Books you wanted to loathe but couldn't

[Skylar]

For me, it's Moby Dick. There is so much over-analysis of the book that I wanted to hate it and find it horribly overrated. It had narration problems, switching from first to third person and (breifly) event to play format. It had some dull text book like portions. I should have hated it. But I didn't. It stuck with me; it hit me, and I hadn't expected that.

[Sean]

Stephen King's "The Stand." I went through a period in college (as many lit. majors do) of serious book snobbery. I had read one or two of King's books, and had found them mildly entertaining. Nothing great. I think "Carrie" amused me for the glimpse into high school girls that I hadn't been privy to...

A friend told me I that I had to read "The Stand." I put it off and put it off...until my junior year Christmas break. I had a month at home with the 'rents with nothing to do. All my friends from high school had migrated away and I didn't even have a job to come home to...so, I checked out the mammoth tome from the library...and enjoyed the hell out of it.

It even helped that the day I started it, I came down with a cold. That was creepy...

It's a good adventure, the characters were interesting, even with their issues, and it was a much faster read than the 1200 pages would have suggested.

It convinced me to read more of King. I really enjoyed "The Dead Zone" and "'Salem's Lot." I'm not a huge fan of his--he has as many books that bored me to death as he has ones I enjoy. But, I remember really believing that "The Stand" was going to be beneath me.

[Kate]

I have a guilty fondness for semi-trashy psych thrillers like Sharp Objects. It's kind of like my fondness for horror movies: I'm repulsed, yet totally engaged and I can't walk away.

[Val]

For me it's The Silence of the Lambs. I actually threw it in the garbage three times while reading it and then later dug it out. It was so gross but the story so compelling I just couldn't hate it.

[Jana]

For me it was Left Behind. I am pretty embarrassed to even admit this. I would not allow myself to read any other books in the series for fear that I might enjoy those too.

[Lorena]

Jana, I read the whole series, a male friend of mine gave me the first four books as a present (I was on a 4 week absolute bed rest thing), having nothing else to do I read them and bought the rest later at a discount store, I am not a religious person but I enjoyed the books OK, the story could have been told in 3-4 books to be honest. The thing was I didn't want to give up the series before knowing what happened to those ... left behind! He he he.

[Val]

that's really funny!

[Val]

I meant the funny comment for Jana

[Lori]

The Left Behind series -- I got sucked in, too, when I found them at a used book store for next to nothing. I liked the first half, not so much the second half. And the follow-on "prequels" they have out now just stink.

[Lorena]

Lori, once I read the last one, I was relieved and moved on, never got a "prequel", I know they had a series for children and a teenage targeted list of books too, I just kept thinking oh, please give it a rest!

[Allison]

Every Martin McDonagh play, especially The Pillowman. When I first started reading it, I put it down halfway through because I was so deeply disturbed by it. Since I had to read it for class, I muscled through and found it so brilliant I went out and bought 3 more of his plays. They're all as violent, disturbing, and unsavory as The Pillowman, but so brilliantly cracked that I can't help but love them.

[Michelle]

The Twilight Series.... I know they are terrible books, with terrible writing and a terrible plot.

But I still really enjoyed them. Maybe the characters were good?

[[deleted user]]

For me it is definitely The DaVinci Code. The writing was terrible, but I am embarrassed to admit I couldn't put it down.

[[deleted user]]

Gone With The Wind...

I know that's kind of a blasphemy but here's my confession.
I don't like to read stories of wars, I hate stories about severe racism (to kill a mocking bird is an exception!), I dislike stories that I can't love the heroin, and I absolutely can't read stories about acute poverty or misery.
But this book! It's SHEER MAGIC! I began it only because someone i respected very much had found it in her basement and thought i might enjoy it. I was determined to give it a go (I had ssen the movie and I knew the whole plot), but was sure that I would put it aside after 2 chapters. But Margaret Mitchel had me spellbound from the very first paragraph! oh her words are heaven! I read it through without stopping, except for a few hours sleep, and re-read it 7 times in 4 months.
To this day I still don't like the story, but when i read it again every once in a while i get so much absorbed in her writing that I don't even notice the story. She is ONE of a kind, and her pen is a wizard's wand.

[Abigail (42stitches)]

I don't really like mystery books. Never have. But whenever they are demented, horror, or have a metaphysical theme I end up really liking them for some reason. Season of the Witch, Sepulchre to name a couple.

Also pulp (defined by me as series writing for the sake of publishing as much as possible) usually bothers me. But I really loved Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. *Rolls eyes"...Oh yay. Dragons"* But they ended up being really funny and touching. I can't wait for the next one.

[Reid]

Sean wrote: "Stephen King's "The Stand." I went through a period in college (as many lit. majors do) of serious book snobbery. I had read one or two of King's books, and had found them mildly entertaining. N..."
I agree about the Stand. For awhile there, King was being compared favorably to Poe. The Stand did a lot to put his name there. I think like a lot of prolific and popular artists ( Think Springsteen and Elton John) , there's "Classic Period". For King this would include The Stand, Dead Zone, Salem's Lot, and Stand By Me.

Then he wrote Pet Semetary and Cujo and I thought he had lost the spark and I stopped reading him. . I'm sure he's written good stuff since. I just don't have the time or inclination to sort through it.

[Heather]

Going into reading "To Kill a Mockingbird," I really expected to hate it and kind of wanted to, but I couldn't. It's actually one of my favorite books of all time. Same with "Across Five Aprils"--wanted and expected to hate it, ended up loving it. That's kinda the story of my life.

[Laura]

Michelle wrote: "The Twilight Series.... I know they are terrible books, with terrible writing and a terrible plot.

But I still really enjoyed them. Maybe the characters were good?"

Same here. I was kind of unsure at first, because someone I trust opinion wise recommended them, but they were so big with teen girls (one of which I am) which generally means I will hate it. And I did hate the plot. But, for some reason, I kept reading.
I think it was the characters, and the diversity among them. For example, there are Cullens from every background and personality. I liked that.

[Robin]

In general, true crime books. They are so painful to read, so intrusive and so exploitative but I love them anyway.

[Emily]

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I wanted to hate it because it's a silly premise, a gimmicky style, a cliched plot, and not written all that well. But I liked it anyway because it was cute and descriptive and just a happy little book.

[Stuart]

Emily wrote: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I wanted to hate it because it's a silly premise, a gimmicky style, a cliched plot, and not written all that well. But I liked it an..."

I am due to read this one in my off-line book club.

[Kat]

Emily wrote: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I wanted to hate it because it's a silly premise, a gimmicky style, a cliched plot, and not written all that well. But I liked it an..."

I totally agree; I really enjoyed this book. When it was recommended to me, I thought the title was horribly cheesey, but it really does speak to the adage "Don't judge a book by its cover" (or title, in this case).

[Kate]

Emily wrote: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"

I have heard this before from people whose opinions of books I trust, and now 3 more recommendations! I will really have to read it. I hope the author realizes the importance of a good title next time! Though I bet she got a bigger audience by appealing to the Oprah Club fans with it, rather than to the more specifically literary types? (Not meaning to be a jerk about the OC; I usually like every other book they read... so maybe only a half-jerk.)

[Janelle]

Not gonna lie, Dan Brown is a total guilty pleasure for me in this area :| that being said, I hated Deception Point.

[stormhawk]

Emily wrote: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I wanted to hate it because it's a silly premise, a gimmicky style, a cliched plot, and not written all that well. But I liked it an..."

Oh, gosh, me too. It is exactly the kind of book that I typically do not like. I mean, it's essentially a romance, and I despise romances. But someone that I really respect offered it to me as one of her favorite books, and I was stuck ... read it over two days on a camping trip and loved every word.

[Heather]

I feel like I am going to get beat up admitting this but I went into the Harry Potter Series with a lot of trepidation. I was like 16 at the time and thought they were to childish. Needless to say I was so happy that I was wrong and have become such fan of that series.

[Maggie]

I admit to Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons too!

[stormhawk]

I confess.

I wanted to loathe The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, but it was actually useful.

[Heather]

stormhawk wrote: "I confess.

I wanted to loathe The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, but it was actually useful."

Oh I had to study those concepts in my Engineering Management class. They are interesting but I don't know if I could stomach the book. Has anyone seen the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. I mean really, i can't imagine myself reading that as a teen. Really I didn't like my parents telling me what to do much less a self help book.

[Laura]

Heather wrote: "stormhawk wrote: "I confess.

I wanted to loathe The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, but it was actually useful."

Oh I had to study those concepts in my Engineering Management c..."

Ugg. They forced us to read 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens for a class last year and they dragged it out so much that nobody liked it.

[Helena]

I was fully prepared to hate Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. A friend of mine (Twilight freak) was bugging me to read it. I am a firm believer in not knocking something until you try it. While, not terribly well written- I thoroughly enjoyed the series. A guilty, fun little secret :D

[Leigh]

Mine is Bridges of Madison County. Horrible little book but I absolutely devoured it.

[Leigh]

Heather wrote: "I feel like I am going to get beat up admitting this but I went into the Harry Potter Series with a lot of trepidation. I was like 16 at the time and thought they were to childish. Needless to sa..."

Yep, me too. I was determined not to like them but they are awesome.

[Leigh]

Robin wrote: "In general, true crime books. They are so painful to read, so intrusive and so exploitative but I love them anyway."

A well written true crime book is awesome-recall In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. (with alot of help from Harper Lee) But a badly written true crime book is very exploitative indeed.

[stormhawk]

I was predisposed to loathing American Psycho. I had read and loathed Less Than Zero, vapid characters, empty lives, and clubbing, Eighties' Style. Meh.

The media flurry surrounding American Psycho was extreme. Feminists on the news daily decrying the mysogynist, violent elements of the book, glorification of violence, etc. etc. etc.

A book that's easy to hate.

Until you read it.

Really read it.

Pay attention. It's not the bizarre slasher stuff that makes him a psycho.

This. Is. An. Awesome. Book.

[Helena]

Leigh wrote: "Robin wrote: "In general, true crime books. They are so painful to read, so intrusive and so exploitative but I love them anyway."

A well written true crime book is awesome-recall In Cold Blood ..."

I generally avoid true crime- but In Cold Blood was great... Seriously scary!

@Stormhawk- I felt the same way about American Psycho.

[Marilynn]

Robin wrote: "In general, true crime books. They are so painful to read, so intrusive and so exploitative but I love them anyway."

I agree; I loved In Cold Blood ~ and I enjoy most of Ann Rule's true crime books.

[Marsha]

I decided to check out Twilight and see what all the hype was about. A friend of mine couldn't stop talking about it and hounding me to just give it a try. So, I caved and read it. I wanted to hate it - and I didn't really love the first one, but somehow the notion of the story and the essence of the story made me read the second and then the third - which were (by far) better than the first. But - alas, I didn't loathe these books like I wanted - instead, I ended up reading the whole darn series.

[[deleted user]]

I'll have to go with Charlaine Harris books as well, though I didn't really "want to loathe" them--I knew it could go one way or the other, so I didn't know what to expect at all--but they are ones that I'm sometimes embarrassed to admit I like but anyhoo...hmmmm as far as a real answer...I really can't think of any that I wanted to loathe and didn't succeed. I guess if I really smell crap, it turns out to be crap???? I mean I know I've been disappointed by books before....but that's not the same. hm

[stormhawk]

Ised? what's that?

[[deleted user]]

I can't shake the paranormal romance bug. I realise this condemns me to some slagheap of junkie romance readers, but they're like crack. And to give respect where it's due, I don't know that they're that easy to hammer out. And they're publishing the damn things by the kilo now, so I'll never run out. Hooray!

[Shep]

Lol they arrre like crack!! XD

[Helena]

I was not prepared to like the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, but I did. I can’t say I’ve enjoyed any others of the genre though.

I had the flu once and was house bound for a week or so. A neighbour brought me a pile of romance books (which I loathe) and among them was The Bridges of Madison County. It looked the most readable out of the lot and I actually quite liked it. Probably because it had adultery in it. Or it was the effects of the flu.

[Andrea]

Emily wrote: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I wanted to hate it because it's a silly premise, a gimmicky style, a cliched plot, and not written all that well. But I liked it an..."
Yup, I read it on a recommendation and admit to thoroughly enjoying it. However, the end just about killed me. I wanted to rip it up and toss it out the window at that point... I still gave it a good review on my blog with a friendly warning about the ending, of course! :)

[Andrea]

Anna wrote: "@Andrea My only problem with the end was how far away you could see it coming. I was expecting a feel good romcom ending based on the book club nature of this one, but from the frist letter between..."

Totally agree, Anna. The sappiness was only worsened by the predictability! I did enjoy it, though :)

[Brenda]

I was really prepared to hate Twelfth Night by Shakespeare and the Canterbury Tales... I loved them. I needed to read them each again because I was prepared to dislike them so I ended up skimming and now I have read them numerous times.

I saw a few people commenting on The Bridges of Madison County. I own that book but have refused to open it. I guess I don't really know what it's about, but I'm from Iowa and have seen the Bridges of Madison County and they aren't impressive or interesting, so I figure how good can the book be?? I guess I should try it and maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.

[Ellen]

I so wanted to hate Janette Oke. She was everything I "look down" on-my identity would be seriously shattered if I were to enjoy reading her.

So here I write, identity shattered. I broke my leg & was staying in a camp & all they had were books I wouldn't ordinarily read so of course I read them. One was Love Comes Softly by Oke. It didn't take long to read & it wasn't a "great" book but I enjoyed it very much and became very involved with the characters & their struggles. I was moved by their tragedies & rooting for their success.

So now I'm busy constructing a slightly different, hopefully more flexible, identity.

[Elizabeth]

Jana wrote: "For me it was Left Behind. I am pretty embarrassed to even admit this. I would not allow myself to read any other books in the series for fear that I might enjoy those too."

I loved the Left Behind series! If you remember that it's a story and try to ignore the dogma (or set it aside) it's a great series. But i understand your hesitation. =)

[Amber Star]

Romance novels.. any romance novel but, most especially the trashy ones. If I start one, I can’t put it down until it reaches its oh-so-predictable conclusion. I love them. I hate it that I love them. It’s almost the same kind of guilt that comes from being at the fair and gorging myself on things like deep fried Twinkies, turkey legs, cotton candy and dark chocolate covered bacon.. soooo bad, but soooo gooood!!

[Kate]

I wanted to hate Nicholas Sparks's A Walk to Remember. I had seen the film adaptation of "The Notebook" and hated it. But I read Remember and adored it! Bawled my eyes out. (The guy sitting next to me on the plane must have thought I was a freak!) But the movie adaptation of A Walk to Remember? You know, the one that had Mandy Moore practically skipping down the aisle, thereby sucking all meaning from the title? Yeah, I pretty much loathed that.