I recently read The Wasp Factory for my book club. My initial reaction to it was, to put it lightly, not positive. I understood that the book holds relatively high regard as a piece of literature, but couldn't understand why. The main character was wholly unlikable, the overarching narrative felt laborious even for its short page count, and the ending came across as a weak justification for the narrator's crimes.
All of that said, I found myself developing a greater appreciation for it during our discussion. Only one person–the one who recommended it–wholesale enjoyed it, but we had a great discussion on the commentary of The Wasp Factory and how it fit both in its time and in the current discourse. With that I found that my opinion on literature often changes when my initial assessment is challenged with a good discussion.
Have you ever had a book that you initially disliked or wrote off but, after some form of external discussion, came around to appreciating?
by Grizzlywillis