Unpopular Opinions: The Book Thread

[Bill_Dungsroman]

@metta

It’s not always negative, but whether we like it or not, even if it’s uncomfortable, I believe that loving a book like Lolita says something ugly about you.

That is one of the worst inferences regarding literature or entertaimnet I have ever seen.

I shudder to think what loving Lord of the Flies, Apocalypse Now, and other works of fiction involving questionable subject matter makes me or anyone else.

[MattKeil]

@thrasymedes

I read about the first twenty pages and felt such an overwhelming moral revulsion at Humbert that I couldn’t make myself go on. I don’t doubt that it’s a very well-written book and I would never “condemn” it for portraying something ugly - it’s a very weird sort of illogic that equates describing something with making it happen - but I guess I am a little surprised that people would spend 200+ pages in Humbert’s company and then want to enthusiastically invite others to have the same experience.

Well, because good writing is good writing, even if what’s being written about is repulsive. I don’t think anyone recommends Irreversible to someone as a good time, but that doesn’t make it a bad film. Now, I do agree that if someone is just gushing about what an amazing book Lolita is and OMG you have to read it and Humbert is just sooooo me and all that, yeah, that’s gonna creep me out. Not because of the content of the book, but because of that specific person’s reaction to it.

@Bill Dungsroman

I shudder to think what loving Lord of the Flies, Apocalypse Now, and other works of fiction involving questionable subject matter makes me or anyone else.

To anyone who isn’t a fucking nutbar, it makes you nothing more than someone who loves Lord of the Flies and Apocalypse Now.

[kerzain]

Reported for selling homework.