Faking Reading

By Alice Maggio

Have you ever lied about reading/finishing a book? Which book and why?

Andrew / September 18, 2007 1:24 PM

My junior year in high school, I came nowhere near finishing The Scarlet Letter. I hated it, and couldn't stand to read it. So I stopped, and BSed my way through the report.

Nighthawk / September 18, 2007 2:43 PM

Almayer's Folly by Joseph Contrad. For a college class. Didn't finish it because it was, well, boring (to me). Tried to BS my way through the inevitable report/review with dismal results.

Veronica / September 18, 2007 6:31 PM

If we're counting books for school, then The Iliad, all three times I was supposed to read it. I never could get into ridiculously long prose poems with characters I could never keep straight. But outside of school I wouldn't lie about not finishing a book because not finishing it means I hated it and I do enjoy expressing my feelings on books I hate :).

Sam / October 1, 2007 12:09 PM

The Grapes of Wrath. It was assigned over the summer in high school. The first week of class, I remembered, skimmed the Cliff's Notes, and ended up getting a 75 on the multiple choice test.

Since then...The Illuminatus Trilogy. It just got too boring, but I still tell people I read it. Everyone says how great it is, and I'll keep my copy, but I doubt I'll ever finish it.