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It happens. Often I have no connection with classics, Mark lol

Completely agree with your review.

I completely understand, Mark. Not that I have read this book. I've avoided it for the reasons you mention in your review. I know some people love it but you're not in a minority when it comes to not not being able to enjoy it.

Not for me either, even when I was young. "A bunch of hoons running around America". Quote of the day.

Hooray for you, Mark and don't feel embarrassed. You are not alone in your thoughts about this book. I had read it years ago and re-visited it thinking that maybe I just didn't get it. I still don't!

I fully understand if you do not connect with anything in the book (people, landscape, writing). Why finish it? We are free to read what we enjoy and do not have mandatory reading stuff like we used to in high school. What are hoons?

Mark, when you love a book, you dive in and relish it, and then share it with me, okay, and the rest of your GR friends.
Congratulations on putting down the ones that don't work for you.
And I have never been drawn to pick this one up.

I've always felt that I "should" read this someday, but then again I've never been drawn to it. Maybe someday... or not :D

Jen (ON VACAY) :) wrote: "It happens. Often I have no connection with classics, Mark lol"

Yeah well this is one of them Jen Jen - I had to plough on but, sometimes you just know.....hope you're enjoying your holiday!

Scott wrote: "Completely agree with your review."

Yes Scott, at least you put more effort into your review and I agree with everything you said. You opening of "the worst book I've ever read" had me hooked!!!

Anne (On semi-hiatus) wrote: "I completely understand, Mark. Not that I have read this book. I've avoided it for the reasons you mention in your review. I know some people love it but you're not in a minority when it comes to n..."

Good decision to avoid it Annie, but who am I to say - however, I do have a feeling you might not like this one :))

Diane wrote: "Not for me either, even when I was young. "A bunch of hoons running around America". Quote of the day."

Hahahaha - thanks for that Diane, that's all they were just a bunch of 'hoons' - I really didn't care at all what happened to them, they might still be driving around the mid-west for all I know!!

On The Road's glared at me for a number of years now from my shelf. ;_; I'm take your quote here--A bunch of hoons running around America--and glare right back.

Bruh, don't be embarrassed. I'm glad I read it but it just doesn't reach me as others do. Heck, we could all make bookshelves of classics that are "meh" with us. I took a whole college course in American Literature that was full of "blech." We spent like a month on a farty upper-crust novel with rich people whining about how their butlers didn't shine the floors the right way. I'm exaggerating, of course, but you get the point. What's "meh" for me might be "yippee" for you. It's all good.

I've always felt this is one of those books that people are too embarrassed to admit should have never been elevated to classic status in the first place. Of course, I've never read it, so I should not cast stones.

There is no need to feel embarrassed. This book is terrible, as everything else by this author. And the only reason is deem as a classic is because a bunch of rich college dudebros wanted it that way. That's the only reason why people stumble upon it, instead of better books.

Jill wrote: "Hooray for you, Mark and don't feel embarrassed. You are not alone in your thoughts about this book. I had read it years ago and re-visited it thinking that maybe I just didn't get it. I still don't!"

With you all the way Jill of course - I thought time and persistence would sort it all out!!

Ebba Simone wrote: "I fully understand if you do not connect with anything in the book (people, landscape, writing). Why finish it? We are free to read what we enjoy and do not have mandatory reading stuff like we use..."

Indeed we are Eb, I totally agree!!!!

A Hoon...........well it's the same as a "Drongo" ;)

Lisa wrote: "Mark, when you love a book, you dive in and relish it, and then share it with me, okay, and the rest of your GR friends.
Congratulations on putting down the ones that don't work for you.
And I have..."

Well that's probably a very good move Lisa, I was so looking forward to is as well - the copy I bought, for 6 bucks from my second hand shop recently was in pristine condition. But I did spill a good dollop of pumpkin soup on it yesterday in my work bag - that was a sign!!!!!

@candi Uuuuurrrrggghhhh Candi it's risky, but I'm sure there's plenty of punters who love it!!!

@tantravahi....great, so you're up for the challenge, stare right back....give it a go. I'd love to read your review!

No need to apologize. Not Jack's finest (even though it is his best known), and judging JK's book is always a dicey call thanks to the combination of critique and cult of personality (which get in each other's way).

Thanks for clarifying, Mark. ;) I just found both words in the dictionary. Have a wonderful weekend. Eb

Christopher wrote: "Bruh, don't be embarrassed. I'm glad I read it but it just doesn't reach me as others do. Heck, we could all make bookshelves of classics that are "meh" with us. I took a whole college course in Am..."

Thanks for checking in Christopher, I enjoyed reading your thoughts mate - what a wonderful thing to study, American Lit - nice one!

Left Coast Justin wrote: "I've always felt this is one of those books that people are too embarrassed to admit should have never been elevated to classic status in the first place. Of course, I've never read it, so I should..."

Well I don't reckon you should run off and get it Justin - BUT, who knows you might love it then we can fight about it!!!!!

Takumo-N wrote: "There is no need to feel embarrassed. This book is terrible, as everything else by this author. And the only reason is deem as a classic is because a bunch of rich college dudebros wanted it that w..."

Thanks for your comments Takumo, I certainly dont think I'll be reading any more of this author's work

Ken wrote: "No need to apologize. Not Jack's finest (even though it is his best known), and judging JK's book is always a dicey call thanks to the combination of critique and cult of personality (which get in ..."

Thanks for your comments Ken - you said this " combination of critique and cult of personality (which get in each other's way)"......wonderfully put. Cheers

Ebba Simone wrote: "Thanks for clarifying, Mark. ;) I just found both words in the dictionary. Have a wonderful weekend. Eb"

Well I was trying to be slippery and offering another Aussie word you wouldn't understand - well you proved far more resourceful than to fall for that. 1-0 to Eb :))

Yes, I am resourceful like that. I found you amusing though. 👍😄

This was definitely over rated in my opinion with a few nice lines

I also felt bad for how much I disliked this book.

@Kimber agree totally, even though I can't recall any great lines - maybe I was in a stupor by then!

@Donna yes, maybe for the same reason as I did, because it's a classic - I thought I was too much of a numpty not to get it....not saying you're a numpty BTW!!

Can you translate dinkie-die for me? I'm reading A Town Like Alice (which I love) and this term is used several times.

Great question Diane!! Well it means something like "the real thing". So "Dinky Die Aussie"....means - a real Aussie.

.....yes I must read that book as I used to live in Alice

I can’t believe you used to live in Alice. I read that book a couple of months ago- please go read my review:) I asked your help in a couple of translations. Sorry, this didn’t work for you, Mark. I DNF’d a book recently. Too many books, my friend, to waste precious time.

Antoinette wrote: "I can’t believe you used to live in Alice. I read that book a couple of months ago- please go read my review:) I asked your help in a couple of translations. Sorry, this didn’t work for you, Mark. ..."

Yes it was my first ever job in a lab Antoinette - first time I left home actually! A little private laboratory - taught me how to be resourceful and work heaps of hours for no overtime!!! It's a beautiful place, in a beautiful part of the world - Central Australia as you would know, there's something a bit special about that country. Well, I will have to nip over and check out your review of it now - translation dictionary at the ready!!!!!

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How far did you get, Mr President?

I’m going to give it a go at some point anyway just to be completely on the safe side. I’d hate to miss a good old road trip. 😆

Hey thanks for checking in Pedro!!! Well I gave it a good go, perhaps 100 pages? It just didn't grab me in anyway at all, nothing. When you do read it make sure you give me a heads up as I'd like to read your thoughts on this one. For me - "Drab". In fact, I'm not sure I'd really want to go on a road trip either - hahahaha - I should have recognised that before I started this thing!!!

An interesting and very understandable perspective, Mark. And a laugh as well.

Hahaha, I admire your courage, Mark! It's not easy to turn against holy cows :))

Lorna wrote: "An interesting and very understandable perspective, Mark. And a laugh as well."

Haha - thanks Lorna, well as you can see I thought this one was maximum drab, BUT after having read your terrific review on this, I will have to try it again. But then again....

Violeta wrote: "Hahaha, I admire your courage, Mark! It's not easy to turn against holy cows :))"

Hahahaha - wonderfully put Violeta, I love that. Well my feelings for this were so visceral I don't think courage even came into it. Maybe wrong book, wrong bloke, wrong time :))

If you don’t get a connection with the people, places or plot then there’s no point in continuing to read. Life’s too short to be reading the wrong books for us. Loved the review Mark 🤗

Agree, agree, agree Margaret - thanks for chipping in! It's just a bit disappointing as it's a classic.

Man, I thought for sure, with the pic of Lionel Messi on the cover, this would be a great read! Bad luck, mate; onto the next! :)

Jonathan wrote: "Man, I thought for sure, with the pic of Lionel Messi on the cover, this would be a great read! Bad luck, mate; onto the next! :)"

Hahaha dude, maybe that was it - my expectations weren't met - I thought this was a football story!!!! I'd better read the blurb next time! :))

It honestly never gets better. You made the right choice DNFing this!

Mark, I completely agree. The characters are a bunch of irresponsible druggies and drunks who treat women like crap. It's "classic" BS. Wish I'd never read it, except that I can now cross it off my list and write snarky reviews.