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February 08, 2006
10 Books I Love to Hate, In No Particular Order
1. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
Why did this book win so many awards? It’s not even that it’s depressing: it’s boring. And it's so long and has that teeny tiny print.
2. Arlene Sardine by Chris Raschka
If you haven’t read this story about a fish whose dream in life is to become a sardine, you should -- if only to spend a few minutes wondering how a book like this could have been written and published for children.
3. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
This is notable as the only Newbery book I’ve read and hated. I always make faces when people ask for it in the library.
4. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
I just don’t get Steinbeck. His characters do not pass the bus test. Have I told you guys about the bus test? Perhaps that will be tomorrow's entry.
5. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Ditto.
6. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
I like things that sparkle and glitter, but I don’t care how pretty that fish’s scales are. His story is passably written at best.
7. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, illustrated by George Hauman
Why is it that I'm the only person I know who realizes that clown is creepy and up to no good?
8. The English Roses by Madonna, illustrated by Jeffrey Fulvimari
We do not own this book at WPL. We'll never own this book at WPL if I have anything to say about it, and, thankfully, I do. I have my standards.
9. How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon and How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague
I only hate these books because they are nearly exact carbon copies of the excellent How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight. These are not starving artists, and they do not need to stoop to copying themselves to make more money. For shame.
10. Frida by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Ana Juan
Everyone was going on about how wonderful this book was when it was published, but while the art uses a style like Frida Kahlo’s work, the book never shows any actual pictures by Kahlo. I said this many times then, and I’ll repeat it now: why would you write a biography of an artist without showing actual works by the artist? I mean, what’s the point? I’m supposed to get excited about this? I don’t think so.
Posted by adrienne at February 8, 2006 10:29 PM
Comments
Better write about the bus test. East of Eden is one of my favorite books. (I'm so hurt!)
At least I agree about Johnny Tremain. Being forced to read it in school didn't make it any better.
Posted by: Heidi at February 9, 2006 06:49 AM
East of Eden was my favorite of the Steinbeck books, which isn't necessarily saying much. I hated Grapes of Wrath a lot more. Or maybe I just had a better 12th grade english teacher than 11th grade...
Posted by: Sarah H at February 9, 2006 08:48 AM
I remember liking Johnny Tremain when I read it. But I was like in 3rd grade or something, so there's no accounting for my tastes then.
I feel like John Steinbeck wrote his books to cause the future students of America death by boredom. Although Grapes of Wrath was certainly more interesting than, say, Old Man and the Sea. There's one *I* love to hate. I always use that as my example of why short books aren't always easier or more enjoyable to read than long books.
Posted by: olivia at February 9, 2006 09:15 AM
While I have not read it, I cannot hate on Johnny Tremain since it inspired this classic Simpsons exchange:
Marge: Bart, I'd like you to read this copy of Johnny Tremain. It's a book I read as a girl.
Bart: A book!? Pfffft.
Marge: I think you might like this. It's about a boy who goes to war. His hand is deformed in an accident.
Bart [excited]: Deformed?? Why didn't you say so!? They should call this book Johnny Deformed.
Posted by: Jen at February 9, 2006 09:38 AM
I didn't care for The Old Man and The Sea, but I may have to give that another try as an adult. I remember liking Johnny Tremain, though. I think I liked learning about silversmithing. I remember reading it in seventh grade and really hating seventh grade, but I didn't hold that against the book. A Day No Pigs Would Die is depressing, kids shouldn't have to read things that depressing. Bridges of Madison County was the emptiest book I have read in recent years.
Posted by: chuck at February 9, 2006 10:39 AM
I remember reading "The Pearl", "Old Man & the Sea", and "Grapes of Wrath", and they really did nothing for me. I was too immature to get them, if there was actually something to get. One of my favorite books in high school was "Ordinary People" by Judith Guest. It really helped me get through a tough time; I had a brother who was suicidal, and in and out of hospitals all through out high school.
I actually think my goal for this year will be to reread all of my book assignments from high school and see what I think of them today. I'm off to the library! I must fence first, though.
Posted by: Kelly at February 9, 2006 01:56 PM
For zombie lovers, Angry Alien Productions has an new Night of the Living Dead 30-second Bunnies.
Posted by: chuck at February 9, 2006 03:33 PM
I hated Great Expectations. I hated it so much that my teacher made me go into Regents English the next year. I was in Regents for about two weeks and I begged the honors teacher to let me into her class. Thankfully it was a different teacher. She let me into the class, the next year I took AP English, got a 4/5 on the exam, went on to major in English in college, got my MLS and now tell impressionable young people not to read Great Expectations. I LOVE IT!
Posted by: Cathy at February 9, 2006 03:37 PM
Steinbeck's "The Short Reign of Pippin IV" is a bit of a comical departure for people who don't care for that author's usual fare.
Posted by: Craig at February 9, 2006 05:35 PM
let's think positive children
Posted by: the dad at February 9, 2006 06:37 PM
I love Jennifer Shiman.
Jeffrey also likes East of Eden. Maybe I was just in a bad mood when I read it. I didn't really get The Old Man and the Sea either, and it's funny how many of you were writing about it at the same time without knowing it. ;)
Posted by: adrienne at February 9, 2006 10:35 PM
I hated The Great Gatsby, an American classic, blah, blah, blah it is much more interesting to discuss the fact that the death & destruction of WWI disillusioned the generation that fought and witnessed it which is why they produced such depressing works in the 1920s while they were partying & drinking too much. And why they used appeasement instead of stopping Hitler when he started invading other nations. I have no problem with using art & literature as therapy but does it have to be so boring? Of course I use reading as a stress reliever so I like things to be easy to follow and understand. I usually end up listening to the classics because it is easier.
Posted by: tonderdo at February 10, 2006 12:33 AM
I have tried to read Steinbeck but BORING is the word. I just don't get it. Why do so many think that these are great books. Am I missing something?
Posted by: Tina at February 17, 2006 03:07 AM
Well, Tina, that makes two of us. I sort of liked Of Mice and Men, but I think it's only because I realized it was the source material for the abominable snowman in the Bugs Bunny cartoons. And it's not enough to convince me to read anything else Steinbeck wrote....
Posted by: adrienne at February 17, 2006 09:40 PM