Terminalcoffee discussion

After finding goodreads.com a few nights ago, I think I'm slowly becoming addicted to finding and rating books that I've read. This makes me realize which books stick-out the most in my mind... usually they're the really good or really bad ones.

Is it the same for you all? Which books have surprised you in the best and worst ways?

You've stumped me a bit. I tend not to have a great recall of anything, books no exception, but I'll give it a try.

I'm in my 30's now, so re-reading The Feminine Mystique has been a vastly different experience than when I read it in my early 20's. I am finding that I can relate to the story more now then before.

Along the same lines is Plath's The Bell Jar. I also read that when I was younger, and I related to parts of her journey. I related to her sense of not feeling connected to anything or anyone, and her need to feel as if she mattered to the world. I am not a fan of her or her poetry, yet The Bell Jar still brings back a sense if nostalgia for me. I no longer relate to it in quite the same way, but it still sticks out in my mind. I feel the same way about The Catcher in the Rye. When I was 12,13, it spoke to. Now, not so much, but I'm still nostalgic for it.

Welcome to GR and TC, Susan. Happy reading!

Hi Susan!

A book that surprised me (in a good way) was a relatively recent read, One Day. I was expecting a light, frothy rom-com style story, and instead got a pretty decent exploration of what it is to grow older and learn what (and who) you really want. The reviews I read before reading the novel were misleading, focusing mostly on the narrative "trick" of selecting the same day each year, as well as the predictable romance elements. I liked the book much more than I anticipated, and a few of the descriptions still stick with me now, nearly least a year later.

Koeeoaddi wrote: "Lolita. I had no idea it would be as explicit, beautifully written or, well, hilarious (!) as it is. Sorry it took me so long to get around to."

Lolita really is a masterfully crafted book. I agree, it was a very pleasant surprise when I read it in college (for a film class, of all things). I love how Nabokov uses language, and it's especially impressive considering it's not his native tongue.

Thank you all for the warm welcome and great responses. I will read on the books you've mentioned. I'd started Lolita when I was younger but was put-off by the story. Maybe now that I'm in my 30's, I'll appreciate it more. :)

Charly - thanks for the book shelf tip!

I just finished reading Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter which was a giveaway win. I was expecting it to be lackluster like the other books I've won. To my surprise it was a great story.

I remember being surprised - no, shocked - when I first read Wuthering Heights. All the talk I'd ever heard about it, or more likely the film, lead me to believe it was a romance. The violence and hate in it came as a complete surprise, hitting me from the early scene at the window.

Dreams From My Father by Barry Obama surprised me. (Yes, since reading the book he's become Barry). All presidential candidates write crummy books. Of course Barry was only a grad student when he began this. The man can write!

Suefly, I agree with you about Catcher. It didn't work for me later in life. It was like Kids-Good-Grownups--Bad. (but all of Salinger is like that)

Annette, It's been too long since I've read Wuthering Heights to comment. You were disappointed that it wasn't enough of a romance. My strongest memory of the book is Heathcliff smashing his head against the trunk of a tree out of love. Maybe that's romance for guys. I need to re-read.

CITR also worked better for me as an adult. It means more every time. Holden Caulfield is somebody on his way to being somebody wonderful - it captures that moment where he's beginning to be himself. I don't agree that Salinger is kids-good-grownups-bad. It's about the arrogance of youth, thinking that, and beginning to grow out of that.

Annette wrote: "I remember being surprised - no, shocked - when I first read Wuthering Heights. All the talk I'd ever heard about it, or more likely the film, lead me to believe it was a romance. The..."

Wuthering Heights surprised me, too (not really for good or ill, just pure shock), but I think that was mostly due to the fact that I read it when I was 13 or 14, and it was one of the first truly "dark" classics I was ever exposed to.

This is an interesting question. Sometimes hype overtakes a book. I thought A Visit From the Good Squad was good but not great. And Jane Austen was way better than I expected. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle surprised me or, better put, blew my mind.

A Visit from the Goon Squad surprised me because I expected to have my mind blown, and I didn't.

The only way that book would have blew anybody's mind would have been if they were then found three days later with the top half of their head missing, their mouth over the barrel of a shotgun and their brains on the ceiling.
That is all.

::writhes::

Death Comes for the Archbishop surprised me, in a majorly good way. I was expecting to loathe it. I hadn't read any Cather at that point. I was also glad I didn't try to read Cather at a young age.

Wind-Up Bird Chronicle surprised me, disappointed me, only because so many people that I know personally, and don't know personally, raved about it, and it didn't live up to their ravings.

The Lost Symbol surprised me by leaving me extremely disappointed. Whereas the other two books had a strong plot with history expertly tied in, this one seemed to be packed with too much information, and a poor and unbelievable plot. I found the characterization weak and the ending ridiculous.

Life of Pi let me down, especially with the cop out at the end.

Is that a book about Sarah Pi?

I hope not -- there were animals who died and SP wouldn't like that.

Lobstergirl wrote: "Is that a book about Sarah Pi?"

Yes. Sarah shared a tiny lifeboat with a 500 lb Stratocaster guitar. It was awesome!

Cool.

I never understood that book. Was he hallucinating all the animals?

lesMis. God, how I loooooooath that book!!! I tried it once years ago and put it down after very few chapters. Eeeeeeveryone else loooooves lesMis. So, I talked myself into giving it another try. :/ This is one of the most tedious books I have ever had the misfortune of picking up. And my dumb ass had to give myself a personal challenge about getting it read. So, between reading stuff that is actually enjoyable, I'm slipping in a few chaps of that bucket of shit every couple of days.

It's on my to-read list. No spoilers!

Lobstergirl wrote: "It's on my to-read list. No spoilers!"

No worries.

Dump it Angela (pun intended).

Angela wrote: "lesMis. God, how I loooooooath that book!!! I tried it once years ago and put it down after very few chapters. Eeeeeeveryone else loooooves lesMis. So, I talked myself into giving it another try. :..."

Everyone loves the musical - they haven't necessarily read the book!

Annette wrote: "Angela wrote: "lesMis. God, how I loooooooath that book!!! I tried it once years ago and put it down after very few chapters. Eeeeeeveryone else loooooves lesMis. So, I talked myself into giving it..."

Let me rephrase.....Everyone I have Personally spoken to who has, at some time in the past, actually Read the book has a Most Favorable opinion of it.

That really does seem worthwhile, KD. I've added it as well. Thanks for the tip.

OK you've got me, too. Now on my to-read list.

I have never been able to make it through a Jane Austen book. Maybe if I read further into it, it would catch my attention. So far whatever I have read of hers I have found to be boring. My daughter (20) loves her books. I just don't get it.

Karen wrote: "I have never been able to make it through a Jane Austen book. Maybe if I read further into it, it would catch my attention. So far whatever I have read of hers I have found to be boring. My daug..."

I love Austen, I started reading her when I was 12 or 13. I think too many readers rely strictly on plot and don't appreciate all of the humor because it's hidden beneath the formal structure of the language. She's not for everyone, but the best way to get through one of her books if it's not holding your interest is to listen to it as an audio book, especially if it has a good narrator that can grasp the tones of characters like Miss Bates from Emma, or Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice.

I can say I am loath to loathe Austen, then?

I was surprised at how much I liked Pride and Prejudice. I read it on vacation last year and laughed out loud many times, especially at (with) the father who is the coolest of literary Dads. As a father, I'd want to be like him (while not having an idiot wife).

He's a suffering buffalo. He keeps it in his sneaker. He loves her. But it ain't easy.

BunWat wrote: "I like Mr Bennett too, and I do sympathise with him being stuck married to his youthful crush long after he's outgrown her. But sometimes he is kind of a snot about it."

A snot is a good way to put it. Mr. Bennett reminds me of my own father; intellectual, sarcastic and a little condescending to anyone not on his level. I loved Mr. Bennett, but with reservations because he was so withdrawn from his own family that I think they definitely suffered from the lack of interest and discipline.

Nikole wrote: "Last summer I was approached by author Kyle Thomas Smith to read and review his novel 85A for my book blog. I hadn't heard anything about the book or the author but against my judgement I agreed to..."

Welcome to TC Nikole!

You're right Amber and BW. My biggest problem was the way he played favorites with his kids. As for being withdrawn, don't forget that he was a guy in a world of girls.

The Reapers Are the Angels surprised me both with the lushness of the language and the twist at the end.

I was surprised by how much I liked The Constant Gardener. It was almost dreamy but with lots of action, too. The ending was excellent. This book got me on African mystery jag that lasted a few months.

Interesting point, Cheri... I think topics of books that I like get me on jags, too. I just never thought much on it!