[HPFGU-OTChatter] Worst books ever read (was: Re: Freaks and Geeks LONG and uncoherent ramble

[Lee Kaiwen]

a_svirn blessed us with this gem On 23/02/2008 20:14:
> Teabing managed to confuse Qumran scrolls with Nag Hammadi
> codices, and prattle away on the meanings of Aramean words all the
> while being perfectly oblivious to the fact that Gnostic gospels are
> written in Coptic.

Hey, good catch! That blew right past me, and I used to consider myself 
something of a student of the Qumran scrolls. Must of been one of those 
(frequent) times my mind had wandered onto more enjoyable things -- like 
cleaning out the eaves.

Carol responds:

 > It's a wonder that some books get published.

Sword of Shannara, IMO, was one. I'm still amazed neither Brooks nor his 
publishing company was ever sued by the Tolkien estate for plagiarism; 
Brooks himself admits he pretty much lifted not just the plot but most 
of his characters straight out of LotR. Still, that was back in the day 
when LotR was just coming into its own popularity-wise, there just 
wasn't any other fantasy out there, and people wer clamoring for 
anything publishers could give them. So I suppose it's understandable 
(even if not forgivable) that Shannara was published. Though I 
understand Brooks has developed into quite a competent author now. I 
just haven't had the courage to read anything else of his.

Carol:
 > I wish I could share some of the bad writing with you

And yet, there's nothing like reading the bad stuff to help you 
understand what makes the good stuff good stuff.

Carol:
 > The "author" will never know, and I'll feel better.

As I recall, it took me a couple of days to shred that book; all I had 
was a pair of kitchen shears. But what a catharsis it was! (And I can't 
even remember what the book was anymore.)

CJ