Indian Readers discussion

I hate Edgar Alan Poe, even though he is supposed to be an acclaimed writer.
Which author would you never read again?

"Hate" is a harsh word :D
There are writers I like and writers I don't like but it is not hate. The same author can write a book I like and perhaps I will not like another of his works.
I haven't liked Kafka but I want to give him again a chance.

I dont hate authors, but sometimes I hate their works. One such is Joseph Heller responsible for Catch 22. Another category altogether are authors like Maya Banks, Lora Leigh who write nasty eroticas which disgust me (though I am not puritanical.

Lubna, I am interested in finding out why you hate Poe or Poe's writing. Please do elucidate.

Personally, I hate 'Raven', I think 'The Tell-Tale Heart' is ultimately, gimmicky and that in terms of pure macabre writing, Lovecraft was better and that Poe's concepts were better than his prose. But, Poe's works are influential and hugely interesting even today.

For example, 'The Balloon-Hoax' is an early pioneer in science fiction writing and inspired Conan Doyle's astonishing 'The Horror of the Heights'. It is perhaps one of the first mocumentaries in fiction-writing. You could say that 'Fall of the House of Usher' gives rise to the sub-genre, goth-horror. 'The Gold Bug' formalized the usage of cipher-writing in fiction, a phenomenon that was touched upon my Doyle in '..Dancing Men' and continues to be a popular sub-genre today.

The three Dupin mysteries spawned Conan Doyle (Dupin to a much larger extent than Lecoq formed the basis for Holmes, in fact '..Rue Morgue' even directly inspired '..Creeping Man' and 'The Sign of Four' from the Holmes canon) , Agatha Christie ('The Purloined Letter' and its ratiocination approach breathed Poirot to life) and my personal favorite of the three, '..Marie Roget' that came before the term 'Rashomon effect' had been coined.

Poe cannot be dismissed as a writer of pulp, generic fiction because: a) his writings weren't all simplistic and formulaic, b) at the time he was writing, there existed no real form of the genre and rather, it was he who helped create the boundaries of a lot of forms of literature that have now grown into genres on their own. Have any of the postmodernists achieved as much success? I doubt it. His legacy is indisputable and more than that, the fact that he wrote most of his stories with that combination of childlike enthusiasm and high-brow intelligence, makes him extremely fascinating to me.

Dely, I was beginning to wonder if it true that generally, most readers tend to like either Dostoevsky or Kafka, and seldom both.

Smitha, I share your disappointment with Catch 22. Haven't read Maya Banks and Lora Leigh.

Kunal wrote: "Dely, I was beginning to wonder if it true that generally, most readers tend to like either Dostoevsky or Kafka, and seldom both."

Really? I have never heard this.
Though Dostoyevsky might seem difficult he isn't because he is very able to talk about states of mind and human psychology with simple words. He is very deep and uses a lot of words but it is not difficult to understand and I like him for his depth and the detailed analysis. Kafka instead, in my opinion, wants to let the reader feel his states of mind, his anguish and anxiety. It is for me very disturbing.
But I want to try to read him in German (though he was Czech I know he wrote in German); perhaps it is different and I can begin to like him.

Edgar Allan Poe has been influenced and was inspired by the German ETA Hoffmann. His stories are dark and gothic. I like him a lot. If you like Poe try to read also Hoffmann.

yeah, most of the serious readers i know tend to go for either one of the two and the reaction to the 'other' is usually the extreme opposite, as though like one of the Milan clubs, A.C. or Internazionale, where you could only like one and not the other.:) strange but true, that.

i have heard of Hoffmann. haven't read his works but from what i know about him, his influence on Poe's writing is said to be tangential at best. but should a translated work be available, i would surely be reading it. early genre-defining works definitely make for interesting bedfellows.

Kunal wrote: "yeah, most of the serious readers i know tend to go for either one of the two and the reaction to the 'other' is usually the extreme opposite, as though like one of the Milan clubs, A.C. or Interna..."

Oh, you know Italian football teams :D

You will find him translated: Tales of Hoffmann, The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr, The Golden Pot and Other Tales, The Sand-Man and Other Stories and his only novel The Devil's Elixirs. I am sure you will like him.

No one like I hate Chetan Bagat, the loser who can tell masala stories but thinks he's another tolstoy. Damn..

I know few authors been hated in different countries for reasons mostly political.

I've never thought someone would hate an author just because their work is bad, mainly if he is a fiction writer. So far I’ve never read anyone that I would hate.

Agree with Dely that 'hate' is too strong a word. Its some of teh works of some authors that I dislike. Joseph Wambaugh. Though I have read only one of his works I kept dreading till the end. I keep thinking should I give him a chance. He writes American cop mysteries which remind me of those endless American insubstantial movies. Then I have vowed to never read Sidney Sheldon or Chetan Bhagat and the bandwagon of Bhagat wannabes

And I am surprised that Dostoyevsky followers do not follow Kafka and vice versa. I like them both. Does that make me strange :D

@kunal: Find it way too gruesome..... Maybe I read one book before I was ready to read horror, anyway that one book has kept me away from horror books forever, even as on occassions I do read Stephan King.
'Hate' is applicable in this case, because I've never touched Edgar Alan Po again.

Lubna wrote: "@kunal: Find it way too gruesome..... Maybe I read one book before I was ready to read horror, anyway that one book has kept me away from horror books forever, even as on occassions I do read Steph..."

I know it is not the movie folder but watch, a movie who talks about Poe and his works:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PGDV1...

I have found Nikos Kazantzakis to be an extremely irritating author. Particularly the last temptation which i had to put down after about 80 pages

Hriday wrote: "I have found Nikos Kazantzakis to be an extremely irritating author. Particularly the last temptation which i had to put down after about 80 pages"

Ohh How could you? The Last Temptation of Christ is not an easy read, I agree. It needs a lot of patience and took me more than two months to finish. No regrets and one of my favorites.

Priyanka wrote: "Hriday wrote: "I have found Nikos Kazantzakis to be an extremely irritating author. Particularly the last temptation which i had to put down after about 80 pages"

Ohh How could you? The Last Tempt..."

:) different people different tastes!]

In my friendlist there is a person Navdeep randhawa. I dont know if her reviews are publicly accessible but she has written a review of the last temptation. It summarizes in brief my emotions on the last temptation!

Hriday wrote: ":) different people different tastes!]"
"
Agree. :)
But I think she has written that review for Zorba The Greek(which I am certainly going to read).Not for The Last Temptation of Christ.

oops! i manage to make an ass of myself by mixing up the titles!

Arun wrote: "No one like I hate Chetan Bagat, the loser who can tell masala stories but thinks he's another tolstoy. Damn.."

I AGREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

I don't 'hate' per say but I don't enjoy Paolo Coelho anymore. I thought initially that his works were highly philosophical and allegorical. It ain't. They are such heavy reads which bang you in the head like a sledgehammer and nothing more to them.

Rosun wrote: "They are such heavy reads which bang you in the head like a sledgehammer and nothing more to them"

is ur head still in shape :P

Hriday wrote: "oops! i manage to make an ass of myself by mixing up the titles!"

Happens when you are too busy criticizing. :P

Hriday wrote: "oops! i manage to make an ass of myself by mixing up the titles!"

And I found that review about Zorba the Greek rather harsh. Just because you don't enjoy a book doesn't mean those who love it are pseudo intellectuals.

Vinoth wrote: "Rosun wrote: "They are such heavy reads which bang you in the head like a sledgehammer and nothing more to them"

is ur head still in shape :P"
It hurts bad! :D

V.S.Naipaul, the most idiotic, uncalled for, nose poking author, who instead of minding his own business, came down to write loads of absurd realities about India and which the servile anglophiles religiously oblige to. The Nobel prizes are as it is a bad joke, but a Nobel prize to V.S.Naipaul is even worse.

Apart from that I have many whom I don't approve of, but I reserve my hate for this good for nothing author.

Soo many actually ! Stephen King for one. Ive only read something called Nightmares and Dreamscapes by King and it was just horrible. For one thing since he is oh so modern and not all gothic, he has to use the F word every 15 lines, which just kills the whole scary atmosphere. Also he describes really gross stuff especially , for some reson,people puking. Still I can bear all that but not a single story scared me even though im d audience any horror writer would love. Seriously, Im just waiting to get scared. But no, Mr Kings rather overrated work couldnt manage it.

Anuradha wrote: "Soo many actually ! Stephen King for one. Ive only read something called Nightmares and Dreamscapes by King and it was just horrible. For one thing since he is oh so modern and not all gothic, he h..."

I shared similar sentiments about Mr King; until I started 11/22/63 11/22/63
His 11.22.63 is about a man who travels back in time and tries to prevent JFK’s assassination, and is by miles the best fiction I have read this year. It is well-written, it is gripping; and it is sweet. It is a rare novel where a well-known event (subject to endless conspiracy theory) actually becomes an edge-of-the-seat thriller; the hero races against Time, in its many meanings, to try and change history. King summons up themes he’s been working on all his life, such as the idea that a place itself is evil; he summons up the craft he’s been honing all his life, like building suspense and then throwing a narrative-changer in from left field; he goes back in the past and paints a minutely-detailed portrait of life in the early ’60s . It is revealing: the past smells terrible (due to effluents and ubiquitous cigarette smoke) but the food tastes great (less preservatives); people are more trustful but more bigoted; and human nature, like Time, defies change. King does a superb job of fleshing out the past so that it rises above being a genre-novel.

Ruchik wrote: "Anuradha wrote: "Soo many actually ! Stephen King for one. Ive only read something called Nightmares and Dreamscapes by King and it was just horrible. For one thing since he is oh so modern and not..."

Oh well you know Im not really a forgiving reader :) Once I read something disappointing, especially if its the first time Ive read something by that author, I cant bring myself to pick up another book. The first book I read by an Indian author was The 3 Mistakes of My Life by Chetan BhagatThe 3 Mistakes of My Life and Ive never anything by an Indian author again...

I'm with Anuradha. Although many of my friends are huge fans, I've never been particularly fond of Stephen King. His stuff just doesn't mesh well with my own personal tastes, I guess. However, I must admit that Ruchik's description makes me think about giving 11/22/63 a try.

i too am a bit apprehensive of stephen king. there used to be this guy in my college hostel who was a Stephen King fanatic. i borrowed The Tommyknockers from him and returned it in 30 mins!! i don't remember why i did not like the book but i did not like it. have stayed away from him for a while now. i think i will give 11/22/63 a try..

have read Pet Semetary and another one, about a dead in utero twin's evil brain residing in the brain of his brother and controlling it - both were scary and yucky. Haven't attempted King thereafter.

'Hearts in Atlantis' is his only book I've ever really cared for. King is phenomenally overrated.

I agree with most of you...hate is a strong word, but i do dislike V.S. Naipaul. I find him a tad bit too tiring. Too much of detail can wear out the reader. Moreoever I feel as though his novels have a very low entertainment value attched to them,which I feel is quite necessary to make a book interesting. But then some writers you understand....some you just dont!

Smitha wrote: "I dont hate authors, but sometimes I hate their works. One such is Joseph Heller responsible for Catch 22. Another category altogether are authors like Maya Banks, Lora Leigh who write nasty erotic..."
hey Smitha....I was a bit surprised to read your post. All my life I've grown up hearing my father and uncle tell me what a great book Catch 22 is. I myself have tried reading it a couple of times but gave up after initial few pages. The book has become my unicorn of sorts. Anyway....I would like to know the reason you dont like the book. Would be a nice to get a different opinion for a change.

1.Elizabeth George.
2.Patricia Cornwell.

The first lady writes thrillers which are way too long. Although she has a bucket full of fans, but I just dont like reading her books.
The second lady, her plots are rather foolish. And, also her protagonist is too sure of herself.
I like a protagonist, who has faults within him. He overcomes those demons to come on top. Someone like Inspector Morse.

Stephen King hands down. Over rated!!

Maya wrote: "Stephen King hands down. Over rated!!"

I think with Stephen King its more like a guy thing. Guys seem to love his writing and books. As for me although I have liked some of his books i find most of them Very boring.

Deepa wrote: "Maya wrote: "Stephen King hands down. Over rated!!"

I think with Stephen King its more like a guy thing. Guys seem to love his writing and books. As for me although I have liked some of his books ..."

indeed.. Remember Joey and his "the Shining" phobia?

anyone read the hunger games??? thats what i call over rated... finished the book within a single day... okay i've rated it 3... but i just dont understand why everyone else rates it 5... the same theme as condemned... death race etc... nothing really magical enough for the 4.53(it was 4.52 yesterday... so by the time you read this, it might become 4.54...)it has...

Another hugely overrated book is The Mine by Arnab Ray. Hugely disappointing. The plot is full of holes and the book is filled with mindless gore and blood.

Maya wrote: "Deepa wrote: "Maya wrote: "Stephen King hands down. Over rated!!"

I think with Stephen King its more like a guy thing. Guys seem to love his writing and books. As for me although I have liked some..."

Yes.....absolutely.

Ravinder Singh , chetan bhagat but to be honest all the new too young Indian writers write bullshit hinglish novels ruining the sanctity of literature
I don't like Rhonda brynne and john green too

Maya wrote: "Stephen King hands down. Over rated!!"

Lol totally his books make me laugh specially Christine and his goddamn slang , I mean cmon

Ritu wrote: "
I don't like Rhonda brynne and john green too"
Love Rhonda though. She sure is overrated!

Rosun wrote: "Ritu wrote: "
I don't like Rhonda brynne and john green too"
Love Rhonda though. She sure is overrated!"

:D I stRted hating her coz my mom forced me to reaD ' the secret' which z had nothing but law of attr tion :D

amal wrote: "anyone read the hunger games??? thats what i call over rated... finished the book within a single day... okay i've rated it 3... but i just dont understand why everyone else rates it 5... the same ..."

yes please add "perfect chemistry" series to that list. also the bazillion vampire romances sprouting by the minute.

Ritu wrote: "Ravinder Singh , chetan bhagat but to be honest all the new too young Indian writers write bullshit hinglish novels ruining the sanctity of literature
I don't like Rhonda brynne and john green too"

I dont have anything against Indian authors but I stopped buying after one night at a call center. trying too hard only makes it worse. smh..

Maya wrote: "Ritu wrote: "Ravinder Singh , chetan bhagat but to be honest all the new too young Indian writers write bullshit hinglish novels ruining the sanctity of literature
I don't like Rhonda brynne and..."

dont be so harsh on all d indi writers... Amish was gud... Atleast he uses some standard english...

I also found 3 mistakes of my life gud... Though the english is d same, d plot is challenging, unlike all other chetan bhagats... He's done some research on issues involved... Though, some may find it a little far-fetched...;)

"I dont have anything against Indian authors but I stopped buying after one night at a call center. trying too hard only makes it worse."

That's quite a generalization. The best Indian authors are up there with anybody in any era. Anita Desai, Buddhadeva Bose, Salman Rushdie, Upamanyu Chatterjee...

Maya wrote: "Ritu wrote: "Ravinder Singh , chetan bhagat but to be honest all the new too young Indian writers write bullshit hinglish novels ruining the sanctity of literature
I don't like Rhonda brynne and..."

I swear by R K Narayan! Do give him another chance.

Maya wrote: "Ritu wrote: "Ravinder Singh , chetan bhagat but to be honest all the new too young Indian writers write bullshit hinglish novels ruining the sanctity of literature
I don't like Rhonda brynne and..."

there are many good Indian authors too - try RKN, Shashi Deshpande, Anita Nair, Anita Desai, Manju Kapur, Chitra Divakaruni, Kiran Desai etc. (and many others - mostly prominent regional authors) before giving up. I always prefer Indian over non Indian fiction as I can somehow relate more and think more about the characters, their situations, what they should have done, what they did etc.