/lit/ - Literature

trick question

if you get off reading challenging books, it's probably because you have the vocabulary, the logic and linguistic base to actually understand what's going on and have a general idea where the author wants to take you, then he throws you a plot twist and you think that that was awesome...

on the other hand, if you don't have the vocabulary, the grounding in linguistics and logic to read it, it will probably feel the story is dragging it's feet around and dull, nothing ever happens... and the end probably didn't make any sense...

Are mountains worth climbing?

I always hear everyone tell how they had time and dedication to read long and difficult books in their teenage and now regret that good time... I envy them.

I never read any good book before 18, never finished a book over 600 pages, and now I have to catch up on everyone else.

>>855964

I'm the opposite. I had the energy for long, difficult books in my teens. Now, I get about 200 pages in and move on to something else.

A book should pull me in, if I'm struggling just to pay attention then it's not something I want to read.

Of course some english major would leap out and tell me that I simply can't appreciate it, but then I would point to the reader response theory that is their god. If it doesn't mean much to me, then why should I consider it great literature?

There is a difference between just randomly calling something bad literature because you didn't like it and because you didn't feel like it meant anything to you.

>>855983

>Quantum physics is poor science because I struggle just to pay attention to it.

depends how challenging, I love Joyce but nothing is ever going to get me to read Finnegans Wake. Plenty of other books a lot less challenging and just as rewarding.

>>855977

But still, you got into adulthood with a literary staple on which to build, and you can afford reading mostly 200 pages books now that life doesn't allow reading long books anymore.

>>855989
>implying(I shuddered as I typed that) that learning something from a textbook is the same as being affected by a work of literature.

>>855983

> reader response theory that is their god.

It isn't

From comments on article:

>reading War and Peace
>make sure you get a good translation
>I'm using the Constance Garnett version

mfw.jpg

"Difficult" literature is an acquired taste, and as such it is worth going through things you find boring in order to find great gratification further along the path.

I closed the tab as soon as I saw "blog".

I should have known better when I saw "guardian.co.uk".

>>856134

Oh and lol at the comments.

>>856134
That is IF you end up finding it gratifying. Just because you understand it, doesn't mean you'll like it.

>>856134

I don't know about this. I used to be like that but eventually I reached a point where I came to the conclusion it wasn't worth slogging through a book I plainly wasn't enjoying, no matter how many award winning authors and esteemed publications praised it.

Don't give up after ten pages, but if you're half way through and it's still not enjoyable then I would say give it a rest.