What is the most difficult literary work you’ve ever read? What made it so difficult?
The first book that stands out Is Old Man and the Sea. It stands out because when I read it in high school I had yet to grasp symbolism so it made no sense. Why would a man hold a fish all the way to shore?
My teacher was telling me and the class it was symbolic. Me being as out spoken as i am was telling her it still did not make any sense. As I am deaf and went to a deaf school the teacher tends to show a movie to help us understand better. I thought the movie was dumb too. After a week of explaining step by step the story behind the story so to speak I began to grasp what it was really about.
Once I understood it opened up a whole new world for me in terms of reading and enjoying books.
Next up on my list is Gravity’s Rainbow so am curious how that will go.
I have read a lot of classics in my school and college years. And some still remain my favorites. However, there are a few I could never get into..
Here is my Literary Blog Hop post!
Hemingway himself actually said that The Old Man and the Sea was not supposed to be symbolic. Isn’t that funny? I remember studying this book in high school too and the heavy focus on symbolism.
Thanks for participating in our Hop!
hey wow I didn’t understand the old man and the sea either! I enjoyed it, but that’s it :/
good luck with gravity’s rainbow. I’ve sworn of pynchon for life haha
happy hopping! I’m a new follower.
Old Man and the Sea was a struggle for me, too. Everyone I knew LOVED it, but I was just kinda “meh” over it. I love Hemingway, but this one came in just above The Sun Also Rises (which I didn’t rank very high). Give me For Whom the Bell Tolls or A Farewell to Arms any day!
I really disliked the Old Man and The Sea when I had to read it in high school. Should really reread it as an adult – wonder what I’d think of it now…
The Old Man is a difficult but rewarding book. But it takes patience and a bit of fortitude. Great choice. I’m also thinking about GR!
Gravity’s Rainbow is next on my list too.
enjoyed your reference & your teachers teaching style (I used to work in The Royal School for Deaf Children In the UK). So it made me think again fro a different perspective.
Thanks
Parrish
OM&tS was a big old snooze, I don’t care what the symbolism was. And I’m a Hemingway fan.
Gravity’s Rainbow is on at least one ofhte book lists I’m working on, but it may be the very last “list” book that I even get to.
My choice was Finnigans Wake.
Rose City Reader
I unfortunately chose The Old Man and the Sea as a book to read in its entirety (it’s short, right?!) during a readathon. So I found myself attempting to read/trying to stay awake while reading this tedious book in the middle of the night!
Here’s my post:
http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2010/11/enchante-from-literary-blog-hop.html