Why can't one dislike a book without insulting its readership?

[conuly]

I had thought this was limited to the sillies at amazon.com, but here it is at book_reviews:

I just finished reading 'Brave New World'...as long as you go into reading the book knowing that it is a satire then there may be a slight possibility you will find it somewhat enjoyable. I would recommend this book to middle aged men who sit at home all day watching Star Teck..but if you have somewhat of a life..you'll hate it. What a waste of a good three hours.

Now, I don't have a life, but I'm not a middle aged man who watches Star Trek all day either. And I liked the book. I don't claim you dislike it because you're a moronic fluff-brained child who is better off reading Baby-Sitter's Club, I think you disliked it because *gasp* not everyone has the same taste in books. It happens. Sometimes, you don't like a book other people love, and it's not because you or the book is bad, it's because you don't like it.

Of course, I have a few questions. Such as, why did you finish the book if you didn't like it? I wouldn't spend that much time on a book I didn't like, I'd stop after the first few chapters. Possibly this encouraged her anger, because she didn't feel like putting the book down. Possibly. And the second question... since when is Brave New World a satire? I always thought it was a standard dystopic novel.

Comments

[yuki-onna.livejournal.com]

I don't know...maybe she thought it was actually addressing the world as it is now. I could see, if you didn't know anything about it, reading 1984 and thinking it's about the real world.

[conuly]

That's just depressing... though it *is* the point of dystopias, to mirror reality, right? The good ones do it so cleverly that you're fooled in the beginning.

[mhari.livejournal.com]

Dystopias can be satires, in a way; they certainly tend to exaggerate the problems with current (or then-current) society for effect. Humorous effect, even, if you have a morbid sense of humor.

I'm fond of Brave New World, inasmuch as one can be fond of such a little horror. I dunno; it inspires me with less gut revulsion than 1984. 1984 was all about "people suck, and the ones who don't suck don't count". At least in Brave New World much of the insanity was the result of fucked-up idealism, and not just evil.

[catsluvdmb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't see how Brave New World is a satire either. Maybe she read it because she had to? I had to read it my sophomore year in high school, and liked it, but I know a lot of people who didn't.

[gentlmnprfrblnd.livejournal.com]

I did read it because I had to...I am a senior in Advanced Placement English literature, and it is part of the course. Brave New World is a dystopian novel, but it is also a satire of the institution of marriage, love, sex, the government and religion {to name a few} Because of the authors highly over-exaggerated tone and out-landish ideas of these aspects of life, he is in a sense satirizing them. But maybe you just didn’t read the book closely enough to figure that out....hey.. you could always stick to the Babysitters club, much easier to understand.

[conuly]

Now, you see, I *was* trying to be nice here. But no, you have to constantly insult first the people who like the book, and then the people who do not interpret it exactly the way you did. It's all right though. I understand. It must be hard, really, to have your issues. Whatever they are, it must be damn hard.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Brings me back to when I read that book... I was 13 or so, didn't understand most of it but found it strangely fascinating. Recently re-read it, just to notice that reading books is so much more fun if you recognize the Shakespeare quotes...
didn't notice it was a satire, though. Go figure.

[yuki-onna.livejournal.com]

I don't know...maybe she thought it was actually addressing the world as it is now. I could see, if you didn't know anything about it, reading 1984 and thinking it's about the real world.

[conuly]

That's just depressing... though it *is* the point of dystopias, to mirror reality, right? The good ones do it so cleverly that you're fooled in the beginning.

[mhari.livejournal.com]

Dystopias can be satires, in a way; they certainly tend to exaggerate the problems with current (or then-current) society for effect. Humorous effect, even, if you have a morbid sense of humor.

I'm fond of Brave New World, inasmuch as one can be fond of such a little horror. I dunno; it inspires me with less gut revulsion than 1984. 1984 was all about "people suck, and the ones who don't suck don't count". At least in Brave New World much of the insanity was the result of fucked-up idealism, and not just evil.

[catsluvdmb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't see how Brave New World is a satire either. Maybe she read it because she had to? I had to read it my sophomore year in high school, and liked it, but I know a lot of people who didn't.

[gentlmnprfrblnd.livejournal.com]

I did read it because I had to...I am a senior in Advanced Placement English literature, and it is part of the course. Brave New World is a dystopian novel, but it is also a satire of the institution of marriage, love, sex, the government and religion {to name a few} Because of the authors highly over-exaggerated tone and out-landish ideas of these aspects of life, he is in a sense satirizing them. But maybe you just didn’t read the book closely enough to figure that out....hey.. you could always stick to the Babysitters club, much easier to understand.

[conuly]

Now, you see, I *was* trying to be nice here. But no, you have to constantly insult first the people who like the book, and then the people who do not interpret it exactly the way you did. It's all right though. I understand. It must be hard, really, to have your issues. Whatever they are, it must be damn hard.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Brings me back to when I read that book... I was 13 or so, didn't understand most of it but found it strangely fascinating. Recently re-read it, just to notice that reading books is so much more fun if you recognize the Shakespeare quotes...
didn't notice it was a satire, though. Go figure.