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Amazon Reviewers Take on the Classics
Not everyone is a fan of great literature. In particular, reviewers on Amazon can be quite critical of some of the best loved classics. Jeanette DeMain takes a look at some of the most hated famous books according to some short tempered reviewers. One of my favorites is the review of Charlotte's Web which reads in part, "Absolutely pointless book to read. I felt no feelings towards any of the characters. I really didn't care that Wilbur won first prize. And how in the world does a pig and a spider become friends? It's beyond me. The back of a cereal box has more excitement than this book. I was forced to read it at least five times and have found it grueling. Even as a child I found the plot very far-fetched. It is because of this horrid book that I eat sausage every morning and tell my dad to kill every spider I see ..."
I can think of at least two things wrong with that title.
"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith:
This book is 3 words over and over again: MY LIFE IS BAD.
Actually, I remember as a kid writing a particularly scathing review of the Diary of Anne Frank in English class (no Amazon back then). No, I'm not proud of it. But honestly, I do stick by my assertion that it's a boring book to force a teenage boy to read.
Perhaps the teacher should have assigned you a picture book to review instead.
Innovation is not always the same as entertainment. I had to read Madame Bovary as a college student, and while it is considered both a classic and an example of the great novels of its time, it has all the excitement and interest of being fed a heaping bowl of broken glass, one tiny spoonful at a time.
Why does it take three books for some guys to walk to a volcano?!?
It entertained me that the review for "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" had this to say:
Followed by a list of three books that were written later.
This is the voice of World Control. I bring you Peace.
One man's "bad joke" is another man's "epic troll!" Rarely is making fun of The Holy Bible inappropriate, and in this case, it was hilarious.
There, fixed that for you
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
Reviews by somebody who failed the same class four times are probably suspect.
Table-ized A.I.
You can examine, for example: skill and technique, fulfillment of author's intent, uniqueness, meaning, and beauty.
Citizen Kane fulfills all of these criteria (except for beauty) and it's still a crappy movie.
It's okay, she doesn't want you reading it anyway.
I remember when I was looking for a Bible, the reviews were invaluable. In particular the one for the Oxford World Classics edition which described it as a satanic trap placed by the world's secular elitist intellectuals, and to be avoided by all true Christians at all costs. That pretty much clinched it for me and I've been quite satisfied with my purchase. :-)
"They were pure niggers." – Noam Chomsky