Seriously, talking about how a book is devoid of value is not really all that fun. It can maybe generate a modicum of discussion, but that's it.
Here, I can sum up the entire discussion quickly:
Dumas was popular in France at the time and wrote fast-paced (for the time), fun stories about French history, feeding into notions of the French national psyche. He wrote in the Nineteenth Century, the era of the great novel, and so his name gets thrown in with other Nineteenth-Century authors and elevated to a level that he himself would probably not have aspired to.
The End. It was the best summer ever.
Here, I can sum up the entire discussion quickly:
Dumas was popular in France at the time and wrote fast-paced (for the time), fun stories about French history, feeding into notions of the French national psyche. He wrote in the Nineteenth Century, the era of the great novel, and so his name gets thrown in with other Nineteenth-Century authors and elevated to a level that he himself would probably not have aspired to.
The End. It was the best summer ever.
I mean the trashing of a book that several will gush over (without saying much in the way of import) has the potential for a nice "debate" that ends with "you poopyhead!", which would be as much in-depth as what I expect most of the comments to be in such threads.
Then again, I'm just jaded after a few dozen of these over the years. But if there is a Bulgakov one, I will participate. These two? Not likely, despite the coincidence of me picking up the French original.
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie
Je suis méchant.
Je suis méchant.
The Count of Monte Cristo was a terrible choice for a book discussion.
- 09/01/2010 07:41:01 PM
1820 Views
Hey, now (copy/paste)
- 09/01/2010 07:48:56 PM
1346 Views
People should think about these things before recommending books.
- 09/01/2010 08:13:10 PM
1394 Views
Which is why I voted for Bulgakov's M & M.
- 09/01/2010 10:56:00 PM
1420 Views
I disagree slightly
- 09/01/2010 09:07:12 PM
1247 Views
Well, by that standard a Jackie Collins novel is worthy of debate.
- 10/01/2010 01:08:04 AM
1302 Views
- 10/01/2010 01:08:04 AM
1302 Views
I think you misunderstand my intent
- 10/01/2010 01:10:57 AM
1349 Views
Oh, I almost forgot
- 10/01/2010 01:11:50 AM
1277 Views
Ooh...I'd love to hear them!!! What did Eco say to trash Dumas? *NM*
- 10/01/2010 01:19:43 AM
513 Views
Here's the French translation from Eco's work on supermen
- 10/01/2010 01:39:28 AM
1367 Views
I love it. Strangely enough, though, he wrote an introduction to the book.
- 10/01/2010 01:54:24 AM
1222 Views
Not really strange as Eco has long been fascinated by this book
- 11/01/2010 05:01:56 PM
1226 Views
Did he mention it in his book on ugliness?
- 11/01/2010 05:12:55 PM
1141 Views
Re: Here's the French translation from Eco's work on supermen
- 11/01/2010 03:49:15 PM
1423 Views
That's fascinating. Of course, I disagree with Eco's praise.
- 11/01/2010 05:12:25 PM
1149 Views
Re: That's fascinating. Of course, I disagree with Eco's praise.
- 11/01/2010 06:22:24 PM
1468 Views
I agree that abridging it would not work well.
- 12/01/2010 04:06:26 PM
1339 Views
I think there are plenty of things that can be discussed.
- 09/01/2010 10:00:06 PM
1496 Views
Discussed and put to rest in 5 minutes or less, perhaps.
- 10/01/2010 01:17:02 AM
1362 Views
Depends on who you are, one would imagine.
- 10/01/2010 08:16:11 AM
1394 Views
<pretentious>Well, why should we cater to the lowest common denominator?
- 11/01/2010 02:17:03 AM
1312 Views
I'd laugh...
- 11/01/2010 07:21:38 PM
1094 Views
I don't get that. Well, of course I do from Tom, but let's put him aside for this discussion.
- 12/01/2010 03:35:21 AM
1442 Views
It's frustrating though...
- 12/01/2010 04:18:37 AM
1381 Views
I think if you posted that (or something like it) people would reply to it.
- 12/01/2010 05:08:53 AM
1393 Views
Perhaps.
- 12/01/2010 05:26:38 AM
1100 Views
Given the people who have read the Kushiel books, I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.
- 12/01/2010 05:58:33 AM
1153 Views
You're not.
- 12/01/2010 02:16:09 PM
1203 Views
Her next series sounds interesting
- 12/01/2010 02:20:17 PM
1091 Views
It does, but the reviews I've seen aren't too enthusiastic.
- 12/01/2010 02:29:26 PM
1131 Views
Yes, but how so?
- 12/01/2010 02:39:59 PM
1220 Views
Well...
- 13/01/2010 07:03:08 PM
1307 Views
Honestly...
- 13/01/2010 07:51:14 PM
1301 Views
Absolutely.
- 14/01/2010 12:55:00 PM
1425 Views
Re: Absolutely.
- 14/01/2010 01:57:47 PM
1255 Views
In short, not a good name for a daughter. At least not one with an interest in Classics.
- 15/01/2010 05:32:35 AM
1215 Views
I'm staying far, far away from Seneca.
- 15/01/2010 02:01:49 PM
1462 Views
Ah, yes. The Apocolocyntosis. Possibly the least amusing humor ever penned. I hate Seneca. *NM*
- 16/01/2010 02:14:32 AM
478 Views
I really don't think it would.
- 12/01/2010 07:49:32 AM
1290 Views
I have tried before.
- 12/01/2010 01:59:24 PM
1170 Views
If it is well-written and defends the value of the book, I don't see why you shouldn't post it.
- 12/01/2010 05:12:58 PM
1364 Views
I'm quite enjoying it.
- 09/01/2010 10:40:30 PM
1312 Views
A kid's book of adventure doesn't translate into a good book club discussion.
- 10/01/2010 01:21:11 AM
1196 Views
I have to agree
- 11/01/2010 12:36:55 AM
1307 Views
How did you find deeper meaning (pun intended) in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? *NM*
- 11/01/2010 02:17:55 AM
520 Views

True, true.