My friend Katie is worried she doesn't read enough books each year, but does the quantity matter if you're tackling the literary equivalent of Mt. Everest?
The Washington Post book critic is asking about readers' literary challenges. His are staggering accomplishments (Beowulf in Old English, anyone?). While I'm proud that I'm a dedicated reader, I don't feel obligated to tackle long, arduous works just to make a point. I need to enjoy the process, too.
When I think of books that I've struggled with, Faulkner comes to mind. In high school, I waded through The Sound and the Fury; I wonder if I attempted a re-read now, would it go any smoother?
There are books I've given up on -- Seeing, by Jose Saramago, is one. The long paragraph structure, the lack of character names, the endless sentences. The promise of a later payoff in the bookwas not worth my pain.
Do you have a white whale, a book you just couldn't get through? What's your shame? Or maybe you'd rather brag about the one that you conquered, owned, dominated and now brag about to your literary-type friends. So... which is it?
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i'd always been a little intimidated by jane eyre...not sure why. but after it was referenced multiple times in the last two books i was reading (the marriage plot and is everyone hanging out without me?), i took that as a sign to stop being a baby about it. almost done now and bah duh bah bah bah...i'm lovin' it.
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