Sep 25, 2008

Meme: That was Different!

from Booking Through Thursday:

What was the most unusual (for you) book you ever read? Either because the book itself was completely from out in left field somewhere, or was a genre you never read… what was furthest outside your usual comfort zone/familiar territory?

The book furthest from my familiar territory was probably The Reincarnationist, by M. J. Rose. I just don't usually read suspense novels, mysteries or thrillers (this one seemed to have elements of all three) and I certainly found out that the hunch I always had of disliking these kinds of books was true. I did not enjoy it. The writing style, the pace of the story, anything. I had to force myself to finish it. Put it aside with relief, and I doubt I will be convinced to read a similar book in a long, long time.

The absolutely strangest book I've ever picked up was Pincher Martin by William Golding. In high school Lord of the Flies was required reading, and I liked it so much I always wanted to try more of Golding's works. I'd never heard of Pincher Martin before, but found a paperback copy at the Book Thing one day. It's a book about a man stranded on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean. There's nothing to eat, no fresh water, no shelter. For pages and pages he struggles to survive on the spray-soaked rocks, his body ravaged by the elements, starvation and sickness. The description of the landscape and Martin's actions was so weird most of the time I could not tell what was going on. It got so confusing I skipped the middle and read the end, to figure out what happened. That did not make any sense either. So really I don't know if this one counts; I did not understand the book, and did not read the entire thing. It was really bizarre. Has anyone else read it? What did you think?

7 comments:

  1. Nope, I've never read it, but sure don't want to! Happy BTT!

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  2. Yes, Pincher Martin is one of those books that take a lot of figuring out (and you really need to read the middle). But then when you've got it figured out, you ask yourself why you wasted all that time figuring!

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  3. Sounds like I need to go back and read it again. I'm not so sure I want to. Would you say it's worth the effort?

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  4. I have never either book. I know about Lord of the Flies though. The other book sounds strange.

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  5. Anonymous9/25/2008

    I liked Lord of the Flies in school, even better the second time I read it because I didn't have to do character sketches or essays on it. I've never looked into more works by him though. If I ever do though I'll be sure to skip it. My BTT is up.

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  6. I've never read it, although I've always meant to read more Golding.

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  7. Anonymous10/01/2008

    "The Road." I don't read science fiction, and have never read anything that disturbing before. But it has somehow stuck with me and for months after I finished the book, I was obsessed with finding out more. I highly recommend it.

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