Am I the only one who hates this book with burning passion? Showing 551-600 of 1,640

[Aria]

Ayesha wrote: "Amelia wrote: "Especially in the dystopian genre. Most dystopian now are all the same.

(*cough* I'm talking to you, Cassandra Clare. Though it's not really 'dystopian' that you write, same concept..."

Even a few fans of the series have been saying Clare has gone too far. In total, she'll have 5 series' about shadowhunters.

[E]

I found that if you wanted to like this book you needed to turn off your brain and accept some major flaws in the story and just unrealistic actions : who the hell goes to the house of a person they JUST met and that's just one example , I didn't like the characters all that much , hazel was sooo ungrateful for instance, also the way they spoke just annoyed me so much I don't know why people think that anybody who's dying becomes wise and start saying things like " my thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations" ( what teen talks like that??) and other things spoken by the characters that to my surprise people have been adoring. Oh and btw WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK? I mean it was a sad story and all but I didn't take anything from it . Did you?

[Sammy]

This thread is supposed to be about TFIOS why not simply start another thread about these other books or message one another? You are being extremely inconsiderate of the people that came on this thread to discuss TFIOS.

[Mochaspresso]

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations" was not something that Augustus "said" in the book. It was not a line spoken during casual conversation. It was something that he wrote in a letter to Hazel's favorite author.

[Sammy]

Katie wrote: "@Sammy; I actually do have a thread for TMI; its "Who Do You Think Will Die In The City Of Heavenly Fire?" I also have a Harry Potter thread; That is "Harry and Hermione? I THINK NOT". Its tiring t..."

Well you should switch it up on another thread this thread was aimed at one particular book I agree it is tiring to talk about the same subject over again so maybe you should leave this one for TFIOS discussions and move on to your other threads for conversations about other books? I'm not meaning to sound rude but there has been a lot of people comment on this thread in hopes of discussing the original intentions of the thread and I can only assume that not all of those people will want notifications for books they might never have heard of. That's the point of Goodreads there are many different threads about many different books and you get to discuss the books you want to by joining whatever threads you want. And nobody from this thread signed on to this thread to talk about any other book but TFIOS. So your current discussion should really be moved to private messages or to another thread so that people can choose to talk about those books if they want instead of having it forced upon them to hear about them.

[Aria]

Aly wrote: "Pilcrow wrote: "Okay, getting back on track: everyone, name the single most obnoxious piece of dialogue from TFIOS, Good luck picking just one. Aaaaand GO."

Everything revolving around the cigaret..."

What disgusted me is that Hazel went to Augustus's house so quickly because she was too busy swooning over how "hot" he was than actually assessing the fact that she was agreeing to follow a complete stranger.

[Aria]

Sammy wrote: "This thread is supposed to be about TFIOS why not simply start another thread about these other books or message one another? You are being extremely inconsiderate of the people that came on this t..."

How are we being 'inconsiderate'? We are comparing those books to TFIOS because they are related.

[Aria]

Aly wrote: "Amelia wrote: "Aly wrote: "Pilcrow wrote: "Okay, getting back on track: everyone, name the single most obnoxious piece of dialogue from TFIOS, Good luck picking just one. Aaaaand GO."

Everything r..."

And she went to his bedroom as well. Willingly.

[A]

Amelia wrote: "Aly wrote: "Amelia wrote: "Aly wrote: "Pilcrow wrote: "Okay, getting back on track: everyone, name the single most obnoxious piece of dialogue from TFIOS, Good luck picking just one. Aaaaand GO."

..."

Not to mention that they had sex DESPITE THE FACT THAT HAZEL HAD CANCER!

[A]

Also, I've read reviews written by genuinely sick teens and readers who have had firsthand or secondhand experience of cancer and they all found this book to be disgusting. I'm on my mobile, I'll post the links to those reviews later.

[A]

Katie wrote: "Someone made the good point of how Hazel knew that Gus was Jacob's(is that correct? I don't remember) friend, so she at least knew someone that she knew knew him."

How long did Hazel knew Issac? They barely met few times at the support group and those short meetings aren't enough to know whether a person is trustworthy or not.

[A]

Katie wrote: "Actually they both had cancer..... So the whole thing doesnt make a difference."

It made me roll my eyes hard because having sex could put Hazel in great danger considering that she had lung cancer. I've read a review which has pointed this out too.

[A]

Aly wrote: "Katie wrote: "Actually they both had cancer..... So the whole thing doesnt make a difference."

Of course it makes a difference. Hazel's cancer was more problematic (for use of a better word) than..."

Great points. In short, Green romanticised cancer.
Even if someone with critical medical conditions did go for a trip to a foreign country, a nurse would be sent from the doctor's side who would accompany the patient 24 hours wherever he goes. But that's not the case with Hazel. Why would Green want to ruin thier romantic trip with a nurse or pesky parents following them?

[Rebecca]

I'm so happy to find that I'm not the only one who disliked this book.
I can't believe it's making lists for 'life changing' books...this is like Twilight all over again.
In the books defense, it is YA. I didn't know this when I started reading it. That may explain why it's completely lacking in depth--(that's not to say that all YA books are, it's just been my experience when a friend has talked me into reading trash like Twilight) I really cannot believe that there are adult readers who feel that they're REALLY getting something out of it.

...it feels really good to get that out.

[A]

@ Aly

What surprises me the most is that harsh critics--the ones that tear apart many of my favourite books, the ones that find flaws as thin as needles, the ones that pick out minor plot holes in books-- choose to ignore glaring plot holes and romanticism of cancer in this book. And, who the fuck kisses in Anne Frank's house, that's so disgusting.

Is My sister's keeper any good? I've heard some serious case of emotional manipulation in that.

[A]

I'll give My Sister's keeper a shot then.

Well, I wasn't referring to professional critics, I've seen so many popular and harsh critics here on GR passing this shit as "The best YA book ever". Where did all their critical thinking skills go while reading TFioS?
HELL YEAH! I don't see how people are treating tfios as "pinnacle" of YA literature. There are so many YA books out there that are way better and have inspiring stories and admirable characters.

[A]

Katie wrote: "Actually just punch Bella. Or a picture of Bella. She's annoying."

Punch Rose Hathaway and Clary Frayorwhatshername too. I hate all three of them.

[A]

Katie wrote: "Clary Fray. What is Rose Hathaway from?"

Rose is from Vampire Academy. Apparently, girls love her because she's kickass but I hate her because she's the most whiny, stupid, annoying, bitchy, bad tempered and judgemental YA heroine I've ever come across. Just because someone is kickass doesn't make them all admirable and awesome.

[A]

Aly wrote: "Ayesha wrote: "Katie wrote: "Clary Fray. What is Rose Hathaway from?"

Rose is from Vampire Academy. Apparently, girls love her because she's kickass but I hate her because she's the most whiny, st..."

I would have enough money to buy Mona Lisa :D :D :D
No wonder the world is getting dumber each day when people are idolising despicable protagonists like Rose.

[A]

Katie wrote: "If you do petition to get rid of TFioS, then anyone can petition to get rid of a book you really love. Karma"

I don't think petition is going to work in either cases. Once a book is published and sent to the bookstores, one petition is not going to stop it from being sold in millions.

[A]

Katie wrote: "Exactly. And it's not fair to get rid of any book, because SOMEONE out there loves it."

But then there are very very terrible books out there like 50 shades of grey that should be destroyed because promoting abuse and anti-feminism is disgusting as hell

[A]

Aly wrote: "Katie wrote: "If you do petition to get rid of TFioS, then anyone can petition to get rid of a book you really love. Karma"

As I said, I THOUGHT about it, I was never going to DO it. And it's hard..."

It's just a plain statement from you're side. A lot of reviewers who hate my favourite books wish that they could make the names of those books disappear from the face of earth.

[A]

Katie wrote: "Between* Shades of Grey* oops lol"

BETWEEN THE SHADES OF GREY IS SO FUDGING AWESOME!!!

[A]

Katie wrote: "Some people haven't liked it because it was from Death's POV, and that it was confusing, but I think it shows what really went on during WW2. Shades of Grey also."

Mostly, people think that it's emotionally manipulative and boring but I found the deaths of characters in both the books to be genuine and sad.

[A]

Aly wrote: I WISH I COULD MAKE THE BOOK THIEF DISAPPEAR.

Bad bad Aly.

[A]

Katie wrote: "I almost cried.......... Which is a big deal with me. I don't cry unless I'm at a funeral, I'm really mad, or I'm listening to Les Miserables. Otherwise I don't."

The book thief, Deathly Hallows and Allegiant are the only books that made me cry but I hated the latter.

[A]

Aly wrote: "@Ayesha: Hahaha, I don't think I could ever hate it.

UNLIKE TFIOS. OMG."

I'm happy to hear that :D

[建て掛け]

Is The Book Thief worth reading?
Not sure whether to read it.

[建て掛け]

If you could sum it up in one sentence what would it be...

[建て掛け]

Haha... well maybe one sentence wouldn't be enough to sum it up.. but it seems good.. I will take a look at it :)

[Aria]

People who are rating TFIOS 5 stars don't understand that this book is a very weak representation of what cancer really is like. It isn't meeting some hot guy and going to follow your dreams with him, it's battling against a deadly disease that can potentially kill you. I know TFIOS is just fiction, but it was extremely unrealistic.

[neeta]

I mean it wasn't unlike anything I've read before. I used to read a lot of YA novels as a kid so honestly, this wasn't a gem to me. I didn't HATE it, because it's written well. But I think that some of the reason that I dislike it more than I should is because of society glamorizing it so much. They've singled out and idolize this particular model putting it ABSOLUTELY everywhere, and to be honest? I feel like people only read it because they heard it was good and it was super mainstream. Not because they liked reading.

It's completely okay to read a book just to enjoy it, not because you like reading, but this intense idolization and spotlight it's been put under is seriously annoying. You know there are OTHER TREMENDOUS EXTREMELY UNDERRATED books out there? Why don't people go out there and read those?

I just, the thing that bothers me is people that read this, and try to preach about it afterwards from a literary point of view like their freaking Shakespeare. You're not. IMO, the book was nothing special, and I'm so so, sorry that other people's stupid glamorization of this novel influence my opinion of it. I don't feel that's very fair to the author. I wasn't able to give him my best opinion of the book because society influenced it.

So maybe in a way I'm glad so many people idolize this book. I know this is completely selfish but it'd be a lie to say I'm not thinking it: I'm glad the hidden gems are not being glamorized to the point of no return, that some of the other real JEWELS of literature are still completely hidden.

Me personally, I read books to escape. It's not really escaping if society goes with you. I understand books weren't all written for me, but haven't you ever thought about this? It's a little sad to know that you can never really be alone in the world of a good book without people ruining everything, you know? Books will be books. So I'm a little glad that some of my favorite books are not glamorized like this.

At least they are still my secrets, OUR secrets, the secrets of those of us who can appreciate books subtly yet intensely all at the same time. Nobody likes a pretentious ignorant book fan who thinks he/she/ knows everything.

[Bekah]

GOD, this thread bothers me. while you are all totally fine to have your own opinions on a book, (i mean, that's what this website is all about, isn't it?), you calling out other people for enjoying said book is extremely obnoxious.

"You know there are OTHER TREMENDOUS EXTREMELY UNDERRATED books out there? Why don't people go out there and read those?"

cool, yes, but did you also know that people read for themselves? did you know that some people don't care about "hidden gems?" let people enjoy the books they want to enjoy.

"people that read this, and try to preach about it afterwards from a literary point of view like their freaking Shakespeare."

if you're reading bukowski and i'm thinking about picking up a fucking twilight novel, then i will do as i damn well please. that doesn't somehow drain the knowledge from my brain or reverse everything i learned in school. so, sure, if a particular book hit me in a certain way or caused me to experience a lot of emotions, then i'm going to preach about it. i'm going to tell people how it made me felt, whether that be in an artistic way or not. piss off.

"At least they are still my secrets, OUR secrets, the secrets of those of us who can appreciate books subtly yet intensely all at the same time. Nobody likes a pretentious ignorant book fan who thinks he/she/ knows everything."

fuck, you're like those people that call out other people on being "fake nerds," or "fake gamers." how are we all not past this? why is it necessary to always put people beneath you for what they enjoy? you're calling other people pretentious, ignorant book fans, well, newsflash, you're no treasure either. plus that, no book is your secret, or anyone else's secret. you do not own a book unless you are the author of it, nor have the right to get angry about it when it gets popular or picked up by the "mainstream crowd" and they begin to "preach about it."

it's fine to like unknown literature, but it's also fine to like overly, in your words, "glamorized" literature as well. i'll listen to radiohead and miley fucking cyrus if i want to. i'll watch la piscine and the notebook if i want to. i'll read "hidden gems," and "glamorized literature," if i fucking want to.

ugh ugh ugh i'm getting off my soapbox now goodbye

[er3bors]

Bekah wrote: "GOD, this thread bothers me. while you are all totally fine to have your own opinions on a book, (i mean, that's what this website is all about, isn't it?), you calling out other people for enjoyin..."

Dude, nobody cares what you like or don't like. Go ahead and read Twilight; I like brain candy just as much as the next girl. We, or at least I, have a problem with people thinking this book is more profound than it really is. Except for maybe the "infinities" thing, nothing really made me think; TFIOS isn't saying anything new or special or incisive about kids and cancer. As I said upthread, it's hard to gush all over this book when I can name at least ten books off the top of my head that tell the same basic story better.

I'm tired of people coming on this thread and telling us what we're allowed to say about TFIOS - to be honest, dogmatic nerdfighters are half of why I hate this book

[Sammy]

You know I didn't like this book but I have to disagree with a lot of points being made here. I agree that the whole Amsterdam thing was unrealistic but not because of Hazel's mum allowing her to go because she had cancer. Imagine knowing that your daughter is going to die never having lived out any of her dreams, she's never going to travel or graduate school and then somehow an opportunity comes up (not a very likely opportunity but still) to make one of those dreams come true no mother in the universe would say no to that. I myself live with many syndromes, diseases and conditions that do put my life at risk and have caused my health to drop extremely low to the point where I can't even walk anymore and my mum for christmas, at the height of my bad health, called me up and told me she'd planned an entire trip to New York for the coming months - because she wants to me to have at least achieve one of my dreams. So no I wouldn't say that part is unrealistic she knew Hazel was going to die anyway why the hell would she choose to let her die without achieving anything when the opposite was so easily available?
And as for her and Augustus having sex being unrealistic well that's just plain stupid. She's dying if ever there is a time to throw caution to the wind in an attempt of gaining amazing life experiences that you might never get to experience it's now. Though I don't think John Green wrote this part very well if you read Jenny Downham's Before I Die, she writes about the hunger for intimacy and to experience life events (such as sex) when you're in such a fragile and lonely position beautifully.

[Anna]

Amelia wrote: "People who are rating TFIOS 5 stars don't understand that this book is a very weak representation of what cancer really is like. It isn't meeting some hot guy and going to follow your dreams with h..."

So you are saying, if you have cancer you are automatically sentenced to die alone and unfullfilled?

[Mochaspresso]

The "book shaming" seems to be the cause of some of the discord. I think some people have difficulty separating their criticism of the book from criticizing people who liked the book. This is probably exasperated by the fact that John Green has developed a niche fan base and has given them a collective name and an identity of sorts. Star Trek has "Trekkies", Lady Gaga has "Little Monsters", John Green has "Nerdfighters". With the book shaming comes the making of unfounded generalizations like "pretentious ignorant book fan" or accusations that fans of the book don't like reading or if someone chose to read it because it was popular, they probably don't like reading.

I'm not trying to tell anyone what to think or say about TFIOS. I am just saying that I don't agree with the comments about Hazel's trip to Amsterdam. I went on vacation in Jamaica and climbed Dunn's River Falls. I was awed by the fact that there were people of all ages and types of conditions attempting to climb the falls. Cancer, missing limbs and other disabilities, elderly. Granted, there was no one with an oxygen tank in tow, but I saw other terminally ill cancer patients climb a waterfall and feel good about it.....so no, I don't agree that a rather tame trip to Amsterdam in comparison is all that far fetched or unbelievable. Also, if a cancer patient or a guy with no legs can figure out a way to climb a waterfall, then I think two teens with cancer can figure out a way to have sex.

[Bekah]

@pilcrow i wasn't talking about whether or not you liked the fucking book, i was talking about how you treated the people that may have actually been really inspired by this book. you do not speak for every person on this planet; inspiration can be drawn from the oddest sorts of places and what other people might find to be profound and emotional, others might think is weird or downright stupid.

i myself was really not all thrilled by this book. i enjoyed it, yeah, but i didn't find it making it to my favorites list. that doesn't mean i'm going to shit on the people that were touched by this book and felt something when they read it.

my entire point being, that you are no better than the rest of us for being able to think of ten better books. that's cool for you, good job, round of applause, here's a medal. my problem with this thread stems from the attitude of the people not only criticizing the book, (once again, you're allowed to have your opinions, that's fine), but bashing the people that may or may not have found it insightful.

[Bekah]

@mochaspresso agree with you completely. there's nothing wrong with disliking it, but there is something entirely wrong with judging a person who did enjoy it.

[A]

Bekah wrote: "@mochaspresso agree with you completely. there's nothing wrong with disliking it, but there is something entirely wrong with judging a person who did enjoy it."

Lol! Who's judging the people who enjoyed the book. We're merely expressing our hate for it. Did anyone here say that you're having bad taste in books for loving this? Did anyone stop you from enjoying this?

[A]

Bekah wrote: you don't own the book unless you're the author

A book does not only belong to the author, it belongs to the reader as well.
~ Paul Auster

I want I can express my anger over a badly written book when it goes popular. Hell, I can criticise it in any way I want to for whatever reasons. Don't you tell me how I'm supposed to criticise any book.

[Mochaspresso]

@Aly...I respectfully have to disagree with you. I don't think that is necessarily always true.

That really depends on what stage of their illness that they are in. Gus had just found out about his relapse. He wasn't yet at that point where he would be unable to travel. Neither was Hazel. Hazel did not require a nurse in her daily life back at home. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to think that she would not necessarily require a nurse to travel. Airlines willingly make all kinds of accommodations for invalid passengers all of the time. With some, you can even check off what you need when you book the flight online and it is provided. The only medical concern would be her physical ability to make the trip and the availability of adequate medical care if needed where she was going. I also understand the mother's desire to give her daughter space and allow her to experience some semblance of freedom. Her mother has probably had to helicopter Hazel for most of her life. People say that TFIOS is a "cancer book". It is, but I also think it is a "coming of age" book too. I think many people remember the first time that their parents ever gave them true independence. (Then again, some people may be in their 40's and are still waiting. Lol.) That is a very coming of age/rites of passage concept and I think it fit in with the theme of Hazel and Gus not wanting to be defined by their disease.

[A]

Mochaspresso wrote: "@Aly...I respectfully have to disagree with you. I don't think that is necessarily always true.

That really depends on what stage of their illness that they are in. Gus had just found out about..."

For someone having such critical conditions like Hazel, the doctors would send a nurse from thier side to accompany Hazel. The doctors in Amsterdam have no history or records of Hazel's health, what would be done if something disastrous happenned on the trip. Not to mention that Hazel's mum is the sole custodian of 2 minors with cancer in a foreign country. I'm not saying that sick kids cannot have adventure and fun but it creates complications for them that should be looked after.

[Kaylee]

I really didn't had any expectations for this book. I had to read it for my English class (I guess that here in Holland we don't know what literature is) and I already knew that I was going to hate it. Last year we had to read Looking for Alaska and that book totaly sucked. The whole story/plot/characters didn't made sense to me and I stopped reading halfway through. I was really disappointed when I found out that this year we had to read another book of John Green.
The Fault In Our Stars was to me not a really special story and really nothing extraordinary happened (like I was reading a fanfiction). The characters were really fake, like they could never be real people (that was a problem in the other books of john green). One of the things I did like was that haze said it like it is, she just didn't tried to make it look better.

(I'm so happy that I'm not the only one who doesn't like this book. All my friends seemed to love it or think it not that bad.)

[Bekah]

Ayesha wrote: "Bekah wrote: "@mochaspresso agree with you completely. there's nothing wrong with disliking it, but there is something entirely wrong with judging a person who did enjoy it."

Lol! Who's judging th..."

"Nobody likes a pretentious ignorant book fan who thinks he/she/ knows everything."

"I really cannot believe that there are adult readers who feel that they're REALLY getting something out of it."

"I've seen so many popular and harsh critics here on GR passing this shit as "The best YA book ever". Where did all their critical thinking skills go while reading TFioS?"

not for tfios but hey why not a bonus:

"No wonder the world is getting dumber each day when people are idolising despicable protagonists like Rose."

Ayesha wrote: "Bekah wrote: "@mochaspresso agree with you completely. there's nothing wrong with disliking it, but there is something entirely wrong with judging a person who did enjoy it."

Lol! Who's judging th..."

oh my god. OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD !!!! for the last time i am NOT SAYING YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO CRITICIZE THE BOOK. you are entitled to your opinion like everyone else. i was saying that you, along with your friends, need to get off your high horses, and quit bashing people who liked it or found it profound.

my quotes above should answer your previous question and back up what i'm saying. goodbye.

[A]

Bekah wrote: "Ayesha wrote: "Bekah wrote: "@mochaspresso agree with you completely. there's nothing wrong with disliking it, but there is something entirely wrong with judging a person who did enjoy it."
Lol! W..."
Those are just are our opinions EITHER OVER A BOOK OR A FICTIONAL CHARACTER and we are clearly surprised how anyone can like this book or Rose. I just find it surprising how such a bad book is getting critical acclaim from so many harsh critics. It's just an opinion.

[Bekah]

Ayesha wrote: "Bekah wrote: "Ayesha wrote: "Bekah wrote: "@mochaspresso agree with you completely. there's nothing wrong with disliking it, but there is something entirely wrong with judging a person who did enjo..."

"We are clearly surprised how anyone can like this book or Rose
Hathaway :p"

what a bummer it must be for you to just now discover that other people can have different opinions. :( you must be devastated to learn that just because your opinion isn't popular, doesn't mean it automatically makes you "cool" or "edgy." please don't trip on the way down from your high horse.

when the criticizing moves from the book to the people enjoying the book like it does in those comments i reposted, you're an asshole.

[Emma]

Sammy wrote: "You know I didn't like this book but I have to disagree with a lot of points being made here. I agree that the whole Amsterdam thing was unrealistic but not because of Hazel's mum allowing her to g..."

I completely agree with everything you said.

[A]

Bekah wrote: "Ayesha wrote: "Bekah wrote: "Ayesha wrote: "Bekah wrote: "@mochaspresso agree with you completely. there's nothing wrong with disliking it, but there is something entirely wrong with judging a pers..."

I'm not saying that people should have one same opinion. When something so bad as this book (or annoying and bitchy person like ROSE) is admired by millions, it becomes surprising. People can like anything they want to that was just my opinion, besides I have given proper reasons for hating the book, the fans give me reasons like "omg this book made me cry" for loving it so much. Just because a book made you cry doesn't make it a masterpiece. All we are saying here is that it's surprising to find people loving something so atrocious as this book. and giving us vague reasons for loving it. Honestly, I don't care if I'm the only one who hates this book on the planet or gets called asshole for expressing my surprise over the hype surrounding it. Don't you ever say things like "I don't understand what's great in this that people are loving it so much?" Don't you?

[Bekah]

Ayesha wrote: "Bekah wrote: "Ayesha wrote: "Bekah wrote: "Ayesha wrote: "Bekah wrote: "@mochaspresso agree with you completely. there's nothing wrong with disliking it, but there is something entirely wrong with ..."

while i understand where you're coming from, it's not so much the way you say "i don't understand," it's the way you say, "wow, people are so DUMB and ignorant for liking this book lol!!!!"

you are entitled to your opinion and entitled to stand by it. you are entitled to not always grasp the concept of why a book may or may not be popular, but you are certainly not entitled to go, "i don't understand, so i'm going to hate on people who enjoyed it in a non-straightforward way."