Episode #264 When You're the Only One

[Deb]

There are two books that people just cannot believe I didn't like.
The first is The Catcher in the Rye. I did not read this in high school and when my daughter complained on how horrible this book was as she was reading it for her high school English class I thought she must be missing something. So I picked it up and read it. Ok, she's not missing anything. I know, I know this book for so many was a life changer. For me not so much. Stop whining and get on with your life!!

Second book Eat, Pray, Love was the book ALL my friends said I must read. It will change your life. Nope once again I just couldn't get over the whiny character. I see a trend :-)

Loved the podcast discussion and feel so much better about my minority opinions!!

[Kalen]

I think Catcher in the Rye is definitely a young person's book. I adored it growing up and read it at least once a year until I realized it irritated me. :)

[Dawn]

Kalen wrote: "I think I've stayed out of IDing individual books that I didn't like, but good lord, The Crimson Petal and the White was painful for me. I felt completely ripped off (Much like watching The Usual S..."

Thank you. I loathed that book, but was trapped working at sea for a week with -GASP- no other reading material available. I complained about it the entire time I was reading it. I probably would have heaved it overboard if it hadn't been a borrowed copy.

[Kalen]

Oh, Dawn. I can only imagine the pain.

[Tina]

Deb wrote: "There are two books that people just cannot believe I didn't like.
The first is The Catcher in the Rye. I did not read this in high school and when my daughter complained on how horribl..."

I read Catcher in the Rye so long ago I hardly remember it. The book really left an impact, right?

However, I am in your corner with Eat, Pray, Love. When my book club read it I was in the minority & totally ridiculed for my opinion.

[Melissa]

I taught Catcher in the Rye for several years. It helps to remember that Holden is telling the story from a sanatorium. He is struggling with mental illness throughout the action of the story. He is also trying to come to terms with his grief over the death of his brother.
That being said, it is a coming of age novel that is best read when you are coming of age yourself.

[Dree]

I am in the middle of listening to this podcast, and was laughing when Michael said he loved The Secret History and not so much The Goldfinch.

The Secret History is the book I have started more times and never made it past page 50. I found it awesome for insomnia, but not much else.

I also count Dune and the Hobbit among my worst books ever finished. I have been mocked for this endlessly, by friends, family, and random people I do not know. I slogged through (Dune was for school), thinking they would get better since my friends raved. They did not get better.

I also did not like #1 Ladies Detective Agency. Very meh for me.

[Janet]

Dree wrote: "I am in the middle of listening to this podcast, and was laughing when Michael said he loved The Secret History and not so much The Goldfinch.

The Secret History is the book I have started more ti..."

I started The Secret Historyseveral times myself before I got into it. Trust me on this...you have to give it 100 pages.

[Claire P]

Karen wrote: "I can relate Ann and Michael, I must be the only person who disliked Room by Emma Donoghue!"

Trust me, you are not alone. Ugh.

[Linda]

The Flamethowers and The Tiger's Wife have confounded me. I am the only one who was underwhelmed and bored. I was delighted by Night Circus and highly recommend the Goldfinch and State of Wonder. My favorite is still Crossing to Safety, in fact I haven't read anything by Wallace Stegner I don't like .

[Tisha]

Linda wrote: "The Flamethowers and The Tiger's Wife have confounded me. I am the only one who was underwhelmed and bored. I was delighted by Night Circus and highly recommend the Goldfinch and State of Wonder...."

You are not alone! Underwhelmed and bored is a good description of my reaction to the Tiger's Wife, too. I also liked the Night Circus, so I'm going to check out the other three you mention, since we must have similar taste.

[Sue]

The Tiger's Wife was the first audiobook I had to stop listening to. Awful. I, too, loved The Night Circus and am eagerly awaiting Erin's next effort.

Linda wrote: "The Flamethowers and The Tiger's Wife have confounded me. I am the only one who was underwhelmed and bored. I was delighted by Night Circus and highly recommend the Goldfinch and State of Wonder...."

[Esther]

I try not to judge people on their taste in books but it will change my attitude to their recommendations and sometimes I do feel disappointed.
A few years ago a local women's group read The Red Tent and almost everyone looked askance every time I mentioned the fact that I disliked it.
Recently the same group of women read a book I really disliked. I would have passed on the meeting if I could. Even worse so many people raved about the book they decided to change future book choices as a result and rejected one choice that looked promising.
I am beginning to avoid all combinations of this group and books which is a problem as the women are good friends and are wondering why I flake out on so many activities!

On the other hand I often hand my mother a book with the comment 'I really disliked this, you'll love it." She appreciates the fact that I know her taste even when it doesn't coincide with my own.

[Esther]

Linda wrote: "The Flamethowers and The Tiger's Wife have confounded me. I am the only one who was underwhelmed and bored. I was delighted by Night Circus and highly recommend the Goldfinch and State of Wonder...."
I loved the writing in The Tiger's Wife but felt the author was trying too hard. She should have concentrated more on the story and less on being 'literary'.

[Kalen]

I abandoned The Tiger's Wife.

[Aurora]

Linda wrote: "The Flamethowers and The Tiger's Wife have confounded me. I am the only one who was underwhelmed and bored. I was delighted by Night Circus and highly recommend the Goldfinch and State of Wonder...."
I recommended State of Wonder to my book group, I don't think it is very well know in the UK, glad to report that most loved it. Still have Goldfinch on TBR, I have a vision of a summer reading it in my garden- but still working on how that is going to happen!

[Zuzu]

Esther wrote: "I try not to judge people on their taste in books but it will change my attitude to their recommendations and sometimes I do feel disappointed.
A few years ago a local women's group read [book:Th..."
Ha! I had the same experience with "The Red Tent" and a book group. I absolutely hated it, and they doubted my sanity.

[Kate]

I'm another one who struggled with and abandoned The Secret History. I know someone in this thread said you have to give it 100 pages, but there's so many good books out there, I'm not sure I want to torture myself again with a book I found boring! On the other hand, multiple people have recommended it to me, saying how much they thought I would like it. Maybe it deserves a second chance?

I've loved several of the other books mentioned in this thread, which just goes to show how much reaction to books is personal taste.