My Morning Jacket

Think back to your high school and college days.

I personally couldn't stand Camus's The Stranger and Sartre's The Flies.

QuoteThink back to your high school and college days.

I personally couldn't stand Camus's The Stranger and Sartre's The Flies.

As a Philosophy major, you just cut me deep...

Actually, the Stranger is a bastard. It's part of (sort of) a longer novel called "A Happy Death" that is way more intense.

Sartre is annoying, but has his moments. He's still a hack. To use his own language, he often comes off as the textbook subjective  playing the part of the objective.

Anyway, I have to defer to my high school days and reading goddamn Jane Eyre and the "boy version" I was told of Catcher in the Rye. It's not fair making boys read Jane Eyre, and it's not fair making anyone read the original Emofest of Catcher.

College, the worst I had to read was some rants by Andrea Dworkin as part of my contemporary philosophy class.

I'd agree with Jane Eyre being one. And also Walden.

Another philosophy major here to defend The Stranger.  I loved that book.  And, yes, Satre is a hack.  If you want to read some good Satre just skip it and read Nietzsche.

My most despised required reading were any of the romantics, Jane Eyre, Withering Heights, et al.

My Antonia. God what an awful droning piece of crap that was.

QuoteThink back to your high school and college days.

I personally couldn't stand Camus's The Stranger and Sartre's The Flies.

I had to do Camus' L'Etranger in French.  Double torture.

Also can't stand Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen, any of the Brontes.

Beowulf.  I think I actually had to go to summer school one year because I refused to turn in a report on it.

Philosophy minor here, but I encountered Camus and the Stranger in French class in high school.  I later had to read it in English.  I didn't mind it.  It certainly wasn't the worst.  Immanuel Kant, now there's a writer that I'll probably never read again unless forced.

Worst reading assignment for me was probably the Grapes of Wrath.  Compounded by the fact that we were forced to watch the movie, too.

Hmm....I didnt usually read the assigned readings, just got the cliff notes, so I dont know.

I think the only book I remember liking in high school was Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart...luckily, we read that one in class so I didnt actually have to read it.

QuotePhilosophy minor here, but I encountered Camus and the Stranger in French class in high school.  I later had to read it in English.  I didn't mind it.  It certainly wasn't the worst.  Immanuel Kant, now there's a writer that I'll probably never read again unless forced.

Worst reading assignment for me was probably the Grapes of Wrath.  Compounded by the fact that we were forced to watch the movie, too.

I took an entire semester on Kant.

My memory is sparse from that class. AWFUL. Great professor who made it digestible, but AWFUL

i hated reading "the fountainhead, " by ayn rand.  i don't think i hated her prose style so much as her philosophy.  she still makes me angry.

flip side:  i loved reading "grapes of wrath," nova.
there is a scene in the film of ma packing the night before they set out on the road that is burned in my memory.  she is sitting in front of the mirror holding earrings to her ears.  so beautiful and sad (crazy props to john ford and DP gregg toland {also shot citizen kane})

WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS. Man I hate that book.

QuoteWHERE THE RED FERN GROWS. Man I hate that book.

You, sir, have no soul and your heart is three sizes too small

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QuoteWHERE THE RED FERN GROWS. Man I hate that book.

You, sir, have no soul and your heart is three sizes too small

Agreed Chode.
WTF!?? Criminal! >:( >:( >:(

I think we had to read that in 7th grade and I loved it so much I read it 2x before our assignment was due.  That was the 1st book I read that ever made me.... :'(

I hated reading Falkner and lengthier Steinbeck and all things Shakespeare.

I did, however, enjoy the Canterbury Tales.

I have great resentment towards many of my English classes growing up because of the Western skewed literature filled with biblical allegory.  As a non Caucasian who had never picked up a bible in my entire life, I got punished for not recognizing every subtle biblical reference.

Oh yeah, Scarlet Letter sucked.  Agreed on My Antonia.

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QuoteWHERE THE RED FERN GROWS. Man I hate that book.

You, sir, have no soul and your heart is three sizes too small

Agreed Chode.
WTF!?? Criminal! >:( >:( >:(

I think we had to read that in 7th grade and I loved it so much I read it 2x before our assignment was due.  That was the 1st book I read that ever made me.... :'(

I hated reading Falkner and lengthier Steinbeck and all things Shakespeare.

I did, however, enjoy the Canterbury Tales.

I have great resentment towards many of my English classes growing up because of the Western skewed literature filled with biblical allegory.  As a non Caucasian who had never picked up a bible in my entire life, I got punished for not recognizing every subtle biblical reference.

We didn't really key in on the bible references at least, but maybe because we have a heavy jewish population...I guess that's like half an excuse, right? The only thing I remember that came close was knowing how to pick out a christ figure.

Still, I think my all time favorite reads came from 7th grade when it was the Iliad and Odyssey. I don't know why but that really captured my imagination the most.

I also enjoyed reading Graham Greene and Herman Hesse stuff my Junior Year of high school

I also have this unsatisfied need to one day own a coon hound and go on adventures.

I didn't hate all of The Stranger; the imagery was pretty nice. It just could have been so much more with the plotting and characterization given the time used. I like some of Camus's other works. The Flies, however was preachy crap.

I had to write a definition essay earlier this year on existentialism with those two books and two other short Sartre plays. Only problem is that all of them seemed to be relating to a different philosoply, and I disagreed with a ton of the decisions the writers made. I got a D, and couldn't have cared less. Irony much?  ;)

In contrast, I'm writing an essay on One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest right now, and I'm enjoying it so much more.

This thread is mostly inspired by the fact that I'm reading Heart of Darkness soon, and I've heard from some that it might be the worst bit of "classic" literature ever.

QuoteI didn't hate all of The Stranger; the imagery was pretty nice. It just could have been so much more with the plotting and characterization given the time used. I like some of Camus's other works. The Flies, however was preachy crap.

I had to write a definition essay earlier this year on existentialism with those two books and two other short Sartre plays. Only problem is that all of them seemed to be relating to a different philosoply, and I disagreed with a ton of the decisions the writers made. I got a D, and couldn't have cared less. Irony much?  ;)

In contrast, I'm writing an essay on One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest right now, and I'm enjoying it so much more.

This thread is mostly inspired by the fact that I'm reading Heart of Darkness soon, and I've heard from some that it might be the worst bit of "classic" literature ever.

I didn't know they gave out "D's" in high school unless you didn't hand it in until the year ended.  What kinda uber genius private school did you attend? ;D

Conrad is a rough read.  Ugh.  I did do a comparison paper way back when between Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now.  It was doo doo. ;D

I read heart of darkness but don't remember much about it so I can't provide guidance.

I hated Sartre in my existentialism class for the most part. The most I got out of the philosophy was a few talking points and the moral philosophy of "one should live their life not out of fear of punishment from a divine being but because you've got to live with yourself for the rest of your life"

that, and from A Happy Death (which does a hell of a lot more with the character of Mersault, but the story meanders a lot more as a result and doesn't have the punchy anti-climax of an ending). It does have my favorite quote:

"It's a kind of spiritual snobbery that makes people think they can be happy without money, for money buys time and time buys happiness"

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QuoteWHERE THE RED FERN GROWS. Man I hate that book.

You, sir, have no soul and your heart is three sizes too small

Agreed Chode.
WTF!?? Criminal! >:( >:( >:(

I think we had to read that in 7th grade and I loved it so much I read it 2x before our assignment was due.  That was the 1st book I read that ever made me.... :'(

I hated reading Falkner and lengthier Steinbeck and all things Shakespeare.

So you loved Where the Red Fern Grows but you hated Falkner, Steinbeck and Shakespeare. Um. . . :-?

I hated 1984. I  barely remember it but I know I didn't like it. Maybe I should try that one again.
I did love Of Mice and Men and although they weren't novels I loved when we studied the poetry of Wilfred Owen.

1984?  Shakespeare?  Really?  I still read Shakespeare and think of 1984 everytime it feels like Big Brother is watching, which is a lot.

Good call on My Antonia, though.

Quote1984?  Shakespeare?  Really?  I still read Shakespeare and think of 1984 everytime it feels like Big Brother is watching, which is a lot.

I think with 1984 I just didn't like being reminded of all the Big Brother/controlling people stuff. I found it too depressing and scary in a way.
As for Shakespeare, we read The Merchant of Venice and I liked that.

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QuoteWHERE THE RED FERN GROWS. Man I hate that book.

You, sir, have no soul and your heart is three sizes too small

Agreed Chode.
WTF!?? Criminal! >:( >:( >:(

I think we had to read that in 7th grade and I loved it so much I read it 2x before our assignment was due.  That was the 1st book I read that ever made me.... :'(

I hated reading Falkner and lengthier Steinbeck and all things Shakespeare.

I did, however, enjoy the Canterbury Tales.

I have great resentment towards many of my English classes growing up because of the Western skewed literature filled with biblical allegory.  As a non Caucasian who had never picked up a bible in my entire life, I got punished for not recognizing every subtle biblical reference.

Wilson Rawls  :) :) :'(...or more like the grinch has no heart at all ;D

Quote1984?  Shakespeare?  Really?  I still read Shakespeare and think of 1984 everytime it feels like Big Brother is watching, which is a lot.

Good call on My Antonia, though.

My Antonia is really awful isn't it. Orwell is excellent stuff. I loved reading 1984 and Animal Farm in school.

I've said this someplace before, just because it's a "classic" doesn't mean it's good. Most "classics" are classic pieces of crap. Many do not translate well to the modern age which makes them difficult to read (or interesting). I've tried to go back and read many and zzzzzzzzz.

The book I had a terrible time finishing was The Sound and the Fury.  Faulkner's writing just doesn't do it for me and after half a semester discussing it, I still don't know what that book was about.

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Quote1984?  Shakespeare?  Really?  I still read Shakespeare and think of 1984 everytime it feels like Big Brother is watching, which is a lot.

Good call on My Antonia, though.

My Antonia is really awful isn't it. Orwell is excellent stuff. I loved reading 1984 and Animal Farm in school.

I've said this someplace before, just because it's a "classic" doesn't mean it's good. Most "classics" are classic pieces of crap. Many do not translate well to the modern age which makes them difficult to read (or interesting). I've tried to go back and read many and zzzzzzzzz.

I couldn't agree with you more MJK and I hope not to offend any teachers of classic 'canonized' literature.  I know the canon is being updated with non Western global literature but I still fail to see the relevance of spending our entire school days reading oft stilted, difficult reading in some form of English not used today.

Iambic pentameter did not help me pass the bar.  Falkner only taught me that long, boring run-on sentences are perfectly normal.

I don't see the logic in how learning the "classics" aid the learning of the English language as it is used today.  Something lean and powerful like McCarthy's No Country or Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Bladerunner) seem like more relevant reading appropriate for high school that balance substance, readability and depth.  Harry Potter would be great too!

I never understood how the religious right can complain about having children read a book such as that (Potter) in public school while I am forced to recognize parables of Cain and Abel. :P

When you take cooking class, you don't learn to rub sticks together.  You aren't taught geocentrism in science first before debunking it.

Rant over.  I just think that it would be in the best interests of modern youth to read books that appeal to their sensibilities that relate to the world that they live in while teaching them the language.

Having said all that, I guess I have no idea how much it has changes since I left high school.  I'm sure some of the required readings have been updated.

I also enjoyed 1984 and Animal Farm.  There just so much more 'readable.'  I also agree with Walden AMD.  I like spending some alone time in a cabin in the woods.  I just don't like reading about it.  That said, though Thoreaux didn't work for me, what came out of Bon Iver's time in the woods worked just fine for me. 8-)

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Quote1984?  Shakespeare?  Really?  I still read Shakespeare and think of 1984 everytime it feels like Big Brother is watching, which is a lot.

Good call on My Antonia, though.

My Antonia is really awful isn't it. Orwell is excellent stuff. I loved reading 1984 and Animal Farm in school.

I've said this someplace before, just because it's a "classic" doesn't mean it's good. Most "classics" are classic pieces of crap. Many do not translate well to the modern age which makes them difficult to read (or interesting). I've tried to go back and read many and zzzzzzzzz.

I couldn't agree with you more MJK and I hope not to offend any teachers of classic 'canonized' literature.  I know the canon is being updated with non Western global literature but I still fail to see the relevance of spending our entire school days reading oft stilted, difficult reading in some form of English not used today.

Iambic pentameter did not help me pass the bar.  Falkner only taught me that long, boring run-on sentences are perfectly normal.

I don't see the logic in how learning the "classics" aid the learning of the English language as it is used today.  Something lean and powerful like McCarthy's No Country or Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Bladerunner) seem like more relevant reading appropriate for high school that balance substance, readability and depth.  Harry Potter would be great too!

I never understood how the religious right can complain about having children read a book such as that (Potter) in public school while I am forced to recognize parables of Cain and Abel. :P

When you take cooking class, you don't learn to rub sticks together.  You aren't taught geocentrism in science first before debunking it.

Rant over.  I just think that it would be in the best interests of modern youth to read books that appeal to their sensibilities that relate to the world that they live in while teaching them the language.

Having said all that, I guess I have no idea how much it has changes since I left high school.  I'm sure some of the required readings have been updated.

I also enjoyed 1984 and Animal Farm.  There just so much more 'readable.'  I also agree with Walden AMD.  I like spending some alone time in a cabin in the woods.  I just don't like reading about it.  That said, though Thoreaux didn't work for me, what came out of Bon Iver's time in the woods worked just fine for me. 8-)

Man, it's like my brain stepped out of my skull and starting talking there! Perfect! Yes, more contemporary lit would be helpful. Nothing wrong with Potter (one of my favorite series). Keep in mind, today's "classics" was yesterday's pop lit.

Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep- All is right in the world with this book and movie (my top 3 movie of all time even though the 2 really have no resemblence to each other).

QuoteThe book I had a terrible time finishing was The Sound and the Fury.  Faulkner's writing just doesn't do it for me and after half a semester discussing it, I still don't know what that book was about.

i love me some faulkner. the sound and the fury is probably in my top 5 favorite books of all time.

as a former english lit major, i've had to read more than my fair share of shit i hated.

meg's top 5 most hated assigned readings:

5. memento mori, muriel spark
4. anything by samuel taylor coleridge
3. wuthering heights, emily bronte
2. the countess of pembroke's arcadia, sir phillip sidney
1. leatherstocking tales, james fenimore cooper

runners-up:

my antonia, willa cather
ethan frome, edith wharton

QuoteOh yeah, Scarlet Letter sucked.  

i forgot about that! repressed memories, i guess. the preface to the novel (i think it is called "the customs house" or something) was pure torture to read.

I'm torn on Walden.  It was pretty boring and based on lies according to a lot of people.  Plus, he was way off on a lot of stuff, such as man's role in nature. So, yeah, that one should probably start collecting some dust.

i remember discussing walden in class, and apparently thoreau's mom would come by daily to bring him food and do his laundry. so much for being one with nature.
;D

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QuoteOh yeah, Scarlet Letter sucked.  

i forgot about that! repressed memories, i guess. the preface to the novel (i think it is called "the customs house" or something) was pure torture to read.

Forgot about the Customs House. Oh God it's all coming back...  :-/

Reading untranslated Chaucer isn't a whole lot of fun; same with Beowulf.

Maybe someone can shed light on this memory that I've mostly blocked out:

Puritan poem about god, like a page long, I think it's like "the something" but maybe it's not

It's definitely not the Crucible oh dear god that was awful


Currently, I'm really hating on the two books I'm writing a paper on, even though they've both influenced me profoundly.

QuoteI hated 1984. I  barely remember it but I know I didn't like it. Maybe I should try that one again.
I did love Of Mice and Men and although they weren't novels I loved when we studied the poetry of Wilfred Owen.

1984 is probably one of the most important books there is.

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QuoteI hated 1984. I  barely remember it but I know I didn't like it. Maybe I should try that one again.
I did love Of Mice and Men and although they weren't novels I loved when we studied the poetry of Wilfred Owen.

1984 is probably one of the most important books there is.

I loved reading that book. Orwell rules!

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QuoteI hated 1984. I  barely remember it but I know I didn't like it. Maybe I should try that one again.
I did love Of Mice and Men and although they weren't novels I loved when we studied the poetry of Wilfred Owen.

1984 is probably one of the most important books there is.

I loved reading that book. Orwell rules!

Definitely. My favorite book for a while was Animal Farm.

I loved Robinson Crusoe! :)

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Quote1984?  Shakespeare?  Really?  I still read Shakespeare and think of 1984 everytime it feels like Big Brother is watching, which is a lot.

Good call on My Antonia, though.

My Antonia is really awful isn't it. Orwell is excellent stuff. I loved reading 1984 and Animal Farm in school.

I've said this someplace before, just because it's a "classic" doesn't mean it's good. Most "classics" are classic pieces of crap. Many do not translate well to the modern age which makes them difficult to read (or interesting). I've tried to go back and read many and zzzzzzzzz.

I couldn't agree with you more MJK and I hope not to offend any teachers of classic 'canonized' literature.  I know the canon is being updated with non Western global literature but I still fail to see the relevance of spending our entire school days reading oft stilted, difficult reading in some form of English not used today.

Iambic pentameter did not help me pass the bar.  Falkner only taught me that long, boring run-on sentences are perfectly normal.

I don't see the logic in how learning the "classics" aid the learning of the English language as it is used today.  Something lean and powerful like McCarthy's No Country or Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Bladerunner) seem like more relevant reading appropriate for high school that balance substance, readability and depth.  Harry Potter would be great too!

I never understood how the religious right can complain about having children read a book such as that (Potter) in public school while I am forced to recognize parables of Cain and Abel. :P

When you take cooking class, you don't learn to rub sticks together.  You aren't taught geocentrism in science first before debunking it.

Rant over.  I just think that it would be in the best interests of modern youth to read books that appeal to their sensibilities that relate to the world that they live in while teaching them the language.

Having said all that, I guess I have no idea how much it has changes since I left high school.  I'm sure some of the required readings have been updated.

I also enjoyed 1984 and Animal Farm.  There just so much more 'readable.'  I also agree with Walden AMD.  I like spending some alone time in a cabin in the woods.  I just don't like reading about it.  That said, though Thoreaux didn't work for me, what came out of Bon Iver's time in the woods worked just fine for me. 8-)

Man, it's like my brain stepped out of my skull and starting talking there! Perfect! Yes, more contemporary lit would be helpful. Nothing wrong with Potter (one of my favorite series). Keep in mind, today's "classics" was yesterday's pop lit.

Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep- All is right in the world with this book and movie (my top 3 movie of all time even though the 2 really have no resemblence to each other).

Slow minds think alike ;D

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QuoteI hated 1984. I  barely remember it but I know I didn't like it. Maybe I should try that one again.
I did love Of Mice and Men and although they weren't novels I loved when we studied the poetry of Wilfred Owen.

1984 is probably one of the most important books there is.

I loved reading that book. Orwell rules!

Definitely. My favorite book for a while was Animal Farm.

Well I don't own it but if I get the chance I'll read it again and see if I like it better this time around.

Listen we're moving towards appreciated futurists' dire predictions of modern life. There are two roads we can take here: A new thread about the assigned readings that we liked or a discussion about what a Brave New World we live in.

Quotei remember discussing walden in class, and apparently thoreau's mom would come by daily to bring him food and do his laundry. so much for being one with nature.
;D

I heard he walked into town once a week to pick up supplies and chat it up.  Even if those stories aren't true his whole premise is absurd.  Take, for example, the chapter where he tries to grow his own beans.  He refuses to weed or do any form of pest control and of course his beans fail.  So, does he just not eat, since his own philosophy would dictate that gardening and farming are essentially unethical acts?  No, he just eats stuff that other farmers have grown for him, ignoring the fact that the very things that are keeping him alive are not a part of his worldview.  

Civil Disobedience is probably still worth reading though.