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Kellie's Reviews > All the King's Men
All the King's Men
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I go through a lot of anxiety when I decide to quit a book in the middle of it. I really did give this one a chance. I really like the leader of my book club, who chose this book, however, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I never read such a bunch of babble before in my life. If all the babble was pulled out of this book, it would probably be 100 pages. As opposed to it’s 437. This quote is an example… “If there weren’t any other people there wouldn’t be any you because what you do, which is what you are, only has meaning in relation to other people. That is a very comforting thought when you are in the car in the rain at night alone, for then you aren’t you, and not being you or anything, you can really lie back and get some rest.” Huh? Half the time I couldn’t tell where I was in this book. Is he talking about the present? The past? The future? Did this happen already? No idea. I just wish he would tell the story. The story of a mafia type politician. The Governor of a Southern state in the 1930’s. The narrator was something like the press secretary of “the boss”. But the author takes the reader off on so many tangents, I couldn’t keep anything straight, let alone have a clue about the actual plot. I was always asking the question, what does this have to do with the storyline? Will I find out later? The answer to that question is no because I’m closing the book on page 157.
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Reading Progress
September 11, 2009
– Shelved
September 11, 2009
– Shelved as:
2009-reads
September 11, 2009
– Shelved as:
bookclub-books
September 11, 2009
– Shelved as:
fiction-literature
Started Reading
September 16, 2009
–
Finished Reading
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Venizio
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Sep 02, 2010 05:25PM
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nopenot going to waste my time :)
(This review is a few years old, so maybe you've given the book a second chance by now?)From your review I was tempted to think maybe you were a genre reader stumbled accidentally into literary territory, but from a cursory glance at your profile I notice that you've read both Tolstoy and Tolkien. Neither of those writer's are known for quickly getting to the point, so your desire for this story to be told in dime-store form for is curious. I'm currently halfway through listening to the book — at double speed — and even at this pace, I'm having no problem following the story and catching the details. I think any disjoint or vertigo is probably intended by the author, as it for this type of complexity that readers seek out such literary work.
Anyway, just wanted to put in my 2¢ and suggest that one-star might be a little harsh for such a powerful piece of literature.
Like a first draft. Probably had more shock appeal back then.
Joe wrote: "Like a first draft. Probably had more shock appeal back then."I didn't take shock value at all from this book. I thought this was an extremely well written novel by a master of the form. It's weird how intelligent, capable people can have exact opposite impressions.
In relation to the original review, I think the offending passage is quite clear. Kellie quoted this passage:“If there weren’t any other people there wouldn’t be any you because what you do, which is what you are, only has meaning in relation to other people. That is a very comforting thought when you are in the car in the rain at night alone, for then you aren’t you, and not being you or anything, you can really lie back and get some rest.”
What he's saying is that who we are exists only in relationship with the world, and specifically with other people. This is Eastern Philosophy in a nutshell. Buddhism and Taoism live and breathe in this thought. We define who we are by comparing and contrasting ourselves with others.
"…a very comforting thought when you are in the car in the rain at night alone, for then you aren’t you, and … you can really lie back and get some rest."
When we are alone we are freed from the constrictions of ego — or can be — as there is no one around to compare ourselves to.
The passage itself, while complex in wording, is whole levels easier to decipher than most poetry. It's this poetic resonance that defines this novel as a classic.
I agree with Kellie. For the most part it's an over-rated, over-written dated word-pile. Mostly about Jack, it should've stuck to Willie.
Kellie wrote: "nopenot going to waste my time :)"
That is the right attitude. There are thousands of books that no one should bother with and thanks to your review I will never start this one. Every year I quit on dozens of books and add them to my abandoned Listopia. I hope you will have the time to add this one. If so ....thanks!
Babble like that sounds like an absolute nightmare for someone with autism. We already have a ridiculously difficult time understanding people’s words, actions, and meaning. So unfortunately I won’t be picking up this book. Thank you for your review
Lauryn wrote: "Babble like that sounds like an absolute nightmare for someone with autism. We already have a ridiculously difficult time understanding people’s words, actions, and meaning. So unfortunately I won’..."I sometimes suspect that I may have Asperger's since I learned a little about it. I am undiagnosed but have seen a few therapists. I have no desire to read this but I never get any anxiety about quitting on a book.
This is the review I needed to quit reading this awful book. I am amazed at how many people rave about it... I sometimes wonder if people feel like they have to like such a book. I am open to many genres but reading about men talking about men (and sometimes deplorably about women) is not on my priority list. I have it a good shot since I already read about a quarter but I can't take it anymore.
