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| The Broke and Bookish |
1. The Complete Works of Shakespeare
I confess I haven't read anywhere near the complete works. I think I've read about two or three complete plays of Shakespeare, a few Cliff notes, and that's about it. I have, however, seen a fair number of the plays.
2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Up until last summer I thought I had read Huck Finn so I always counted it as a read book. When I actually read/listened to it last summer I realized that I probably had only read the first few chapters before. BTW- I love it now. It is one of the funniest books ever written.
3. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
I don't think I've ever told anyone that I read this book, but I think I've acted like I know what it is about. I don't. No idea whatsoever.
4. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Why, just last week-end I gave a woman the impression that I'd read this book when she referred to it in conversation. I should know this book, I'm a librarian after all. Well, I don't know it and haven't read it.
5. The Odyssey and the Iliad by Homer
If we read these when I was in school, I wasn't paying attention. But since everyone always acts like did read them in school, I pretend I know them well, too.
6. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
I didn't care for this book when I read it years ago. Now it is so popular and everyone talks about how much they like it. I shrug and smile, acting like I like it, too. It's been too long since I read it to remember clearly what I didn't like about it. Oh well...
7. Anything by "the Russians"...
I think I may have read at least some of Dr. Zhivago, but then maybe not. (I'm trying not to lie. I truly don't remember.) Otherwise, I've read none of the Russian classics, but I act like I have when students want to know about them.
8. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
I decided that I didn't like the book (series) and announced as much after I read it over a year ago. But the story has really stuck with me (of course, I did see the movies) and now I think I've changed my mind about the books. Do I have to go back and confess as much to everyone?
I can't think of any others. I generally own up to my reading deficiencies and confess that I started reading late in life and have a lot of catching up to do on the classics, etc.
How about you? Any books you've lied about?
