What do you do when you don't like a "classic"? As an English professor, I feel a bit of pressure to enjoy the books that have been honored as members of the "canon" and yet, there is more than one book in that selective (mm...elitist?)list which I can barely stomach. There are of course the arguments: well, you should like it because 1) it is well written, 2) it was a forerunner, ahead of its time, boundary breaking, etc. or even 3) it deals with culturally important issues. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah is what I hear in my head. Am I supposed to appreciate a book because it is "important"? I don't seem to be able to do this. I'll "appreciate" a book because I enjoyed it, because it was interesting, not because I'm told to.
Now what books am I referring to? Well, here is a short list. There are more; my mind is just blocking them right now. Anyone else have a "I'm supposed to like this" list?
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Dubliners by James Joyce
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