The three books that frustrated me the most are:


1)Small Island A Novel by Andrea Levy
2)The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
3)Lost Girls by Andrew Pyper

Rebecca is one of my favorite books! Jenna, I still recommend you check it out.

Tammy wrote: "1) A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - my most hated book ever.
2) A Year in Provence - just didn't care about these people at all.
3) Rebecca - I never could finish this one."

I was just going to order Rebecca too off a site maybe I will think again on ordering it lol

1) A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - my most hated book ever.
2) A Year in Provence - just didn't care about these people at all.
3) Rebecca - I never could finish this one.

Only three? Well here are a few that made me tear my hair and resent the time wasted on them:
1. Kafka on the Shore - @#$%^&*%@#*&#$!!!!!
2. Daughter of Fortune - Idiot making idiotic decisions
3. Theft: A Love Story - Unlikeable characters in unbelieveable situations.

Grace wrote: " I just finished The Reader and I can't say that I was all that impressed with it."

I am reading it right now ....and stuck on pg 137 it's not one of those books that i can't put down ...I need a more believable love/togetherness between a couple ...just makes things seem more unbelievable to me that man sees girl then immediately starts fornicating and this is love! lol

My latest book nemesis: Catch-22; and I'm not crazy about The Graveyard Book at the moment, either (but I'll get through it) ; Books by the Bronte sisters, like Wuthering Heights, so far bores the crap out of me. LOL
I guess I'm weird, for half of the books mentioned here, I don't mind, and would possibly read again (like Hannibal, although the ending is quite the pisser, and any HP book I would definitely read again, and do). What a strange reader am I?! :D

1. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
I thought I'd love it. I do like the author as a person. I recommended it to my book club. Nobody much liked it.

2. Cold Comfort Farm
I thought I'd find it hilarious but I barely cracked a few smiles. This was another (real world) book club read.

3. Vanity Fair
This was only the second book I had to read for school that I actively disliked. (the first was The Old Man and the Sea ) This was frustrating because I should reread it as I think I'd like it now, but I loathed it so much at the time that I'm not willing to pick it up again.

Kate wrote: "

1. Captain Corelli's Mandolin
2. Atonement
3. The Memory Keepers daughter"

Captain Corelli's Mandolin I disliked so much that when the book physically fell apart I didn't bother to pick the pages off the floor. My mother loved it so much she wouldn't let me throw it away and keeps it together with a rubber band!!

The Memory Keeper's Daughter had an interesting concept but the writing was leaden and the whole last third should have been edited out. I recommended it to my mother who loved it although she did admit the writing was a bit slow.

Atonement is on my TBR. My mother has just read and not liked it so I'm quite hopeful :0)

Anna Karenina and Moby Dick. Even more boring than One Hundred Years Of Solitude. Although Moby Dick did have some off beat humor for me. I liked the headhunter with his tomahawk in the bed.

1. Atonement by Ian McEwin
2. Wicked by Gregory Macguire
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

And let me explain the 3rd one...I really enjoyed the middle part of the book...but the beginning and the end were such a drag!! there had to be a better way of getting there...if you know what i mean...don't want to put any spoilers in here.

1. Captain Corelli's Mandolin
2. Atonement
3. The Memory Keepers daughter

Marsha,
I did hear about the HBO series...that should be quite interesting.

@ Haelee
That's Henry James for you :D even his novelettes seemed to be three times longer than its original length.

Jennifer, I think I made it through part of Wheel of Time's book six and just gave up. Too many characters to remember, too much jumping around from place to place.

I do try now to only start completed series, but it's just not always possible, and sometimes you pick up a book and really love it, and THEN realize that it's just the first volume in a who-knows-how-many-volumes series.

I too await the ending of Song of Ice and Fire, at which time I will have to read ALL of them over from the beginning. Have you heard, HBO is making it into a series?

The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan....omg, I loved, loved, loved it! Book 6 ended with this amazing cliff-hanger, then book 7 was such a disappointment. It didn't even feel as if he wrote it. I couldn't even get through the first few chapters of book 8 and I got so sick of waiting for the next book and more disappointment that I just gave up on the series. So frustrating because I really, really like some of his characters. I think I might have to try to stick to series that are finished (except I never do...i.e., George RR Martin's Song of Ice & Fire).

Stephanie wrote: "ULYSSES.

But then I'm only fluent in English. Do they have a Rosetta Stone program for incoherence?"

Snort!

ULYSSES.

But then I'm only fluent in English. Do they have a Rosetta Stone program for incoherence?

Haelee wrote: "# Freaking 1: War and Peace

I think that, really, people only read this book to be able to say that they've done the impossible.

Or... they genuinely enjoy Russian lit. :)

# Freaking 1: War and Peace

I think that, really, people only read this book to be able to say that they've done the impossible.

#2: The Portrait of a Lady

I got 100 pages in and put it down because nothing was happening. Nothing at all.

#3:A Wild Sheep Chase

This book was a gift from a friend so I really did try to read it, but it tells you the entire plot in the title. Not for me.

WHRauf, you might want to post those over in the Books To Avoid thread too then :)

I hated Turn of the Screw. Just agonizing for me!

John Buchan's The 39 Steps. Henry James's Turn of the Screw. Edith Wharton's Descent of Man.

The worst books I have read this year.

Hello all!

1. WICKED (I just didn't care for the ending and was disappointed with how the writer explained certain things. And what happened to what's her name's boyfriend? Where the hell did he go? Did he die? Never confirmed. blagh)

2. Anna Karenina (she was too drippy for me)

3. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (just not my cup of tea)

4. Moby Dick (Rebecca said it all for me)

Soundless Library Edition a good read (with some over-familiar abusers), but the ending -- suddenly no ground under my feet

haunts me months later

I was actually just venting about this to a friend, so I'm glad to find this thread!

1) Free For All Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library- I've been waiting to have time to read this book for over a year, and then I read it and I was SO disappointed. I was hoping for some interesting insights into the world of a library, not an idea book for a sitcom (granted it would be a great sitcome... the Scrubs/Office of the library world). I wanted it so badly to go into some depth and not just tell funny stories!

2) Moby-Dick or, The Whale- Like many other people I was forced to read this in an English class and I hated it... it was long and horrible and just awful. We hear so much about how it's the "Great American Novel," but it just didn't live up to that for me.

3) I can't think of a third one right now, but when I do I'll let you know.

I read Something Wicked, and have to agree. Not what I thought it was going to be, (having seen the movie as a kid) perhaps I set my standards too high.

Mary wrote: "House of Leaves--I was really excited to read this because I'd heard so much about it, but it was very frustrating. At first I was really killing myself to read EVERY WORD, then I star..."

Ouch! I loved House of Leaves but I can see where it might not be for everyone. It was a big influence on the games Silent Hill: The Room and Silent Hill: Origins which are two of my favorite games. So it was fun to read it and see where the influences came from.

I'm reading Something Wicked This Way Comes right now and it could be so much better. A few of the parts that could have been horrifying or scary are buried in the purplest prose imaginable.

Grace wrote: "I'll admit that John Saul is a pretty decent writer but I'm sick of books ..."

I met John Saul years ago at a book signing in Seattle and asked him why he always did such horrible things to kids in his books and his reply was, "Because I love children." I looked back at him in disbelief and he just smiled and said, "I do. I love children."

Twisted sense of love, if you ask me. But, as in anything in the news, society seems to be drawn to that which is twisted, unbelievable, and tragic. And so too is the audience of John Saul drawn to his books.

Love it, Esther!

Susanna wrote: "I remember one of my father's colleagues taught a course on "contemporary literature" back in the 70s.

One of the books he assigned was Jonathan Livingston Seagull. He concluded Richard Bach was ..."

I think another reason I liked JLS more than I normally would is the fact that we studied it at school and the music our teacher paired it with was Fleetwood Mac's Albatross

I remember one of my father's colleagues taught a course on "contemporary literature" back in the 70s.

One of the books he assigned was Jonathan Livingston Seagull. He concluded Richard Bach was a genius - "How many pages does it have? How many pages actually have text? How much did you pay for it? I tell you, this guy is a genius!"

Esther wrote: "Mon wrote: "....Jonathan Livingston Seagull: thats it? thats what the whole fuss is about? I can't find the plot after the first 2 pages. "

At least JLS has pretty pictures. Bach's Illusion made m..."

damn i downloaded the JLS ebook, it was pretty much just a word doc with airal 12 font.



Maxi, at least there's sex in Romeo and Juliet ;) in hamlet you only get dead people, and a ghost, that may or may not be real... (again sorry to all those who like it, but I'm going to stick with Macbeth and King Lear)

Mon wrote: "....Jonathan Livingston Seagull: thats it? thats what the whole fuss is about? I can't find the plot after the first 2 pages. "

At least JLS has pretty pictures. Bach's Illusion made me feel unwell. Trite, obvious, smug - and to make it worse the friend who gave it to me kept telling me how it had changed her life!!!
Delusion would probably be a better title.

For me it is Romeo and Juliet.

Shakespeare with out a doubt is and will forever be a genius. His writing can make a frozen heart melt and scrooge dream of long summer days walking along the river with a pass lover.

But oh my god, his characters frustrated the living daylight out of me. Can they be anymore dense and stupid.

I apologize to anyone who loves this book, but I just read it in 9th grade Lit and it frustrated me to no end.

Have to say the last few books by Grisham. I can't even remember their names. It's a shame because I'm a huge fan. I get really into reading the books and have really been disappointed in how he quickly raps them up.

Lyn wrote: "It's interesting to see one of your favorite books on someone's list, as I am sure my list contains other people's favorites. That's what makes this fun. Anyway - mine are:

Anna Karenina - I ha..."

Anna Karenina? War and Peace has got to beat that in terms of frustration.


For Whom the Bell Tolls: I know Hemingway had depression but this is not worth it
Thus Spoke Zarathustra A Book for None and All: I wanted to like this considering I was writing an essay on his works, it took me at least a week and excessive swearing in order to keep the book physically complete. overwhelming arrogance.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull: thats it? thats what the whole fuss is about? I can't find the plot after the first 2 pages.

The Hobbit Or There and Back Again: aaarrrrggghhhhhhhh
Mrs. Kimble: so good for the first half (3/4s?), and then no ending.
The Thirteenth Tale: 3.92 average rating on goodreads? The most formulaic obvious story ever, and bad writing to boot! I spent the whole book waiting for the "great twist" only to find I'd figured it out ages ago.

House of Leaves--I was really excited to read this because I'd heard so much about it, but it was very frustrating. At first I was really killing myself to read EVERY WORD, then I started just skimming, then I said "Screw it" and started skipping parts entirely. I didn't like the character of Johnny Truant so his footnotes were just annoying for the most part, and the relationship between Navidson and his wife didn't seem all that relevant. The Navidson Record itself was very interesting when it didn't get too bogged down in random cr*p.

The Scarlet Letter. Need I say the dreaded words again? The Scarlet Letter.

It's interesting to see one of your favorite books on someone's list, as I am sure my list contains other people's favorites. That's what makes this fun. Anyway - mine are:

Anna Karenina - I have tried to read this book twice, and ended up getting two thirds of the way through. I really want to like this book, but it is too long and too hard to read.

Lord of the Rings - again, too long winded. Tolkien is such a hard read. Thank goodness they did a good job with the movies since I absolutely love the story.

Breakfast at Tiffany's - I really enjoy Capote's writing and liked this story, but it was way too short. It ended before you really got to know the characters, which some say was the point, but not for me.

By no means a complete list, but a few that have really irked me:

Blood and Guts in High School - Kathy Acker
I truly hated this book.
Unless - Carol Shields
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

There are more, but since you asked for three ... :)

Eeekkk.... Motherless Brooklyn??!! I ♥ed that book!

1. Motherless Brooklyn - loved the characters and concept, but the story fell apart at the end, and I finished it with no idea what the conclusion was.

2. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - very good chartacters, and I like that it's about 9/11, but plot was a time-shifting mess.

3. Atonement - the main characters are wonderful, but it jumps around in time until you're almost sea-sick.

1. Death Comes for the Archbisop - not frustrating so much as just flat out dull.

2. The Crying of Lot 49 - I know that Pynchon is like the reader's darling but really??

3. Crime and Punishment - in the end I loved this book but it was a slog to get through

Honorable Mention:
The Picture of Dorian Gray - the second half rocks but getting through the first half is the real challenge. It's like eating an orange... the peeling really sucks but ultimately the orange is tasty

I just finished The Reader and I can't say that I was all that impressed with it.

Lynne wrote: "Oh great, wish I'd read these posts BEFORE I'd already read 250 pages of Poisonwood Bible. Has anyone stopped reading a book halfway through? Should I finish? "

I did give it 4 stars so I can't say I hated it but it seemed like in the last half she was just using the characters as mouth pieces for her own ideas. Leah in particular. I would finish it, especially if you are enjoying it. I especially did like the first half.

Lynne wrote: "Oh great, wish I'd read these posts BEFORE I'd already read 250 pages of Poisonwood Bible. Has anyone stopped reading a book halfway through? Should I finish? "

Lynne,

If you are enjoying it, you should continue. Personally, I couldn't finish it, but there are a lot of people who did. It also has quite a good rating here. If you feel like you're wasting your time, then maybe consider dropping it. :)

Oh great, wish I'd read these posts BEFORE I'd already read 250 pages of Poisonwood Bible. Has anyone stopped reading a book halfway through? Should I finish?

1. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - Parts of this book were so incredibly amazing and wonderful! However, other parts were completely rushed and didn't seem to be very well thought out. After spending 6 months of my life dissecting every last bit of Hamlet, I must admit that I really didn't care to know about the Hamlet theme in the book. (Though it was a little interesting to figure out who was who.)
2. The Poisonwood Bible - I think that Laura's comment pretty much sums up my opinion - "Her writing is beautiful, but could these people (parents) be any dumber?"
3. Handle with Care - This book was too much like My Sister's Keeper in many ways. Also, how dumb can the parents be?

Laura wrote: "Poisonwood Bible
Poisonwood Bible
Poisonwood Bible

is the epitome of frustrating. Due to subject matter. Her writing is beautiful, but could these people (parents) be any dumber?"

Laura, I totally agree. I was yelling at the pages a lot of the time.