[via]
Believe it or not, The Mistress has never read a Harry Potter book. Am I the only person in the world who has not read any of J.K. Rowling's oeuvre?
The following is a brief list of other best-selling books I've never read:
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
Nor have I picked up a paperback by any of these best-selling authors nor am I interested:
John Grisham
James Patterson
Danielle Steele
My general rule of thumb is this: If a book is located next to the checkout counter in the supermarket or drugstore, I'm not interested. A bit of a snobbish attitude but I'm wary of the hype surrounding bestsellers.
Nonetheless, these titles fly off the shelves so perhaps I'm not giving them a chance.
If I'm missing out on an enjoyable read in this list of titles and authors, let me know and I'll reconsider reading them.
Which bestsellers haven't YOU read?
I've not read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but can recommend the Swedish version of the movie but not the Hollywood version (although Rooney Mara is also very good as Lisbeth Salander).
ReplyDeleteLX: I hope it has subtitles.
DeleteAside from the names of bookcases at IKEA, I don’t understand Swedish.
There's the option to watch the dubbed version in English.
DeleteJEFFREY: Sometimes I like to mute the sound on a DVD and make up my own dialogue.
DeleteBut then again, some of us are easily amused.
i have NOT read all the stuff you've NOT read.
ReplyDeletecoincidence? hardly.
i also didn't read all the things one was supposed to read in high school, i.e., lord of the flies.
NORMA: Which begs the question, what were you doing during the time you were supposed to be following the required reading list?
DeleteDitto!
DeleteI tried the first Potter but it fell of my hands around page 51.
HUGGY JON: Page 51? Funny you should mention “page 51”… a new post will appear sometime this week and all will become clear.
Delete"Dierdre Chambers! What a coincidence!" - I haven't read any of those books or authors, either.
DeleteI have read a Barbara Cartland novel though, but I don't think I'll be doing so again...
MR. DeVICE: I’ve yet to read a novel by the High Priestess of Pink.
Deletei suddenly have the urge to devour beowulf.
ReplyDeleteNORMA: Swedish meatballs! Oh wait, Beowulf was a Geat.
Deleteit occurs to me that after being hypnotized by the above photo, reading is fucking fundamental.
DeleteNORMA: Are you typing with both hands or just one?
Deleteso insightful is she.
DeleteDanielle Steele!!!!! She is what a call a cookie cutter author. Same story over and over again...just different names and locations. I like the Potters movie and Hungry games but not read the books. Some of the titles in the previous post sound of interest to me. And I'll have you know I didn't even look at his cock. I was wondering if that was a netti pot on the book shelf.
ReplyDeleteMISTRESS MADDIE: Apparently, Norma keeps gin in her Neti pot.
DeleteI haven't seen the Potter movies but since Dame Maggie Smith is in them, I may consider a viewing.
vodka.
DeleteI have to recommend A Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling... brilliant book! But, no I didn't read the Potter books, instead I listened to Stephen Fry reading them on DVD, which was relaxing.
ReplyDeleteThe only author I've read on your list is Danielle Steele.... I was very young and there was the promise of rude bits.
Sx
MISS SCARLET: As a shameless Stephen Fry fan, I may go the audio book route.
DeleteI just love Beowulf up there. Have him and his dragon sent over please.
ReplyDeleteJASON: And would you like room service to bring you a bottle of mead?
DeletePress and hold the Ctrl button whilst clicking the + button for an even better view of his cock erm books. He's got a fine collection of Robert Jordans and I spy a Jodi Picoult too.
ReplyDeleteThe Da Vinci Code is the only one I've read from your list, it was very gripping.
MITZI: Thank you for the useful computer tip!
DeleteBy increasing the size, I can also see that he has a copy of Leviathan…speaking of big things.
No Barry Schlotter here - Rowling may be an author, but what she did with this series is to rob the European motifs and matters (Erzählmotive, Erzählstoffe), what is perfectly legal and good, and basically nothing else what other authors from this Kulturkreis do ; she formed a streamlined mass-conpatible product from this and she did it good : No reason for me to read this. Maybe something else she wrote, preferably for herself, not for a mass auditorium.
ReplyDeleteI may be wrong, but have the impression that all the other titles you list, are following the fillums - I may be wrong, did not pay attention to this business over the last few years.
The only one I recognize is this Brown with his da Vinci-code - a terribly smug fella, I can't stand him. I did not read it in full, it is as I understand, a nice summary of all kinds of "Verschwörungstheorien" - it would be acceptable if he would not take it so terribly serious and show off his oh so educated cleverness - it could be a brilliant game, but he spoils it.
Anyway, I do not look at bestseller-lists, and usually it is no good sign if a title is found on one, regardless who authors book and list, it's a marketing tool, nothing else.
MAGO: You’re correct that bestseller lists are marketing tools.
DeleteThere is controversy regarding whether or not these lists accurately reflect what the public is reading. Publishers can manipulate the lists in order to generate sales.
If you stay away from the paperbacks on the rack by the supermarket cashier, you won’t be manipulated.
I always read books nobody's read.
ReplyDeleteHUGGY JON: I bet you do!
DeleteHaven't read any of these listed bestsellers, but I did enjoy the movie versions of Da Vinci, Dragon Tattoo, & Hunger Games. Haven't seen Shades--& have no desire to do so. Twilight was an utter waste of time--couldn't even finish the sequel, which I turned off after 15 minutes of starting it. I cannot believe that kind of crap is passed off as entertainment! Then I have to remind myself that it's marketed towards tweens who are clueless about life & follow the herd mentality.
ReplyDeleteGrisham is boring; Patterson is even more so. I've yet to finish a book by either of these two. I totally agree that Steele is repetitive--same crap, different title. My older sisters had Steele's books, & out of curiosity, I read three of them & it was the same unimaginative plot & characters in all three books! I've read more interesting & creative works on the walls of public restrooms!
EROS: I hope your recent journeys into the world of literature have proven more rewarding.
DeleteI hope your sisters have moved upwards and onwards too in terms of their author choices.