General opinion of Pandora

Endy9 · 19 May 2002, 00:47 · from urth-v0205.mbox · original

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From: "Endy9" <endymion91 at attbi.com>
Subject: (urth) General opinion of Pandora
Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 19:47:10 -0500
Message-ID: <urth-v0205-992 at digest.urth.net>
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I just made my second attempt to read Pandora by Holly Hollander.  The =
first time I got about 3 chapters into the book before I decided this =
book is not for me.  Now about 10-11 years later I decided to pick it up =
and try again.  I got about 6 chapters into it this time before being =
thoroughly convinced, I don't like it.

My first thought on this book was that GW was playing with his fans.  I =
could imagine a scene with his publisher where he made a bet that he =
could write any drivel and his fans would not only buy it, but find some =
deep hidden meaning it that made it better than the literal words on the =
page.

I then searched the Urth archives and found opinions that he was trying =
to imitate Catcher in the Rye.  By coincidence I finally decided to read =
Catcher for the first time a few weeks back.  I didn't like Catcher for =
the same reasons I don't like Pandora.  The cutesy-ness of a rebellious, =
cynical teen talking in teen code, with stream of consciousness =
disorienting style only works for a short work.  In a longer work, at =
least this reader, gets very tired of it.

Both books showed signs of brilliance with interesting sequences of =
action or dialogue but would kill the momentum of those moments by =
slipping back into teen verbiage singsong nonsense.

Did people on this mailing list generally like or dislike this one?  =
Haven't seen too many opinions (unless I missed them) when searching the =
archives.

--
Dennis/Endy
http://home.attbi.com/~phleblori1/endy9/index.htm
--
Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your =
character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what =
others think you are. (John Wooden)
--

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I just made my second attempt to read Pandora by Holly =
Hollander.  The=20
first time I got about 3 chapters into the book before I decided this =
book is=20
not for me.  Now about 10-11 years later I decided to pick it up =
and try=20
again.  I got about 6 chapters into it this time before being =
thoroughly=20
convinced, I don't like it.

My first thought on this book was that GW was playing with his =
fans. =20
I could imagine a scene with his publisher where he made a bet that he =
could=20
write any drivel and his fans would not only buy it, but find some deep =
hidden=20
meaning it that made it better than the literal words on the page.

I then searched the Urth archives and found opinions that he was =
trying to=20
imitate Catcher in the Rye.  By coincidence I finally decided to =
read=20
Catcher for the first time a few weeks back.  I didn't like Catcher =
for the=20
same reasons I don't like Pandora.  The cutesy-ness of a =
rebellious,=20
cynical teen talking in teen code, with stream of consciousness =
disorienting=20
style only works for a short work.  In a longer work, at least this =
reader,=20
gets very tired of it.

Both books showed signs of brilliance with interesting sequences of =
action=20
or dialogue but would kill the momentum of those moments by slipping =
back into=20
teen verbiage singsong nonsense.

Did people on this mailing list generally like or dislike this =
one? =20
Haven't seen too many opinions (unless I missed them) when searching the =

archives.

--Dennis/Endyhttp://home.at=
tbi.com/~phleblori1/endy9/index.htm--Be=20
more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your =
character is=20
what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think =
you are.=20
(John Wooden)--

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