day 5: book meme

[liaku]

Day 05 – A book or series you hate

I'm going for a series, because that seems more to the spirit of things. Twilight's too easy. Same goes for Eragon. I have a special fondness for Harry Potter and choose to remember it for its better moments. Most of the shallow pulp fiction series aren't that poorly written and are a fun read anyway. And honestly, writing a series isn't all that popular amongst non-children's/YA and non-genre fiction.

So here we are with Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. As an ASOIAF fan, this is probably an even less inspired choice than Twilight would've been. GRRM fans don't tend to be Goodkind fans and vice versa.

I'll say this first: they're not actually poorly written. Are they well-written? No. But poorly? That's too much. It's quite repetitive and longwinded and mind-numbing though, but his editors kept that checked within reason at the start. The first book is actually quite enjoyable if you're just looking for a romp in a fantasy world, and the second is a typical mediocre sequel. The rest embarrass the genre. (I only made it as far as Faith of the Fallen, but I hear it only goes downhill from there.)

The rest are only the disastrous creations of an author that ejaculates as he preaches against the terror of socialism and writes the rape and/or humiliation of every female character in sight. Our leading man spends his time waxing and waning between emo and "heroic" while his (female) entourage become freakishly slavish and co-dependent upon him. I use the word heroic in quotes because our leading man is touted as having the most superior of moral fibres, yet he condones rape, murder, terror, casual violence, not to mention plain old stupidity.

My deepest condolences if anyone on my FL's a Sword of Truth fan.

Day 01 – A book series you wish had gone on longer OR a book series you wish would just freaking end already (or both!)
Day 02 – A book or series you wish more people were reading and talking about
Day 03 – The best book you’ve read in the last 12 months
Day 04 – Your favorite book or series ever
Day 05 – A book or series you hate
Day 06 – Favorite book of your favorite series OR your favorite book of all time
Day 07 – Least favorite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
Day 08 – A book everyone should read at least once
Day 09 – Best scene ever
Day 10 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 11 – A book that disappointed you
Day 12 – A book or series of books you’ve read more than five times
Day 13 – Favorite childhood book OR current favorite YA book (or both!)
Day 14 – Favorite character in a book (of any sex or gender)
Day 15 – Your “comfort” book
Day 16 – Favorite poem or collection of poetry
Day 17 – Favorite story or collection of stories (short stories, novellas, novelettes, etc.)
Day 18 – Favorite beginning scene in a book
Day 19 – Favorite book cover (bonus points for posting an image!)
Day 20 – Favorite kiss
Day 21 – Favorite romantic/sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)
Day 22 – Favorite non-sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)
Day 23 – Most annoying character ever
Day 24 – Best quote from a novel
Day 25 – Any five books from your “to be read” stack
Day 26 – OMG WTF? OR most irritating/awful/annoying book ending
Day 27 – If a book contains ______, you will always read it (and a book or books that contain it)!
Day 28 – First favorite book or series obsession
Day 29 – Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)
Day 30 – What book are you reading right now?