The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Seriously, how did this ever become the great American novel? How could this interest anyone over ten years of age? I suppose the sympathetic depiction of African Americans is much less powerful these days, but even when concessions are made for that, I still can't get past the simple language and harebrained schemes that made it impossible for me to enjoy.

A huge disappointment.

The Valley of Fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Any Sherlock is good Sherlock. Nevertheless, this is one of the lesser Sherlocks.

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

OK I suppose, but a Booker?

Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis

Too many details in what could have been an entertaining book.

The Bell by Iris Murdoch

The primary problem of a philosopher: an over-analysis of situations that don't make much sense.

So stuff happens, and instead of just leaving it at that, Murdoch has to start talking about something like "guilt touched by a hint of sadness as one's love for another is seen to pass".

What upsets me most about that style of writing is the precision of the words that simply do not match the imprecision of emotions -- it's the illusion of understanding, the illusion of making sense, and it makes everything rather unbelievable.

The Wisdom of Father Brown by GK Chesterton

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Apparently Huckleberry Finn's epic is better. Can't see how that would be hard.