# Famous novels you just couldn't get through

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-novels-you-just-couldnt-get-through/451027>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 29, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-novels-you-just-couldnt-get-through/451027 "2008-05-29T16:23:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 7

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**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-novels-you-just-couldnt-get-through/451027/121 "2008-05-30T22:10:55Z")

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Another thing too was Humbert was not presented as a sympathetic character. I mean, (small spoiler)

the ending of the book is not happy. They do not ride off into the sunset. It is clear what he is doing is wrong.

Covenant made me feel like I had to like him.

Humburt fucked up Lolita’s life, completely. With good intentions. I find Humburt’s act to be absolutely horrible but Covenant’s to be incomprehensible, if that makes sense.

And yes, I am sorry for the hijack, but I can’t have these conversations IRL and they are so enjoyable!

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**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-novels-you-just-couldnt-get-through/451027/122 "2008-05-30T23:54:34Z")

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Oy. I have a list.

_Bonfire of the Vanities_. Ugh, ick and yuck. I will never read it–I tried three times and each time I put it down at about page 17.

_Wuthering Heights_. A book about an abusive boyfriend. What great love? Catherine was a sap. I like the other Bronte sister better.

\*The Sound and the Fury \*(Faulkner). oh, please. Mouldy atmosphere and drama amidst the Spanish moss. Who cares?

_In the Garden of Good and Evil._ See Faulkner.

_finnegans wake_. Again, who cares? I don’t need to read Joyce showing off for the _literati._

_The Chocolate War_. Primarily because my prof was so in love with this book. I think his “message” could have been delivered in different ways (and is, in other books). She considers any criticism of Cormer heresy. I will happily concede that it was fairly well written.

I have vowed that this summer I am going to read _War and Peace_–if only to say I have. Plus, I have been reading escapist lit and basically “trash” for years. It’s about time I gave my mind a workout. I read _The Brother’s Karamazov_ waaaay back in the day. Don’t remember a word of it. I can’t say I enjoyed _Lolita,_ but I thought it was well done.

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