This week the question comes from SammyDee who asks:
What book(s) have you read that you’re secretly ashamed to admit?
Now there’s an intriguing question if ever I saw one; depending on whether you put the focus on being ashamed to admit, or on being secretly ashamed… Which implies you might be willing to admit you read the book – but trying to hide feeling guilty about it!
I suppose it shifts with age and circumstances and experience, what one might feel “guilty” about. The first “adult” books one came upon in childhood/early teens, before perhaps feeling quite ready for them oneself. Or still reading children’s books after one is supposed to have outgrown them. Reading anything for pure pleasure when one is supposed to be reading (or doing) something more serious. An “ungodly” book in a religious context, or a religious book in an ungodly context… I’ve probably been there, done that with all the categories! No specific titles pop to mind though. Except… I think I did hesitate for a moment once upon a time before borrowing Lady Chatterly’s Lover from the library. It did seem such an obvious title - although by that time I’m sure I’d read other books with content just as bold.
“Books... are like lobster shells, we surround ourselves with 'em, then we grow out of 'em and leave 'em behind, as evidence of our earlier stages of development.”
~ Dorothy L. Sayers ~
Linked to Booking Through Thursday
11 comments:
I love the Dorothy Sayers quote, very true! :)
I hadn't thought about Lady Chatterley's Lover but it's a good one! Hop on over if you have the time:
http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/booking-through-thursday.html
Juli @ Universe in Words
I love the quote :)
I've never read it because the subject doesn't interest me but I would have thought many would quote "Lolita". I see from Wiki that Lolita is included on Time's list of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005. It is fourth on the Modern Library's 1998 list of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th century. It was also included as one of The 100 Best Books of All Time. So now it's probably de rigeur to read it and be seen to be reading it.
When I was in high school, we secretly whispered and read Peyton Place...which is tame by today's standards. Lady Chatterley's Lover, too.
Here's MY BTT POST
I've never read "Lady Chatterley's Lover" It just doesn't sound like my cup of tea, or guilty pleasure. ; )
Thanks for the visit today.
Actually with Lady Chatterly's Lover, what stuck with me was how it dealt with the issues of class and social patterns, as much as the breaking of other taboos. I think I could add it to my classics collection now without feeling the need to hide it!
Some I'm sorry I wasted my time and money on, but none that I'm ashamed to have read. I can remember being bored by Lady Chatterly's Lover, Peyton Place was a bit racier.
Nice quote, I'll have to remember that one.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/07/booking-through-thursday_12.html
Thank you for answering my BTT question. I'm so pleased they used it and that people are enjoying answering it.
I hadn't thought of the ambiguity when I wrote it. It could be read both ways. I asked the question because of some book swap guilt I was feeling at the time: http://manchestermeanders.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/guilty-pleasures/
A great saying, enjoyed it .
http://citygirlwholovestoread.blogspot.com/2012/07/booking-through-thursday.html
I've never read it either - actually never even felt curious about it. I know the name and have some idea of the concept, but I wouldn't have been able to say who wrote it. Glancing through the Wiki summary now, it seems to me a depressing story... not the kind I'd read for pleasure.
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