On Dune*

[dcseain]

The first time i tried to read Dune, i made it most of the way through Chapter 1.
The second time i tried to read Dune, i made it about halfway through Chapter 2.
The third time i tried to read Dune, i made it just into Chapter 3.
The fourth time i tried to read Dune, i made it some decent distance, maybe two-thirdsish of the way through Chapter 4.
I have yet to have the wherewithal to try it again. Someyear.

The first time i read tried to read Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom, i read Chapters 1-4, then Chapters 1-4, then Chapters 1-4, and at that point felt i understood the first four chapters enough to continue to chapter 5. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Based on the Experience with Absalom, Absalom, i have some vague hope that getting through Chapter 4 of Dune, which i anticipate happening if ever i try a fifth time to read it, will inspire me to continue. Thus far, i have found the writing style in Dune so trying as to fear that that may be false hope, but i cling to that bit of hope yet. Time will tell. I doubt that i will try again this year. It's been 3 years, and the memories of the tedium are far too fresh yet - the thought of reading it doesn't fill me with dread, nor determination, just with lack of will. Five years passed between try 1 and try 2.

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_{*This post brought to you by a thread over yon.}

Comments

[darrenzieger.livejournal.com]

I've had almost precisely the same experience with Dune. I don't expect to back to it at this point. I've never had much luck reading Herbert. He was clearly very talented, with a gift for imagining on an epic scale, but I just don't care for his actual writing.

It reminds me of a lot of the 19th century literature I slogged through in high school and college -- overly dense, with a overly long passages exposition and descriptions of minutiae dropped with a huge thud between, or directly into, stunning, vivid, compelling passages.

Basically, I think the guy could have used an editor with solid steel cojones to keep him focused.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[voltbang.livejournal.com]

I've never understood how anyone could not like Dune. I read it in about 9th or 10th grade, and have re-read it I don't know how many times.

[devotedbear.livejournal.com]

The first time i tried to read Dune...

When you get to time #4 on a book, I think it's fair to let it go. But don't feel bad...voltbang read it for you, so it won't feel neglected :).