Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish is particularly fond of lists (as am I!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.
Today’s Topic: Top Ten Most Intimidating Books (might be intimated by size, content, that everyone else loves it but you are sure you won’t, etc.)
For me this one isn’t a very hard one as I find many of the lengthy classics very intimidating. I know many readers hate that they had to read them in school, but I wish I had so that I’d have them under my belt. The most intimidating books for me are:
1. Clarissa, or the History of a Young Lady by Samuel Richardson- I learned about Clarissa in my Gothic Literature class when I was on a gothic lit reading kick. This one fascinated me because it not only sounded interesting, but I found out that it was one of the longest books in the English language. Since then, I have tried to start it numerous times, but it is a majorly tough one and at 1534 pages it is hard to push yourself past the “slow start”.
2. Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon- This is another book on the list that I’ve begun. I started reading this book because my sister, dad, brother, and everyone else in the world (including the Pulitzer Prize committee) loved it and I really enjoyed Wonder Boys; however, I just could not get through Kavalier and Clay. Since abandoning it, it sits on my shelf and taunts me. One day, I want to reread and finish.
3. Moby Dick by Herman Melville- Not only is this book big, it just doesn’t interest me, yet it is one of the first books that people assume I’ve read since I have an English literature degree. I then explain that my focus was on 20th century literature and it is like my degree isn’t as fancy as “regular” English lit degree holders. Since then, Moby Dick, along with most of the books on this list (#4, 5, 6, 7, 10), are books that people assume I’ve read and I wish I had, but I haven’t.
4. Atlas Shrugged and other books by Ayn Rand- Another huge book, 1168 pages, and one that I “should have read in school.” Also, the whole idea of the book just is intimidating in general for me.
5. Les Miserables and other books by Victor Hugo- I love this musical and after reading Phantom of the Opera when I was in middle school, I wanted to read Les Miserables as well, but MAN it was torture. I promised myself I’d try it later and I did. 5 times. But I never made it through. Watching Ricki struggle through it makes it even more intimidating to me. I always wanted to read the book behind the musical, but who knows if I’ll ever face this fear.
6. Absalom, Absalom! and other books by William Faulkner (except The Sound and the Fury which I have read)- Reading William Faulkner is one of the toughest experiences I’ve ever had. I actually really enjoyed it when I read it, but that was in a sort of lit circle where we discussed and had help. I cannot imagine reading his books alone. If you haven’t read Faulkner, I recommend reading at least one of his novels, but I also recommend doing it in a book club (and don’t be afraid to google for help!).
7. Ulysses and other books by James Joyce- Doesn’t Ulysses intimidate everyone?!
8. War and Peace & Anna Karenina and other books by Leo Tolstoy- I have read one Tolstoy book, The Death of Ivan Illych, and really enjoyed it (actually one of my favorites from my Death and Dying class), but I’ve always avoided everything else of his. I’m not sure why, but between the synopsis and length, they’ve always intimidated me.
9. Gravity’s Rainbow and other books by Thomas Pynchon- This one intimidates me because I worry that I just won’t get it. Does that make sense? And it is so big as well!
10. House of Leaves and other books by Mark Z. Danielewski- This title is another case of “all of your loved ones like it, you should too, right?!”. Is it bad that I have no interest? Should I? Everyone says I should…
What book intimidates you?
