Britney has got me hooked on Stumble Upon. I don't know how to surf the web without it anymore. I mean, there are always things that I want to know more about, and I think "I should google that," but when I finally have some time to google, I can't remember for the life of me what those things were. I should keep a list.
Anyway, one of the things that comes up pretty often when I stumble are lists of the best books ever written. There are two criteria for a list being good, in my opinion. First, the list cannot contain the book To Kill a Mockingbird. So overrated. I mean, it was ok, but man, people just think it is the best thing. It manages to find its way onto about 90% of the lists, which makes me think maybe I'm missing something, but then I think to myself, "Self, you gotta go with what your gut tells you." And my gut tells me "I'm hungry, and To Kill a Mockingbird was ok, not great." Second, if 1984 is on the list, it must be coupled with Brave New World, or you have a lop-sided list.
In summary, the first criterion gets rid of about 90% of all lists ever made. Of those that make the first cut, only about half survive the second, cutting the number of survivors down to about 5% of the lists that are in existence. So be careful. You might be taking advice from a bad list.
His Reading Material
His FAVE Band
His Netflix Go-To
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Her Reading Material
Her FAVE Band
Her Netflix Go-To
Her Drink of Choice
Your gut may be right about you being hungry, but it's wrong about 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' Just thought you should know. Read it again, and really look at the characters. Try not to get distracted cuz of the stuff Mrs. Desatoff made you do. haha
ReplyDeleteI know, I know. I figured either you or Marie would say that. But there were other books I read in Mrs. Desatoff's class that I thought were really good. I don't know, maybe I'm just trying to be non-conformist.
ReplyDeleteI just read this post and I agree with Sarah. I re-read To Kill a Mockingbird just this last year. It is brilliant, Davau. Absolutely. Made me cry. That's always the sign of a good book. On the other hand, you might be interested to know that I never read this in college. In fact, I don't even really remember talking about it at all. Not that that really matters. Anyway, I would say, re-read it with adult eyes. That might make a difference.
ReplyDeleteVery true, Marie. I really hated Ethan Frome and The Awakening in high school, mostly because the subject matter was too adult and Mrs. Desatoff beat it over our heads like one beats a dead horse. I feel like if I were to read either novel again with more grown up eyes, I would like them. I read To Kill A Mockingbird in Sears' class and absolutely loved it. Probably because we only spent three weeks on it and not three months. Desatoff is a murderer of good literature.
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