Shameful Books

There's was a piece on NPR's All Things Considered in which a writer was telling about a book he was ashamed to love (Kurt Cobain's journals). It sounded like part of a series, but I haven't heard any others since.

Anyway, it got me thinking, and I couldn't think of a single book that I'm ashamed to love. The reason is simple, I think:  if I love it, I really think it's good and am therefore not ashamed to love it. It doesn't matter who it was written for, written by, or how it was written. If I like it, it's good. If it's not good, I don't like it.

In other words, I define what's worthy by what I like, not by the expectations or opinions of other people. At least, that's how I am with books. Same goes for not liking something. I recently tried to read The Catcher in the Rye. I say 'tried' because I couldn't finish it. Aside from the incessant profanity and annoying way the narrator rambles on and repeats himself, I just couldn't get into the story. I'm sure some people can relate and a lot of people really like that book, but I couldn't stand it. Therefore, it's not that good, and I'm not ashamed to say so.

Music, on the other hand—I'm ashamed of about half of what's in my iTunes library. So don't ask.

Comments

  1. Hey Ben! You won my weekly contest!!! I need you to email me (kathiorampeterson(at)yahoo.com) your address so I can send it to you. If you keep following my blog tour your name will also go into the pot for the Grand Prize.

    BTW: I'm with you. I can't think of anything I've read that I was ashamed to say I've read.

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  2. I've read some books that I wish I hadn't. Not that I was ashamed to have read them, I just wish I hadn't wasted my time on them. And I think if I liked Twilight, I'd be ashamed to admit it. But I didn't, so I'm not. So I agree, if I liked it, it's good and I don't care what anyone else thinks!

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  3. LOL, I can relate on the iTunes thing. My boys are often asking me "why are you listening to that song if it's got xx word in it?" Uhh, um. I don't know? Honestly, most of the time I don't even notice the odd word in there.

    But I do have books I'm ashamed to love. Mainly they contain a lot of profanity and that's what I'm ashamed of. I know I shouldn't read them, but sometimes I can't stop. It's terribly wrong of me, I know it. Hence, the shame. :( *sigh*

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  4. ali, your problem is you have a conscience. :P Actually, I can relate to that, mostly when I recommend a book and have to say "Oh, but it did have some bad words, and maybe a couple of sex scenes. Never mind. Don't read it."

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