many people love and revere your work. Dickens: Yes I know. I'm brilliant like that. Ambra: Honestly, I thought you were kind of boring. I mean, some of your books were the best snoozefest of my middle school life. Dickens: Well, you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but my family's estate is making millions from my work even to this day. Ambra: Touché. Dickens: I really never expected Great Expectations to do so well. Ambra: I'm suprised it did. Dickens: .... Ambra: Be honest, was "Pip" really meant to be "pimp"? Dickens: (laughs) Can you imagine him saying, "Pimp Sir. Pimp Pimp Sir" sounds like the latest Jay-Z chorus Ambra: What you know about Jay-Z? Dickens: Jigga Ambra: But really though...Mrs. Havishan, the wedding dress? It was all a little creepy to me. Dickens: I have to admit, I was on opium when I wrote that character in. Ambra: Figures.When I was applying to colleges five years ago, I got a lovely letter from a school called "St. John's College" inviting me to apply. This school is scary. There are no majors, barely any teachers, all you do is read old (and a few new) books. It's like four years of reading every classic ever written. Fine for some, but for me, that would be H-E-double hockey sticks. The thing is, in my opinion, no work of literature is exempt from criticism. If reading your book sucked one month out of my life, I'm entitled to say a thing or two in response to my lost time. One of these days, should I ever get around to writing a book, I will probably greatly regret that statement, but for now I'm just going to be flippant. That said, a few readers have commented on their least favorite books and authors and as promised, I'm listing them. I've had english teachers who would have coronaries if they read this but oh well, they don't hold my fate anymore. Perhaps I should have changed the word "worst" to "over-rated". In any case, you said:
Additional Worst & Over-Rated Books
P.S. this list should be much longer. Comments |
 "...playful philosophizing" Dan Leroy, National Review Online
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