Wuthering Heights
Yes, the characters are unlikeable, some you could say are downright villains, and I can easily get on the hate train for them. Yes, the story is dark, dismal, and void of many seemingly redeeming aspects. Yes, it left a strange, sour essence on my mind, perhaps making my spirit a bit heavier. Yet, what is light without darkness? We often shy away from tough, uncomfortable topics, but I have long since embraced the balance I find when I can peer into both sides. By no means do I think we should accept, respect, or justify the actions of these people. Some of the things they do or have done are horrible, unforgiveable acts, but peering into the miserable lives of these people we can glean a side of our human existence that we routinely ignore or overlook. It may seem unbelievable, but the lives of these characters are reflections of human nature and are indeed realistic depictions of how some people live their lives.
Jane Eyre
By far one of my favorite classics because the main character is so similar to how I am as a person that it's almost like reading a story about myself. Being one of the rarest personality types, I find it difficult to fine heroines that feel like kindred spirits so I was delighted when I came across this novel. I realize that this makes me biased, but I can also see why other people dislike this story so much. Being that Jane appears to be a unicorn personality type, it may be difficult for other personality types to really feel connected to her. Some of her decisions may seem confusing or unrelatable because of how she is, and I could identify those moments myself. Yet, the story seemed unique precisely because of the way it was told, narrated by Jane in only the way she as a character could have told it, and I think this makes the story original in its own way. This is a rare glimpse into the mind of a person who does not speak, does not convey much of what is going on internally, so I think there is some value that can be taken from it. If anything, we can take away that those who rarely speak, who appear quiet, pensive, and thoughtful have just as much going on inside as anyone else.
The Lovely Bones
I am ready to get hate for this one. It is definitely not a nice, light read. I felt more than uncomfortable reading it, and to be honest it hurt me to have read it at all. You could say that reading through this is masochistic in a fashion, but my undying fascination with understanding many facets of life, including death, spurred me on. This book may follow the tracks of a killer, one of whom is the most despised and hated among our society, but in the end there is a bright spot. Justice is served in the most karma-tic way possible, so I was satisfied. Many people believe that justice has to look a certain way, but I think righteous, cosmic justice is just as good as any. The single thing that I can say I hate about this story is that it is too close to reality. We hear true stories like this on a semi-regular basis and have become somewhat desensitized to it. It was unique in the way that it was told from a heavenly perspective, but not in the way that it happens to women every day. It is a difficult topic to swallow, and yet some things in life aren't always meant to be palatable. I think wading through this discomfort has allowed me to widen my lens.
The Host
I get the hate on the author. I read the first few books of the Twilight series, but just couldn't finish them. It was so teenage cringe that even as a young adolescent I just couldn't bear reading anymore. I mean, sparkly vampires? Just stop the madness already! But, I gave her another chance at redemption because that is just the sort of reader I am. I was pleasantly surprised she had something different in her arsenal and could enjoy this adventurous read. I enjoyed the evolution of this story as it seemed more polished and thoughtful than her previous work. It is a solid standalone and I was very pleased not to find anything sparkly except for maybe the eyes of the hosts in the book. It is definitely still an adolescent read with the typical love triangle tropes but it was definitely an improvement from her vampire-werewolves series.
Interview With the Vampire
Speaking of vampires, I want to understand the hate for this book. So, how could a story written so believably, with such humanity (as much as possibly could be when talking about blood-sucking fantasy-beings), and with an eloquence that gave life and dignity to a classic "monster" be disliked? I would like to see some of the haters do a better job than Rice when attempting to humanize a collectively-agreed inhuman monster race. This book takes you to the darkest, most horrifying parts of being human, which stands apparent amidst the obviously more vampiric experiences. I realize that some readers might not like to sit in discomfort, nor are they able to stomach animalistic instincts that lead to gruesome storytelling which I just felt was part of telling the greater story. And, yet, all of it weaves together in an undercurrent conveying what a struggle it is to remain in all the virtues of humanity with so many inhumane things happening around us. Forget that the vampires literally feed on the humans, but rather find the key notes of struggling in our existences no matter our personal circumstances. If you can get past the discomfort, there are many golden eggs to find.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
I realize his writing style is not for everyone, but for someone willing to trek through the long, sometimes monotonous descriptions of a fantasy-world I will gladly die on this hill. Some people prefer the epic cinematic version of this story, but I have always devoured pages and preferred delving into the confines of a book. Of course the movies are some of the best films in the history of cinema, but there is just something about combing through the intricacies of Tolkien's world and digesting it in its original format that comfort and enthrall me. Whereas I can see someone not particularly interested by his usual recounting of minute details in painfully long detail, I was hooked by the amazing amount of subject matter he could create. His world was so well thought out that he had accompanying books to further world build, which to me is absolutely mind-blowing. I find it an impressive work of art, despite the naysayers poo-pooing it for being too much like a college level lecture than a story. His world made me feel like it could be very much real and I simply marvel at a mind that can be dedicated to this life work.
Many classics such as The Great Gatsby, The Old Man and the Sea, Pride and Prejudice, the Scarlet Letter, 1984, The Giver, Fahrenheit 451...
Again, I can see where people hate these book. I am only human; however, I do not share the same feelings about being required to read them in order to pass a high school literature class, or even a college one. Rather, I personally do not find it unpleasant to have been forced to read something I normally wouldn't have picked up on my own volition in order to expand my mind. These stories have and continue to teach us valuable lessons as well as tune us into history that has shaped our present. It is always important to remember past events and times we have never experienced. If we continue to hate them, we will never glean the important knowledge they openly offer us. We don't even have to necessarily like the information, but to realize there are understandings of existence outside our own is enough. Being aware, being accepting of other or opposing ideas, and being able to respect them is such an important aspect of being human. I know I was taught civility through the grappling of these sometimes dry, weighty volumes, and I am better for persevering through their difficult subject matter.
As always, take my opinion as a grain of salt, but I stand by my reasons for finding the silver lining in many situations, and when there really isn't one then I find the lesson in it instead.
