I thought it wasn't bad... it was a quick read to say the least.

As for me... FUCKING GREAT EXPECTATIONS.

NOTHING HAPPENS. EVER. NOT ONCE.

We're talking about books here, not loads of jumbled garbage put together by a lunatic.

What about the old lady who catches on fire?

Isn't Great Expectations the one about the lil' submissive kid who liked that orphan bitch just because she was hot and then they lived happily ever after? Also, rotton cake was somehow involved.

They even managed to make that uninteresting.

That's the one.

QFT

My Contribution:
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/x2/x11223.jpg

I lol'd so hard.

Well, I have to say I agree with you there. Actually I thought it was pretty boring myself as well. But you know what's an even worse book from roughly the same time period? Wuthering Heights. My god is that book unbearable.

I dunno, Heathcliff was a total bad ass in that novel, he totally ****ed everyone over.

I loved great expectations! Then again Iloved Harry Potter and still do!
Worst boook was The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom.
Stephen King wannabe the book generally weirded me out, only book I physically couldn't finish!
And me I is a nerd!

wat?

"To kill a mockingbird" was the worst one I have ever read.. it had no point to it at all.. and yet I have to study it at GCSE next year :/

I liked the movie better but the book wasn't that bad.

I didn't enjoy this novel either, but it sounds ignorant to say "it had no point."

Dude, Harry Potter seriously ruled. Those books made my childhood.

I despise anything by Stephen King. And Twilight. *shudder*

you actually read that? shit

hard times by charles dickens fucking blows.

I wanted to know what all of the hype was about!

Have you ever read anything under his pseudonym "Richard Bachman"? I read The Long Walk when I was far too young and it seriously disturbed me, great book though.

Another not-so-great book: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. Don't get me wrong, I like her other stuff, but when I read this book I was like, WTF?

No, I haven't actually! I like disturbing things, I might check it out.

The long Walk is a great read as was the novella set in the school regarding gun crime. I cannot for the life remember what it was called. His short stories are far more appealing.

I think that was called Rage.

Okay, to all you Twilight haters out there, you have to admit, that even though the books were not highly intelictual or even really that well written, they're addictive!

I agree. And I'm not embarrassed to say so. But I'm a Harry Potter nerd as well, so...

Somewhat addictive I'd say. I didn't enjoy them at all and yet I read the entire series. Addiction or for the sake of completeness I don't know.

I don't think they're addictive. Once I read most of the first one I never went back! And I'm also a Harry Potter nerd...

Well then you have stronger will than I do. I can't start a book without finishing it. :)

I have read it more than once and I see it as a piece of propoganda. Very powerful and well written in it's own way but it's only that to me personally. I didn't choose it to be confrontational but it is the most readily available book in most schools and any counterpoints to it are not encouraged which is a shame.

It's an anthology more than anything, and its volumes were selected and voted on by bureaucratic council with the criteria of its contents adhering to the also bureaucratically established and voted on, christian doctrine.. I don't question the authority of the entire work as a whole, but feel that each individual "book" has to be judged by its own merit and purpose. If we included every relevant scriptural text from that cultural time period the bible would be easlily 5-10x as long as it is now

I understand where you're coming from and what you're saying. Having been raised as a Christian I was of course to taught to appreciate the Bible as a tool to learn how to live in such a way that pleases God and create a "personal" relationship with him. As of a few years ago I've begun to question the very existence of God, and I can understand why people view the Bible as propaganda. But even now, I read and appreciate the parts of it that taught me how to be a better person, even if I'm not putting that into practice for the same reasons. But...perhaps that should be discussed in the Christianity thread eh? I do believe if you read the individual books as Satchmo suggested, there is some very well written material that at times contains vivid imagery and heartfelt poetry. So for those reasons I wouldn't be able to agree with it being the "worst" book.

I just want to butt in and say I'm with nonsubmissivewife on this one. I am not a religious person at all and don't know if I believe in any existence of a god, but the Bible contains some very moving passages and stories with strong messages about the morals and values of human beings. I don't want to argue about whether it is fact or fiction, and I can understand how people may see it as propaganda, but I don't consider myself a Christian in any way at all and I find some value in it - even though I disagree with many things in it. Also most literature and film produced in the following centuries has been built around stories originally from the Bible.

I agree that it is indeed vivid and it's prose is not in question but I disagree with it being forced upon you as a subject at school and that an opposing view on a particular passage was discouraged which is something I cannot agree with. Religion should always be about choice and it is something that I choose not to follow. My parents were not religious whatsoever yet I was brought up to be a good person without them using the bible for guidance.

I will never question someones religious beliefs at all but the bible was as much a historical writing and all historical books have been called into question but the bible seems untouchable for many many people including annoying self righteous school teachers who would then turn around and whack someone across the kuckles for not paying attention. Hhmm.

And this is what makes it a good book, more so if people focus on taking these values to heart instead of enforcing doctrine and biblical law in a militant way...which brings me to:

You are absolutely correct. It is forced on people at times, which really is a stupid thing to do. Anything you force on someone, especially children, is usually going to be rebelled against and thereby negates the point of bible teaching if you ask me. And I would like to make clear that I'm in no way suggesting all people must read the Bible and follows it's principles to be good people. For some it has been beneficial, but as you say, many have been raised without the influence of the Bible or any religious teachings and have become outstanding good people as well.

The Scarlet Letter, hands down.

dude, the Scarlet Letter was AWESOME

Yeah, so was Great Expectations. Except, it was actually really terrible

That book was ass. Pip only liked Estella because she was hot too.........at least she had a personality though, right?

I never read Great Expectations, I remember everyone in the Scarlet Letter being really intense about EVERYTHING and it was AWESOME