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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?
Being a librarian makes this a little more complex. I usually don't lie about what I've read, but sometimes I act like I remember a book, that really I read but it left no lasting impression on me. (I did really love Water for Elephants, though--I listened to it and maybe that's why...)
ReplyDeleteAw, #4 and #5 are worth reading. (Although we prefer the Iliad over the Odyssey.)
ReplyDeleteGood list. I confess I couldn't come with anything interesting. So I just switched topics. Thanks for stopping by. I'm having google blogger problems (what else is new?) and can't respond or even in some cases, post comments on other blogs. I'm about ready to yank out my hair. :)
ReplyDeleteI didnt like WATER FOR ELEPHANTS either.
Gah, Great Expectations. I had to read it my freshman year of high school, and everyone in my class hated it. In fact, I've only met ONE person who enjoyed it (although based on this week's topic, maybe he was lying...). It's long and wordy and dumb. So there.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Huck Finn/Tom Sawyer very much, but I do love Twain's comedic writings. He wrote with such a modern voice and style, and had plenty of sarcasm to spare. Genius.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Happy reading!
I like Great Expectations. Seriously. It is one of the only Dickens books I like.
ReplyDeleteCome check out The Scarlet Letter's Top Ten Tuesday
I would think you'd have to be diplomatic in the way you feel about certain books when talking to the patrons of your library. Is that true?
ReplyDeleteI still haven't been able to decide if I like Stieg Larsson's books or not! I tell half the people that I like them, and half that they're ok! That doesn't count as lying does it? ;)
ReplyDeleteFun list!
Here's mine: http://peskypiksipesternomi.blogspot.com/2011/05/top-ten-tuesday-4.html
I haven't read Huck Finn or Great Expectations either. I do love David Copperfield and Oliver Twist though.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your questions, I read Memoirs of a Geisha before I saw the film but preferred the movie. It is one of those rare instances.
Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for sharing your confessions. I definitely smiled because some one or two fit me to a tee.
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteI refer to books I haven't read in conversations all the time, and because I'm an English major who has read a lot of books, people just assume I've read that one, too. (LOL!)
Oh, your list reminds me of one "lie" that didn't make my own list: someone asked me to write a review of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, and I agreed without knowing it was the third in the trilogy. That, plus the book's length, and the fact that I had to review it and a second book in a single week, did not make for a good beginning. =/ I gave it an honest try, gave up less than halfway through (because I couldn't understand who was who), and then just wrote something about the "popularity" of the whole trilogy. My editor never caught it, but I'm sure readers who are actually familiar with the books did! =P
Oh, about Shakespeare . . . Remember that plays are meant to be watched, not read! I had to read a good share in uni, but have only seen two live productions since then--and I'd be the first to say you're way ahead of me! =)
Thanks for visiting my blog. =)