Being a keen bookworm, I’ll read almost anything. Over time, though, I’ve come to realise that there are some books that just aren’t worth reading, many of them being so-called classic novels. Eventually I disposed of many that had been sitting on my shelf for years. The following novels are among those I consider not worthy of their reputation as classics …
1. Ulysses
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This is one of the weirdest books I’ve ever come across. It has a very strange structure and style, and if you can make sense of it you’ve done better than I did!
2. Anything by Charles Dickens
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In Dickens’ time, writers were paid by the word. And boy, does it show in his novels. On and on he waffles … another 1,000 words, kerching …
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3. Wuthering Heights
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Heathcliff! Cathy! Oh for the love of God, will you two just stop faffing about and get on with it? Maybe if they had, it wouldn’t have made much of a drama, but at least we’d have been spared a boring book.
4. War and Peace
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Is there anyone alive who has actually worked their way through this mammoth tome? And do they feel guilty about the vast forests that died to print each copy?
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5. Shakespeare
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Okay, so he didn’t write novels, but Shakespeare is so overrated. Yet his tedious plays continue to be performed, filmed and televised. It’s about time the whole industry was put to sleep, and some of his (better) contemporaries given a chance instead.
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6. Waverley
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I was forced to study this utterly tedious Walter Scott novel at university, and 10 years later still haven’t woken up properly. It is the literary equivalent of the poisoned needle in ‘Sleeping Beauty’.
7. Lord of the Rings
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Photo Credit: Aqua Libra
At the risk of alienating Tolkien fans, I have to say that I found the first book so incredibly dull that I couldn’t get past the first four or five chapters. This is one case where I much preferred the films to their source material.
8. Absalom, Absalom!
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Photo Credit: Mareen Fischinger
I had never heard of William Faulkner before being forced to read this book, during the same course where I had to read Waverley. I can only conclude that the reading list was part of some twisted psychological experiment by the university’s Psychology department. It was that awful.
I’m sure that there will be people who have loved these books. If we all read the same things, it would not only be boring, but there would be huge waiting lists at the library. Do you agree though that some classic novels are overrated? Have you ever abandoned one because you weren’t enjoying it?
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Comments
Goobieboo: As I said before: art is subjective... I very much like Shakespeare and War and Peace...
Paige: How about Nine Stories? After about a page and a half I just couldn't take it. I cannot bring myself to attempt another J. D. Salinger novel for fear of needing intensive therapy.
Ashleigh: Maybe these books were just too much for you? ;) What exactly would you call a good book? Just curious.
Ellie: I'd have to disagree with your choice of Shakespeare; I think his works are brilliant. I would have replaced it with To Kill a Mockingbird... the book I absolutely loathe with a passion.
Sorth: You poor thing. Best stick to comics and magazines with big type and not too many hard words.
Zerina: Sorry, but I disagree with this list, you see, it is your opinion, but you shouldn't have named this list 8 Classic Novels It’s Not Worth Reading … Someone will skip this books just because you said so, and it is such a shame...
Alison: You see my point now? Certain books may be generally considered classics, but many people find them dull. We all have our own list of overrated classics. Oh, and if my intellectual credentials are still in doubt, here are some of the authors on my shelves. John Irving, Hanif Kureshi, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Simenon (in original French), Oscar Wilde, Haruki Murakami. Oh, and how many of you have read medieval literature in English OR French?
katie: This post just completely ruined this site for me, how can anyone have such a lack of taste when it comes to reading?
sukaiumi: Wow, I love Wuthering Heights and Shakespeare is fantastic. Maybe change the title to 8 Classic Novels I didn't enjoy, because most of those are definitely worth reading!
Heather: didn't read LOTR but Hobbit is awesome
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