the crap books I’m reading right now
I’m reading two less-than-stellar books right now. A book should be amusing, comforting, or at least thought provoking. Since I can say none of those things about these two books, they’re crap to me. (But maybe just to me.)
The first is “Bossypants” by Tina Fey. This book was recommended on some blog I read and I like humor, so I picked it up at the local library. Hard copy. It is wall to wall crammed with jokes, none of which are making me laugh. It is an autobiography – I guess I should mention that. Any way, Tina Fey is a funny actress and comedian, so she deserves to write an autobiography and have it be widely read. And I can see why others will find this book funny and laugh their arses off and love it. It just is not my sense of humor, I guess. This book cover totally creeps me out, too.
The second crap book is the Wolf of Wall Street. Strike out number two for books that have been recently made into movies. Though, in fairness, I want to point out that I have only read the first five chapters of Book 1 and there are apparently three more ‘books’. So there is a possibility it is really good and I just haven’t gotten into it yet. But I feel like I’ve given it a fair chance at this point. There has been a good amount of character development so far (all unlikable) and much description of how a filthy rich asshole spends his money unscrupulously. Quite a bore. I don’t think I can take much more.
I hadn’t actually remembered that the movie the Wolf of Wall Street had been made from a book. I just happened across it when I was browsing for Kindle books from the library and, unlike the Fault in our Stars which had a waiting list weeks long for the Kindle copies, the Wolf of Wall Street was available immediately. That may have been a warning sign.
Anyway, I think I’ll have to throw in the towel with both of these books and stop wasting my time.
55 comments on “the crap books I’m reading right now”
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The Honking Goose 
I don’t know about the book, but the Wolf of Wall Street film is worth watching. It’s like a drug-crazed party with a crash that, as a viewer, you don’t have to experience the low personally. Not too long, and not a stressful read.
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Oh, and I agree that the Bossypants cover is creepy.
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They don’t sound like my kind of books.
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I saw the movie wolf of the wall street it was entertaining, but I prefer the police. Now I am reading the invisible guardian (in spanish) and I like it, so interesting.
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I pretty much only read autobiographies. I guess I like true stories. They are much more entertaining when you have some knowledge or interest about their line of work. The reviews from Amazon are a pretty good indication of how good the book will be. Anything 4.5 or 5 stars should be solid.
I thought The Wolf of Wall Street was an entertaining movie.
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I used to have such a difficult time not finishing a book. Then I realized that philosophy was detracting from my love of reading, as well as taking away time from reading a book I genuinely enjoy.
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Just ordered My Struggle: Book 1 Knausgaard, Karl Ove
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Oh yeah, so now my favorite Honking Goose is blocking my amazing correspondence?? Twice I tried to send you this, and twice it said you weren’t available. I’m betting you’re just so popular now, no one can get through. That’s O.K. I’ll discuss reading materials with you another time. We’ll try this one more time and see what’s happening. If not, I’ll read you later, and correspond then.
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I haven’t blocked anyone. I hear you now.
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Hmmmm, good to know….I have Tina Fey’s book on kindle and have not read it yet.
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It’s still worth a try. My opinion is just that, an opinion.
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I read the first few pages of Bossypants at a bookstore and giggled, but not enough for a buy. Saw the WOWS movie and it was too graphic, so prob won’t go into the book. All the more so not going to after your mini review! It’s pretty hard to stop reading though, even when they’re crap…
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It is so tempting to keep on, you know, just in case.
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I’ve got a suggestion for ya, try “Pandemonium” by Daryl Gregory. Drama, comedy, demonic investigations. I didn’t think it would be good at first, but was enthralled and finished quite quickly! Xx
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Thanks for the recommendation.
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Don’t get these books. Got it! 😉
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Just one goose’s opinion, and it is highly subjective…
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Hmnn…then I’ll cross the bridge when I get there. Or let’s just say read the books if Fate leads me to them 😉
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I would recommend you to read “Room” by Emma Donoghue. It’s fabulous!
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I have read it. It was super intense. I liked it though.
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It’s actually a shame that I hardly reas books anymore, be they factual or fictional. I guess the Internet has spoiled me. I can just watch. That is the true waste of my mind, and time.
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Haha I started reading Atlas Shrugged yesterday. I’m 100 pages in, theres 1000 pages left, and I don’t know if it’s worth it to finish. Don’t you ever get that feeling?
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I remember beginning to read a book about 15 years ago. Frustrated after 30 pages, I stopped. A few months later I started it again. Yuck. I just couldn’t take it. I believe another year went by, saw it laying on the shelf, picked it up and read it cover to cover and was glad I did. Don’t stress about it. Maybe it’s just not the right time. Go to something else and come back to it if you’re still wondering.
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I just stop reading. Reading should be a pleasure! I’ve heard great things about the Tina Fey book, but for some reason I just think I’d like to keep her as I’ve seen her.
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I can totally see how people might really enjoy Bossypants, it’s just not my cup of tea.
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I used to finish everything, I used to have so much hope. Then I had to put one down a few months ago and give up on it, so I feel your pain. I have vowed to give up sooner, rather than later. I have a stack waiting for me!
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Giving up on a book is so hard for me because I won’t know for sure without reading it all, but if it’s not good at the start, it doesn’t usually get much better. I don’t have time to waste.
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I’m reading good morning Mandela love the journey
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Cool 😀
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My motto is, life is too short for bad books!! Honestly, I find both of these surprising but I take your word for it. Wolf of Wall Street was a good movie though!
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What did you like about the movie?
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Funny, sexy, exciting. It kept me pretty entertained but I thought it was smart too. It was a bit dirty, I must admit!
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Agree. I even have a category in my reviews “books not finished reading” and I explain why. As the sand in the hourglass of life on top ever diminishes, I have less and less patience for bad books.
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I can understand what you mean. There are things people find it funny but I don’t find it funny.
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People have different styles and tastes in humor. That’s okay.
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I don’t read much due to my ADHD. Sooo..
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Wait, wait, wait. The Wolf of Wallstreet spans four books? Even though I enjoyed the movie, I felt like it was a little bit long, and was tired of the whole ‘rich debauchery’ thing by the end of it…I can’t imagine reading four books of that.
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It is one book with subsections called Book I,II, III, IV. Seems really long. I’m going to look for something better to read.
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As an avid reader, I hate stumbling upon a book that doesn’t bring me anything at all. Had that with the latest Stephen King last week. I got to the end but was so disappointed. I feel your pain 😉
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I get this nagging feeling that if I don’t finish I might miss out on something good, but that is usually not the case. If it doesn’t get good in the first couple of chapters, it’s just not going to at all.
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Yuck, don’t give your money to the Wolf of Wallstreet author. His story is so awful, and that it was turned into some Martin Scorsese story is just heart breaking. This article in LA Weekly written by the daughter of one of his partners is so sad. http://www.laweekly.com/informer/2013/12/26/an-open-letter-to-the-makers-of-the-wolf-of-wall-street-and-the-wolf-himself
If you want a good book recommendation, I just read Look At Me by
Jennifer Egan that I really liked. But it seems maybe you prefer non-fiction, so read Unbroken quick before the movie comes out. I love survival stories and this is a good one on multiple levels.
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Thanks for the recommendations, I’ll check them out. I didn’t even realize the Wolf of Wall Street was based on a true story. And I had only a very vague idea what the story was about. That letter you linked is pretty eye-opening. And it sounds like the story doesn’t become socially redeeming in the end. Bummer. Those Wall Street bastards should all rot for their disgusting, shameful behavior. I guess I’ll be skipping the movie as well as the book.
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The movie totally glamorizes this horrible guy. DiCaprio and Scorsese kept saying it was a critique on consumption and the excess of Wall Street, but I know that is not how it was watched. If it had been fiction it would have been super entertaining, but it isn’t. It’s a sad story and this dude still makes shit tons of money doing motivational speaking and stuff. AND he’s been caught recently squirreling a bunch of it away that is supposed to be paying back his victims. It’s so awful.
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I just finished Unbroken and it was great. I really loved it. Thanks again for the recommendation. =)
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Yay! I’m glad to hear you liked it 🙂
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If a book still stinks after you’ve read five chapters, it’s probably too late to save it.
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Probably so…
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Ha! I thought I was the only one creeped out by that cover! I’ve discovered this to be fairly true, though: most books can be judged by their first chapter, if not their first paragraph. 🙂
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I’m a couple chapters in already – maybe I should have judged it by it’s cover after all. 😉
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I’m the same way with books–if they don’t interest me in the beginning and I’m not enjoying them, I usually don’t finish them. I just can’t put myself through that 🙂 I agree that books should always do something for us: whether it’s amuse, teach, make us think, entertain, etc.
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So many books, so little time. There’s a good one waiting for you somewhere.
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For sure.
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When I was younger I always finished the books I was reading, even if they were crap. Now, I just toss them. Life is short. Bossy Pants is on my reading list though, recommended by a very funny friend…hmmm….
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Give Bossypants a chance, I think it is just a matter of taste. It’s still worth a try…
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