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
1719 Views
Hey, now (copy/paste)
- 09/01/2010 07:48:56 PM
1259 Views
People should think about these things before recommending books.
- 09/01/2010 08:13:10 PM
1314 Views
Which is why I voted for Bulgakov's M & M.
- 09/01/2010 10:56:00 PM
1346 Views
I disagree slightly
- 09/01/2010 09:07:12 PM
1164 Views
Well, by that standard a Jackie Collins novel is worthy of debate.
- 10/01/2010 01:08:04 AM
1211 Views
- 10/01/2010 01:08:04 AM
1211 Views
I think you misunderstand my intent
- 10/01/2010 01:10:57 AM
1253 Views
Oh, I almost forgot
- 10/01/2010 01:11:50 AM
1196 Views
Ooh...I'd love to hear them!!! What did Eco say to trash Dumas? *NM*
- 10/01/2010 01:19:43 AM
477 Views
Here's the French translation from Eco's work on supermen
- 10/01/2010 01:39:28 AM
1276 Views
I love it. Strangely enough, though, he wrote an introduction to the book.
- 10/01/2010 01:54:24 AM
1147 Views
Not really strange as Eco has long been fascinated by this book
- 11/01/2010 05:01:56 PM
1146 Views
Did he mention it in his book on ugliness?
- 11/01/2010 05:12:55 PM
1058 Views
Re: Here's the French translation from Eco's work on supermen
- 11/01/2010 03:49:15 PM
1311 Views
That's fascinating. Of course, I disagree with Eco's praise.
- 11/01/2010 05:12:25 PM
1062 Views
Re: That's fascinating. Of course, I disagree with Eco's praise.
- 11/01/2010 06:22:24 PM
1372 Views
I agree that abridging it would not work well.
- 12/01/2010 04:06:26 PM
1253 Views
I think there are plenty of things that can be discussed.
- 09/01/2010 10:00:06 PM
1410 Views
Discussed and put to rest in 5 minutes or less, perhaps.
- 10/01/2010 01:17:02 AM
1270 Views
Depends on who you are, one would imagine.
- 10/01/2010 08:16:11 AM
1305 Views
<pretentious>Well, why should we cater to the lowest common denominator?
- 11/01/2010 02:17:03 AM
1217 Views
I'd laugh...
- 11/01/2010 07:21:38 PM
1005 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
1329 Views
It's frustrating though...
- 12/01/2010 04:18:37 AM
1305 Views
I think if you posted that (or something like it) people would reply to it.
- 12/01/2010 05:08:53 AM
1302 Views
Perhaps.
- 12/01/2010 05:26:38 AM
1015 Views
Given the people who have read the Kushiel books, I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.
- 12/01/2010 05:58:33 AM
1067 Views
You're not.
- 12/01/2010 02:16:09 PM
1122 Views
Her next series sounds interesting
- 12/01/2010 02:20:17 PM
997 Views
It does, but the reviews I've seen aren't too enthusiastic.
- 12/01/2010 02:29:26 PM
1057 Views
Yes, but how so?
- 12/01/2010 02:39:59 PM
1127 Views
Well...
- 13/01/2010 07:03:08 PM
1220 Views
Honestly...
- 13/01/2010 07:51:14 PM
1220 Views
Absolutely.
- 14/01/2010 12:55:00 PM
1354 Views
Re: Absolutely.
- 14/01/2010 01:57:47 PM
1142 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
1135 Views
I'm staying far, far away from Seneca.
- 15/01/2010 02:01:49 PM
1386 Views
Ah, yes. The Apocolocyntosis. Possibly the least amusing humor ever penned. I hate Seneca. *NM*
- 16/01/2010 02:14:32 AM
443 Views
I really don't think it would.
- 12/01/2010 07:49:32 AM
1205 Views
I have tried before.
- 12/01/2010 01:59:24 PM
1093 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
1275 Views
I'm quite enjoying it.
- 09/01/2010 10:40:30 PM
1232 Views
A kid's book of adventure doesn't translate into a good book club discussion.
- 10/01/2010 01:21:11 AM
1103 Views
I have to agree
- 11/01/2010 12:36:55 AM
1229 Views
How did you find deeper meaning (pun intended) in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? *NM*
- 11/01/2010 02:17:55 AM
486 Views

True, true.