You can’t judge a book by its cover, they say.
Or can you?
There are books, great big tall ones, that are nasty looking and whose content turns out to be as nasty as their covers. They can be deceptive, though: a few chapters may make you question your initial impression. Halfway through a particular book, for instance, you may wonder whether you were mistaken, and, for a moment, you believe it may have a place on your bedside table. Unfortunately, as you carry on reading you discover it supports the indefensible, and, a bit later, there are several particularly offensive quotes that amount to abuse (not just differences of opinion), which the book doesn’t bother to refute, and the true nature of the work is revealed. You persevere with it and give it a second chance and a third one, but, no, you were right. You are aware that other readers find it attractive – poor deluded souls – and are taken in by its ingratiating ways, especially towards the end, but you recognise the sour smell of hypocrisy and you know it would have been better to leave it on its shelf, with all the other uncivil tomes that clutter the cyber bookshop. It’s not even good enough for a charity shop; it deserves to be pulped.
You should have realised anyway that the title of the book referred to something you are allergic to.WinterWheat
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
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Oh la la! You simply MUST divulge the title of the book now.
ReplyDeleteI bet it hinges on the political to instill such a strong sentiment in you.
However if you'd rather not, it's perfectly respected too.
Just curious...
Rabbit Rabbit.
ReplyDeleteYes! Do tell! I have to know this book. (or not)
I've thrown books away. Some are too ugly to be read, for one reason or another.
Perfectly good slap.
for a minute there, i thought tlp was taking a guess at the name of the novel in question and i assumed it was the lesser known of the rabbit series by john updike
ReplyDelete:-)
c'mon, tell us!
Now see, it's true. Any publicity is good publicity. We're all dying to know the name of the book. So, I've decided I don't want to know. (Except, of course, I really do. So that I can be sure to avoid it.)
ReplyDeleteHey! What a cool coincidence: My favorite new site as of lately is run by a librarian, and is actually called Judge a Book by its Cover. I particularly recommend the post Willow in Bloom.
ReplyDeleteCurious to know what the title of the book in question was, too, Bela. Especially since you so clearly kept getting into it waiting for it to improve. Those are the most frustrating ones, aren't they?
I can't possibly reveal the name of that - er - magnum opus: it has already received too much exposure, and spawned an appendix, which may or may not also turn out to be a nasty piece of work - only time will tell.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in why you persisted with the book for so long before giving up on it. Was it one of those sneaky ones that hid its real message in images and metaphors? I've encountered a few like that. If you read widely, you're bound to.
ReplyDeleteHmm... 'images and metaphors'... funny you should say that. LOL!
ReplyDeleteand could it also be a metaphor for the French election? XOXO ♥
ReplyDeleteI could be, but it isn't. Mwah!
ReplyDelete