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I think it's fair to say, "It was terrible, I couldn't get past x." PeaceNikki Jul 2014 #1
agreed, this one is terrible nadinbrzezinski Jul 2014 #3
That's how I felt about Twilight, which I understand 50 Shades of Grey is based on. Louisiana1976 Jul 2014 #81
Depends on the book imo. Rex Jul 2014 #2
I couldn't get all the "begats" in the bible LOL snooper2 Jul 2014 #4
The Bible is FAR more violent and misogynistic than 50 Shades. I've read both. PeaceNikki Jul 2014 #7
If it begins,"It was a dark and stormy night . . ." flamin lib Jul 2014 #5
Depends The Straight Story Jul 2014 #6
You know what is funny? nadinbrzezinski Jul 2014 #8
feel better soon nadin! La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #12
There's a Vancouver, Washington, too Scootaloo Jul 2014 #23
Could be, given that I know the one in Canada nadinbrzezinski Jul 2014 #25
There is no border checkpoint in Vancouver, Washington. pnwmom Jul 2014 #62
Well, I knew only of the one in Canada nadinbrzezinski Jul 2014 #69
WSU does not have a campus in Canada Brother Buzz Jul 2014 #137
But is that one ever referred to as plain "Vancouver"? Ron Obvious Jul 2014 #107
Yes, among people who have reason to go there. I often have to ask people which Vancouver pnwmom Jul 2014 #112
I think you should feel free to have an opinion on whatever you like el_bryanto Jul 2014 #9
A man(!) once told me the only things I *have* to do is die and pay taxes Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2014 #10
You don't have to pay taxes. Dying is about it. nt Logical Jul 2014 #17
you go right ahead and let me know how that goes for you, okie dokie. Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2014 #20
Your relevance is superseded only by your depth... LanternWaste Jul 2014 #27
Ahh, you are mad about something else I assume. Nt Logical Jul 2014 #31
No, otherwise, reading Ayn Rand would have bored us all to tears and madness long ago. nt Zorra Jul 2014 #11
oh so very true. nt La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #13
Best answer! pnwmom Jul 2014 #65
It depends on your basis for criticism. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #14
Why wouldn't it be sufficient to read the glorified rape scene in chapter 8? pnwmom Jul 2014 #66
Because if you only read the parts of Huck Finn mythology Jul 2014 #77
The Chapter would provide plenty of context. n/t pnwmom Jul 2014 #93
I think it goes with the territory, even in your example what you are critical of is based on what TheKentuckian Jul 2014 #15
no. just don't claim to know more specific plot details than somebody who has read the whole thing. m-lekktor Jul 2014 #16
fair point La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #70
During my PhD study, I took a class on Victorian Literature alcibiades_mystery Jul 2014 #18
If reading something was required before jumping into a discussion on DU, MerryBlooms Jul 2014 #19
so true. i posted an article just the other day and many people disagreed with it La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #34
Exactly. The part that makes me laugh the most, MerryBlooms Jul 2014 #39
No, it's entirely possible to judge a work's quality through some reading Scootaloo Jul 2014 #21
I felt the same way about the Earth's children. bravenak Jul 2014 #29
Yeah... Scootaloo Jul 2014 #32
Well damn. bravenak Jul 2014 #33
They don't call him "The Great Bearded Glacier" for nothing. Scootaloo Jul 2014 #38
That was great!! bravenak Jul 2014 #45
i had all but forgotten about clan of the cave bear, but i remember loving it as a a teenager La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #30
deja vu. That's how I feel about L Ron Hubbard's 'Mission Earth dekalogy'. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #40
Nope. Iggo Jul 2014 #22
NO marions ghost Jul 2014 #24
Go read the Anne Rice Beauty books. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #42
I looked her books up, not familiar... marions ghost Jul 2014 #53
i enjoyed the Beauty books. La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #58
We do change over time. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #61
I loved them :) Marrah_G Jul 2014 #94
Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #116
No, just like you don't have to eat the whole steak to know the meat is bad...nt SidDithers Jul 2014 #26
Criticize all you want bluestateguy Jul 2014 #28
Only the dirty bits. Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #35
I'd be overjoyed to write something that angers a lot of people. conservaphobe Jul 2014 #36
Depends what you are criticizing. kiva Jul 2014 #37
Of course not and those claiming so now never have in the past, which is quite revealing. redqueen Jul 2014 #41
TH-TH-TH-THIS!!!! Iggo Jul 2014 #46
I'm seriously amazed at the number of people refusing to see that these particular emperors redqueen Jul 2014 #86
I think a sampling will be good enough. Otherwise your head might explode. Avalux Jul 2014 #43
LOL. La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #51
without reading it all, of course you can criticize it... poorly. unblock Jul 2014 #44
.. La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #52
Depends. One should at least have read up until the point of objectionable content ecstatic Jul 2014 #47
Of course that approach can lead to someone walking out of A Clockwork Orange because it's just... JVS Jul 2014 #97
It depends on whom you are trying to impress Dreamer Tatum Jul 2014 #48
The every word crowd never went to grad school BainsBane Jul 2014 #49
SO TRUE. *or frankly any exam in grad school. La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #50
The grad school crowd knows to read enough so that we are conversant on msanthrope Jul 2014 #64
Excuse me? BainsBane Jul 2014 #67
I'd be willing to bet pintobean Jul 2014 #74
I try. nt msanthrope Jul 2014 #80
I dunno alcibiades_mystery Jul 2014 #68
I'm sure fields vary BainsBane Jul 2014 #72
We are talking about a single primary source. If you were assigned msanthrope Jul 2014 #83
If I were assigned schlock for my PhD orals? BainsBane Jul 2014 #104
When I wrote my graduate thesis on Fray Servando nadinbrzezinski Jul 2014 #138
Monographs and articles are generally secondary sources alcibiades_mystery Jul 2014 #85
Obviously. And one reads secondary sources for comprehensive exams BainsBane Jul 2014 #95
That's no doubt true alcibiades_mystery Jul 2014 #109
Yes, but we are not talking about a literature seminar BainsBane Jul 2014 #122
Also true alcibiades_mystery Jul 2014 #123
I again think that relates to discipline BainsBane Jul 2014 #124
My own alcibiades_mystery Jul 2014 #130
Then you read the portions pertinent to your research BainsBane Jul 2014 #131
Different schools of thought, I guess alcibiades_mystery Jul 2014 #133
I went to grad school. Twice. Hissyspit Jul 2014 #126
If everyone's a consenting adult, you can do pretty much whatever you want. Warren DeMontague Jul 2014 #54
Difference between criticism and critique. nolabear Jul 2014 #55
very true. La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #57
I agree and I think that is what I thought as I read some of these OPs/threads stevenleser Jul 2014 #118
I suppose this depends in large part on what is being criticized arcane1 Jul 2014 #56
I think as long as you're upfront about the amount you read, you're good to go steve2470 Jul 2014 #59
If you want to write a few thosand words about what the unreadable book means Bluenorthwest Jul 2014 #60
ok. i think that is fair. i too couldn't go on an on about something i have not read well La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #63
Are you able to say that there's glorified, romanticized rape in Atlas Shrugged? redqueen Jul 2014 #71
in ayn rand? La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #73
Yes, I just went back and added a link for context. redqueen Jul 2014 #75
that arguments cites the paragraph that contains the rape, so yes, i would La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #76
Thanks. redqueen Jul 2014 #78
I didn't see the link and have read all three books... one_voice Jul 2014 #87
Then there's also the one in 50 Shades of Grey, which many have described, redqueen Jul 2014 #84
Did you read the book? newcriminal Jul 2014 #99
Holy carp (intended). Is that seriously it? DirkGently Jul 2014 #105
Well it is awful. Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #114
I agree it's awful, but it isn't rape. newcriminal Jul 2014 #117
Yes, I've read these posts with great amusement ... NanceGreggs Jul 2014 #119
There was no rape. It has nothing to do with a contract. newcriminal Jul 2014 #121
Maybe Capt. Obvious Jul 2014 #79
I was once asked to write a review of a book Maeve Jul 2014 #82
If you're doing a full critique, yes, you must read it all. If... HuckleB Jul 2014 #88
I think so. LWolf Jul 2014 #89
How much of any of Dinesh D'Souza's books or Ann Coulter's books do we need to read Proud Liberal Dem Jul 2014 #90
read one of ann coulter's book halfway through at a b&n. swore to myself to never be so mean La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #91
I want to try to be "open minded" and listen to opposing viewpoints Proud Liberal Dem Jul 2014 #96
None, but I wouldn't claim that they are examples of poor writing. Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #115
You only read one page? What book was that? edbermac Jul 2014 #92
not sure but i think it is The 3 Mistakes of My Life La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #101
Maybe one of his mistakes was writing that book! edbermac Jul 2014 #103
Yes, if you want your opinion valued. rug Jul 2014 #98
Not to "criticize." To critique. DirkGently Jul 2014 #100
i am not sure i agree on your elaboration La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #102
But it's way more than "criticizing" the idea of the thing. DirkGently Jul 2014 #106
"to scream in neck-throbbing rage that your interpretation is superior to the interpretation of Squinch Jul 2014 #128
I think it depends on what kind of criticism/critique you're talking about fishwax Jul 2014 #108
hell yes, but it's ok to bail out of bad one. You just don't have info to critique it. Liberal_in_LA Jul 2014 #110
You can criticize all you want, but ... surrealAmerican Jul 2014 #111
mostly no, but DonCoquixote Jul 2014 #113
No, you don't have to read every word treestar Jul 2014 #120
No. But your opinion wouldn't carry the same weight as someone who LittleBlue Jul 2014 #125
Two followup questions: Do you have to read the book before you can have an opinion on Squinch Jul 2014 #127
Of course not. NaturalHigh Jul 2014 #129
"I got through one page before i declared it wholly unreadable " NCTraveler Jul 2014 #132
It really depends on your purpose and what exactly you are criticizing IronLionZion Jul 2014 #134
Basing an opinion on a particular work based on hearsay alp227 Jul 2014 #135
depends... Javaman Jul 2014 #136
I have never personally read even one page of Mein Kampf - but I have a feeling its is bad Douglas Carpenter Jul 2014 #139
Post removed Post removed Jul 2014 #140
write not right and ann rice does not write horror per se. nt La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #141
Frankenstein - enjoy your stay. nt redqueen Jul 2014 #142
Tried this in High School Lit. dilby Jul 2014 #143
If you haven't read much of the book, you should state that in your criticism. Jim__ Jul 2014 #144
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