Worst book ever written..

[Zankou 2.0]

I just don't get how flawed = endearing. I mean characters don't need to be perfect for me to like them, but some of the books I've read (usually at the suggestion of some girlfriend or other) have protagonists I want to just slap for sheer stupidity. Of Human Bondage and Valley of the Dolls leap to mind as classic examples.

Romeo and Juliette were both morons.

If you refer to the characters from the play "Romeo and Juliet", then, (along with reminding you of how to SPELL it), remember that they are CHILDREN and they were also fucked over by fate and society. If you meant some other characters, then, nvm.

[daftbeaker]

I just don't get how flawed = endearing. I mean characters don't need to be perfect for me to like them, but some of the books I've read (usually at the suggestion of some girlfriend or other) have protagonists I want to just slap for sheer stupidity. Of Human Bondage and Valley of the Dolls leap to mind as classic examples.

Romeo and Juliette were both morons.

If you refer to the characters from the play "Romeo and Juliet", then, (along with reminding you of how to SPELL it), remember that they are CHILDREN and they were also fucked over by fate and society. If you meant some other characters, then, nvm.

Is there any reference to their ages in the text? I always imagined them about 16-18.

[Zankou 2.0]

I just don't get how flawed = endearing. I mean characters don't need to be perfect for me to like them, but some of the books I've read (usually at the suggestion of some girlfriend or other) have protagonists I want to just slap for sheer stupidity. Of Human Bondage and Valley of the Dolls leap to mind as classic examples.

Romeo and Juliette were both morons.

If you refer to the characters from the play "Romeo and Juliet", then, (along with reminding you of how to SPELL it), remember that they are CHILDREN and they were also fucked over by fate and society. If you meant some other characters, then, nvm.

Is there any reference to their ages in the text? I always imagined them about 16-18.

Juliet "hath not seen the change of fourteen years", and Romeo's age is never given.

[daftbeaker]

Thanks. Puts a different feeling on things.

[Zankou 2.0]

Thanks. Puts a different feeling on things.

Indeed. Juliet is swept way by "true" love, and, in four days, is dead, and Romeo with her, all before she even turns fourteen years old. They're nought but children, and yet they overcome their families' irrational hatred of each other. And, with their death, they bury their parent's strife, also.


Romeo is also the classic emo kid.

[Capellini]

I haven't been required to read Shakespeare for years. When I do so now, it is for my own enjoyment. I don't understand people who don't love Shakespeare. I mean, he was hysterical. Seriously, some of the most clever, funny shit you'll read was written by him. My guess is that not enough people understand it, so they don't see the appeal, and therefore think those of us who are getting something out of it must be faking it to look smart. If you think Douglas Adams knows his way around a pun, he's got nothing on Will.

[Rainswept]

I haven't been required to read Shakespeare for years. When I do so now, it is for my own enjoyment. I don't understand people who don't love Shakespeare. I mean, he was hysterical. Seriously, some of the most clever, funny shit you'll read was written by him. My guess is that not enough people understand it, so they don't see the appeal, and therefore think those of us who are getting something out of it must be faking it to look smart. If you think Douglas Adams knows his way around a pun, he's got nothing on Will.

Oh I don't disagree, although it does need to be pointed out that the vast majority of his work was retelling other people's stories.

Juliet was indeed 13, which doesn't preclude her from being a moron. How many 13 year olds kill themselves over a boy? Stupid characters just don't do it for me. as I said, I just don't get how flawed = endearing. I've seen some flawed characters who were interesting, such as Hannibal Lecter, but I never find it endearing.

[Capellini]

I haven't been required to read Shakespeare for years. When I do so now, it is for my own enjoyment. I don't understand people who don't love Shakespeare. I mean, he was hysterical. Seriously, some of the most clever, funny shit you'll read was written by him. My guess is that not enough people understand it, so they don't see the appeal, and therefore think those of us who are getting something out of it must be faking it to look smart. If you think Douglas Adams knows his way around a pun, he's got nothing on Will.

Oh I don't disagree, although it does need to be pointed out that the vast majority of his work was retelling other people's stories.

Juliet was indeed 13, which doesn't preclude her from being a moron. How many 13 year olds kill themselves over a boy? Stupid characters just don't do it for me. as I said, I just don't get how flawed = endearing. I've seen some flawed characters who were interesting, such as Hannibal Lecter, but I never find it endearing.

Flawed does not equal endearing, hence my use of the word AND. Flawed AND endearing. Two things. One of them, flawed. The other, endearing.

[ken worley]

Flawed....why not.

If "normal" means looking for the fear-leverage in people, then using it to beat down their confidence, so to have have the "upper hand" is normal...

Perhaps the characters were a symbol of just that.(keep in mind, I've never read it.)-
A 'love' which decided rather to flare briefly in a persecuted honesty, then exist no more.

Better yet, I say, hold yourself in the fire, like that greek-myth-baby-drama.

And be careful some nosy chick don't prompt the the Goddess to toss the little 'fing in over a fit of pique.

Really, ..nearly annealed...(or is it vulcanized?)

[daftbeaker]

Really, ..nearly annealed...(or is it vulcanized?)

Off the top of my head annealing is heating a metal to reduce cold-hardening and vulcanising is generally used to refer to the addition of sulphur to rubber goods to stop them melting in hot weather.

Incinerated, carbonised, burnt to a crisp, pile of ashes, all of those work though.

[Rainswept]

Flawed does not equal endearing, hence my use of the word AND. Flawed AND endearing. Two things. One of them, flawed. The other, endearing.

Well good. Means you have better tastes in literature than some of the girls I've dated lol.

When characters are majorly flawed in a decision-making way, it usually bothers me so much that I cannot find them relatable at all, and hence don't enjoy the story. read Valley of the Dolls or Of human Bondage, you'll see what I mean.

[PKMKII]

Honestly, I think history has severely misinterpreted Romeo and Juliet. It is not a timeless love story, it's a commentary on the flaws of aristocratic society.

[Rainswept]

Honestly, I think history has severely misinterpreted Romeo and Juliet. It is not a timeless love story, it's a commentary on the flaws of aristocratic society.

Exactly!

[Zankou 2.0]

Can't it be both?

[Scott the Pirate]

Had to resurrect this thread to post this.

Easily the worst book ever published!