ChiliIrishHammock24 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Am I the only one who found The Great Gatsby book in HS to be extremely boring? I mean, I'll admit I only read about 5% of the assigned books throughout grade school/high school/college, but I remember the Spark Notes being incredibly boring w/ that book. I guess I just don't get it, or I'm not cultured enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ May 9, 2013 -> 07:19 PM) Am I the only one who found The Great Gatsby book in HS to be extremely boring? I mean, I'll admit I only read about 5% of the assigned books throughout grade school/high school/college, but I remember the Spark Notes being incredibly boring w/ that book. I guess I just don't get it, or I'm not cultured enough. Yeah, probably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenksismyhero Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ May 9, 2013 -> 01:19 PM) Am I the only one who found The Great Gatsby book in HS to be extremely boring? I mean, I'll admit I only read about 5% of the assigned books throughout grade school/high school/college, but I remember the Spark Notes being incredibly boring w/ that book. I guess I just don't get it, or I'm not cultured enough. Nope. I agree with you. I read it like 4 years ago and was bored out of my mind. I kept reading only to say I've read the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmteam Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ May 9, 2013 -> 01:29 PM) Nope. I agree with you. I read it like 4 years ago and was bored out of my mind. I kept reading only to say I've read the book. Hah, what's that Mark Twain quote? "A classic is a book everyone wants to have read, but doesn't want to read?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeSox Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (bmags @ May 9, 2013 -> 01:20 PM) Yeah, probably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmteam Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 (edited) QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ May 9, 2013 -> 01:19 PM) Am I the only one who found The Great Gatsby book in HS to be extremely boring? I mean, I'll admit I only read about 5% of the assigned books throughout grade school/high school/college, but I remember the Spark Notes being incredibly boring w/ that book. I guess I just don't get it, or I'm not cultured enough. Wait, are you saying the book was boring based off the Spark Notes of the book? If that's the case, you didn't find the Great Gatsby to be extremely boring. You found the Spark Notes version of the Great Gatsby to be extremely boring. Edited May 9, 2013 by farmteam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamshack Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (farmteam @ May 9, 2013 -> 12:20 PM) Wait, are you saying the book was boring based off the Spark Notes of the book? If that's the case, you didn't find the Great Gatsby to be extremely boring. You found the Spark Notes version of the Great Gatsby to be extremely boring. When did Spark overtake Cliff on the lazy student market? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmteam Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (iamshack @ May 9, 2013 -> 02:31 PM) When did Spark overtake Cliff on the lazy student market? No later than early 2000s, because when I was in high school, Spark Notes had the lazy student market cornered. At least at New Trier that's what people used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve9347 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Because reading a book is so hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiliIrishHammock24 Posted May 9, 2013 Author Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (farmteam @ May 9, 2013 -> 02:20 PM) Wait, are you saying the book was boring based off the Spark Notes of the book? If that's the case, you didn't find the Great Gatsby to be extremely boring. You found the Spark Notes version of the Great Gatsby to be extremely boring. Well we read chapters in class, did assignments on them, watch the movie. I know the story, I just found it really boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiliIrishHammock24 Posted May 9, 2013 Author Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 9, 2013 -> 02:48 PM) Because reading a book is so hard. More like because reading Spark Notes is easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyyle23 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 I never used Cliff notes. All of our teachers would make tests that you would fail if you used cliff notes, specific things in the books that the cliff notes would gloss over. There was really no point. And besides, by the time I had hit sophomore year, I had already read 1984, Animal Farm, of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, Flowers for Algernon etc. multiple times. I read the first three 7 years in a row starting in 6th grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeSox Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Somehow I never read Catcher in the Rye, 1984, Animal Farm, Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, any Twain and a bunch of other "everybody reads those in school" books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigruss Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 (edited) QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ May 9, 2013 -> 02:55 PM) I never used Cliff notes. All of our teachers would make tests that you would fail if you used cliff notes, specific things in the books that the cliff notes would gloss over. There was really no point. And besides, by the time I had hit sophomore year, I had already read 1984, Animal Farm, of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, Flowers for Algernon etc. multiple times. I read the first three 7 years in a row starting in 6th grade. Yea, it was pretty easy for teachers to make quizzes/tests that spark/cliff notes wouldn't be able to answer. The only book I ever considered to just do spark notes for was Heart of Darkness, I just couldn't get into that one. Other than that, I pretty much loved every book we read, including a lot that many found boring (To the Lighthouse was one, some theater of the absurd stuff was interesting like Waiting for Godot). Edited May 10, 2013 by bigruss22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiliIrishHammock24 Posted May 9, 2013 Author Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ May 9, 2013 -> 02:55 PM) I never used Cliff notes. All of our teachers would make tests that you would fail if you used cliff notes, specific things in the books that the cliff notes would gloss over. There was really no point. And besides, by the time I had hit sophomore year, I had already read 1984, Animal Farm, of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, Flowers for Algernon etc. multiple times. I read the first three 7 years in a row starting in 6th grade. I actually think I read most of Animal Farm. The only books I ever recall reading cover to cover in any level of school was Night by Eli Wiesel, because I LOVE Holocaust stuff, and The Outsiders, because it was super entertaining. I just happen to be an exceptional test/quiz taker and essay bulls***ter. That s*** infuriates my friends/family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeSox Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ May 9, 2013 -> 02:52 PM) Well we read chapters in class, did assignments on them, watch the movie. I know the story, I just found it really boring. It's about more than just a basic plot. Plot's just something to build your themes and ideas around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigruss Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 9, 2013 -> 02:59 PM) Somehow I never read Catcher in the Rye, 1984, Animal Farm, Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, any Twain and a bunch of other "everybody reads those in school" books. All very good books, I'd recommend reading them as for the most part they are really worth reading. Siddartha was the first book assigned to me going into high school (it was summer reading before the school year started) and I just couldn't get into it when it was assigned. I reread it a few years later and loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeSox Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (bigruss22 @ May 9, 2013 -> 03:00 PM) All very good books, I'd recommend reading them as for the most part they are really worth reading. Siddartha was the first book assigned to me going into high school (it was summer reading before the school year started) and I just couldn't get into it when it was assigned. I reread it a few years later and loved it. I take that back about 1984, we did have to read that (I still have my copy from high school!) I've read the others in recent years. Actually just finished To Kill a Mockingbird last weekend. Something like Of Mice and Men or Animal Farm can be finished in an hour or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyyle23 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 I really liked Flowers for Algernon when I first read it. I liked the old movie too. Was it a placebo, or was it a real surgery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiliIrishHammock24 Posted May 9, 2013 Author Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 9, 2013 -> 03:00 PM) It's about more than just a basic plot. Plot's just something to build your themes and ideas around. QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ May 9, 2013 -> 02:52 PM) Well we read chapters in class, did assignments on them, watch the movie. I know the story, I just found it really boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkBomber Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 (edited) Of Mice and Men > The Great Gatsby in terms of forced HS reads. Edited May 9, 2013 by DrunkBomber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ May 9, 2013 -> 03:37 PM) Of Mice and Men > The Great Gatsby in terms of forced HS reads. I struggled to read Gatsby in high school. Was bored by it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Thread is depressing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiliIrishHammock24 Posted May 9, 2013 Author Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ May 9, 2013 -> 04:37 PM) Of Mice and Men > The Great Gatsby in terms of forced HS reads. Of Mice and Men was the one w/ George the mentally handicapped fellow, right? That was a sad story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmteam Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ May 9, 2013 -> 04:49 PM) Of Mice and Men was the one w/ George the mentally handicapped fellow, right? Yeah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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