Browsing through the Huffington Post, I can across an article titled, 10 Best Selling Books That Were Originally Rejected, and for some reason, I decided - without even looking at the list - that these were books I had to read. There's something about that initial rejection and subsequent fame that appeals to me (don't psychoanalyze. I actually do not have rejection issues). But here's the list:
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Reason Rejected: Obscenity
Reason Loved: Obscenity. Okay I'm joking there, but this is a seriously popular book with over 50 million copies sold. And I remember Amanda loving it, so...
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
I am pretty sure I read this one way back in grade school, but I have no real memory of it.
The Ginger Man by J.P. Donleavy
We have another Obscenity charge here. This book was even published in a pornographic line of books until the author cleaned it up some and republished. I want to find both versions...
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Back
Reason Rejected: Ridiculous Point of View (that of a seagull)
I have to admit I can see the silly in this particular pov, but I can't wait to read it.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
I have definitely read this one. Enjoyed it, thought about it, read books about it, read books based off of it. Good stuff.
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
So the title alone has always turned me off, not being too fond of anything that brings to mind valley girls or dolls. And no, I have no real clue what the book is about, and if I'm finally going to read it - which I am - I don't want to know anything.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Read it. Loved it.
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Read the first half. Hated it. Felt bad for hating it. Skimmed the rest. Settled on mild dislike.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
I freely admit that I very much enjoyed this entire series and will probably re-read it one day. As soon as I can get the actors out of my head....
Animal Farm by George Orwell
I've actually read this twice, and I still think I need to read a heavily annotated version to fully understand everything, so I might actually read this one again.
I have clearly wussed out on reading challenges this year, so I'm not about to lock myself into another one. Instead I am going to add the four books I haven't read to my Xmas list and go from there.
Interesting list! Although I haven't read many of these, I think you are spot on by wanting to read the stuff that was rejected for obscenity! That is a great way to entice people even more.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised to find out you haven't read Lolita yet! I figured that was one you would have read years ago. It's an interesting book. I definitely recommend the audio version even if you don't normally like audio. It's read by Jeremy Irons which is already a plus, and he really performs it, becomes HH rather than just reading the book. Plus, with Nabokov, you have to read very, very slow to really take everything in so for those of us fast readers, it's hard to slow down enough for him to make a lot of sense at times. But with the audiobook, you're forced to slow down, and end up understanding a whole lot more. I'm sure I understood ten times more from the audio than I did from the print! And if you need more persuasion, Jill from Fizzy Thoughts read Lolita and wasn't impressed at all, then I convinced her to retry it on audio, and she ended up loving the book from that. So audio all the way!!
ReplyDeleteI love that you are going to read some of these! I have read a few, and have to say that you are in for a treat with Valley of the Dolls. It's pretty trashy, but also very, very interesting. I also need to read Lolita, but have been hesitant because of the subject matter. I think it's a harder book to read when you have a young teenage daughter! Great list today!
ReplyDeleteI haven't even heard of some of the books on that list. I have always wanted to read Valley of the Dolls though because Sharon Tate starred in the film adaption back in the 60s.
ReplyDeleteuh oh - I think I've read Jonathon Livingston Seagull and was bewildered. But it was way way long time ago.
ReplyDeleteAnd once I get an actor in my head instead of creating my own character while reading, I'm doomed. Not that I hate the book but I always wonder.
I can see why some of these were rejected. I tried Lolita and was bored to tears.
ReplyDeleteI also read Anne of Green Gables in grade school, and have little memory of it. I know I liked it though.
The Twilight actor choices were terrible imho. I have a love/hate relationship with this one.
Don't want to go on and on, but there are several I haven't read either, but really should. They are on the list!
I enjoyed Twilight, too, but I'm glad I finished all the books before the movies came out. I enjoy watching them...er...laughing at them, but I'm not sure I could ever read the books again without picturing the actors.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read half of these! For shame! I do think it's interesting, the books that might not have made it.
ReplyDeleteThe reason for rejection for Johnathan Livingston Seagull just cracked me up! And how would you like to be the person who rejected Twilight!!??? : )
ReplyDeleteThere's a book called Deconstructing Penguins on doing literary analysis with kids. Not that you of all people need to be told how to teach English. *LOL* But it suggests a clear cut way of "reading" the allegory in Animal Farm that I actually found quite helpful. It's the only unit in the book I actually used with my kids.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I've been meaning to ask you if you can recommend some awesome resources or ideas for a teen who's an aspiring screenwriter? Are any of your students considering this route?
Sandy - Who doesn't like obscenity? :)
ReplyDeleteAmanda - I know, I know. It's criminal I haven't read Lolita yet. I'll definitely consider the audio book since it comes with two great recommendations!
Heather - That's awesome that you've read Valley of the Dolls!
Stephanie - I haven't seen the film version...I wonder if I should do a back-to-back thing with reading and watching....
Care - That's how I am. It takes a long time for that actor's face to detach itself from the character. And if I don't like the actor, I have trouble liking the book.
Jenny - I can't stand Pattenson. Or however you spell his name. Just can not stand him.
Anna - I have to admit that I do have a good time laughing at the movies too!
Jenny - It always reminds me that there are a ton of books out there that never made it to the limelight for whatever reason, and that these books could be awesome.
Jenners - I bet that person feels like a total d-bag. I wonder if he/she got fired...
Stephanie - I think a kids' book would be awesome, and I can always use help teaching English! As for an aspiring screenwriter...I actually don't have many students going that route. I have one or two a semester that want to go into film, and most of them want to be a director. I would recommend:
On Writing by Stephen King
Three Uses of the Knife by David Mamet
Screenwriting: The Sequence Approach by Paul Gulino
Robert McKee's Story
Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters by Michael Tierno
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Wow. I can't believe some of those were rejected at first! (Except the Chicken Soup series. Ugh.) Not only are many books I've loved, but most of them have been amazing bestsellers, too.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Erin - Chicken Soup should have remained rejected! I am glad someone rescued Anne of Green Gables. That series was a staple in my childhood reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book recommendations, Trisha! I hadn't heard of most of these and will look into them. Too bad my dd's bookshelves are already crammed to overflowing. Most of them are books on movies. Go figure. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI was pretty surprised when I saw Jonathan Livingston Seagull on this list. I just recently read it (it showed up in a random box of old books I acquired), and I loved it. Sometimes I felt like it was trying to give me weird religious messages, but as long as I ignored that it was great. :)
ReplyDeleteImagine if Harry Potter had been permanently rejected? What a horrible thought!