The Dud Zone
Ok, we gave you our recommendations for good reading, now it's time to advise you on what to AVOID. These books push our buttons the wrong way. Welcome to .... The Dud Zone!
Child Star by Shirley Temple Black. This book had all the makings of a great story -- a child performer prodigy in close contact with ALL of the famous people of her time, with a chance to see the inside studio system at its worst. Not to mention the illustrious career Ms. Black went on to have in foreign political assignments later in her life. Yet the mistake here was to let Shirley tell the story HER way -- stilted, chronological listings of every film done, poorly written. Where is the interest here? What was it like to be a public object at such a young age? How did it feel to then be tossed aside? WHY DIDN'T SHE LET A PROFESSIONAL WRITE THIS BOOK?? It deserves to be told again, with gusto this time.
Executive Orders by Tom Clancy. This beyond hefty book has every over-contrived plot and underdeveloped character imaginable and goes absolutely nowhere. Perhaps it was designed to give as many out of work Hollywood actors as possible a shot in the movie version. Use this book as a doorstop and kiss all those CINCPAC ZIP ZOP buzzwords goodbye. We hope Clancy can rediscover his great storytelling skills from The Hunt For Red October days.
Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco. Yes, Sue actually read this one to the end, who knows why. It's another one of those incomprehensible books that make for party chatter only... Even the Knights Templar would agree.
Maia by Richard Adams. How can the author of Sue's favorite book (Watership Down) also be responsible for this catastrophe? We think this large tome was the author's mid-life crisis wet dream.
Eisenhower at War 1943-1945 by David Eisenhower. It would be nice to learn more about Eisenhower the man rather than about every possible troop movement that existed from 1943-1945. This is a technical book not meant to be read.
At Dawn We Slept by Gordon Prange. 873 pages of which 622 are incomprehensible. An excellent technical book, but no fun to read (and we think reading should be FUN). This book removes all the drama from the nightmare of Pearl Harbor. It took hard work to do this, and we don't know why they tried.
The Last Don by Mario Puzo. Mario, The Godfather WAS the Last Don. This book was total crappola.
Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller and the rest by him. We admit it -- we just don't get it, any of it. In fact, we think it's time for Robert James Waller Inc. to fold up shop and fade away. Leave the corn in the cornfield.
These duds
put Itty & Skippy, the Sage Books Cats, to sleep!
Here they are taking their usual employee break (24/7).