Go Fug Yourself Book Club discussion
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Books You DIDN'T Like
Stephanie wrote: "I find it interesting to read the differences of opinion on Gone Girl. My sister hated it because she hated the characters. Im reading it now and am only on page 98 but I already don't care for Nic..."Ha! I read Jane Eyre as a young one and really liked it and still like it after rereading it recently. I wasn't quite as enthralled with Rochester this go round though. I kept thinking rather grumpily, "Humph, not much of a prize, is he?"
On a somewhat related note, I used to really love Rebecca as a teen. I tried it again a few years ago. The heroine struck me as such an self-absorbed twit, I didn't even make it all the way through.
Shannon wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "I find it interesting to read the differences of opinion on Gone Girl. My sister hated it because she hated the characters. Im reading it now and am only on page 98 but I already ..."
I'm finishing up Jane Eyre right now! 100% agree on Mr. Rochester. Sometimes he's sort of charming but mostly he feels like the boyfriend you're constantly apologizing for to your friends. Then he becomes the "what was I thinking/secretly I pine for you" ex. Even Jane doesn't like him all of the time. But I guess it's pretty slim pickings out on the moors.
I'm finishing up Jane Eyre right now! 100% agree on Mr. Rochester. Sometimes he's sort of charming but mostly he feels like the boyfriend you're constantly apologizing for to your friends. Then he becomes the "what was I thinking/secretly I pine for you" ex. Even Jane doesn't like him all of the time. But I guess it's pretty slim pickings out on the moors.
I was also not an Outlander fan. I read the first book, and have no interest whatsoever in continuing. I could go into quite a few reasons why, but in the interest of not including any spoilers, I'll go with it was overly wordy and long, felt very self-important and generally impressed with itself, and parts of it were really, really boring.
I read Jane Eyre as an adult and while I can appreciate it, I hated Mr. Rochester's treatment of Jane.Rebecca I couldn't get into, but it was for a book club. I skipped about five chapters and then I really liked it.
I'm also a huge Outlander fan.
My entry into this discussion is The Time Traveler's Wife. I just didn't like it!
Bonnie wrote: "Grace wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Grace wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Grace wrote: "Okay...I know that this series is really popular, but I just have to say it. I hated Outlander. Hated it. So much. It's hard ..."That sounds like something an Oscar Wilde character would say if he were writing in the modern day: "shall I assume the meds aren't working?". You just add a "darling" to the end. I went to see The Fault in Our Stars movie in order to cry for two hours. Mission accomplished.
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LOL, next time I need a 2 hour cry (I am guessing it won't be long) I know where to go, thanks. And I will tell E that he has approached Wilde level quippage (it is too a word!) He has not read Wilde, but is aware of his standing as a master level purveyor of smart snark. He will be very flattered as it brings him closer to his professed goal of being a stand up-director-chef-music historian.
Grace wrote: "Amy wrote: "Alisa wrote: "I'm in the minority, but I really didn't like THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. It didn't feel genuine to me, and to elevate teen romance to that level makes my brain shut down.Al..."
This is a weird tangent, but I love books/movies where the parents are awesome. That's one of the main reasons why I love Easy A so much. There should be more books/movies where the parents are super cool. Maybe I just don't know about them?
Someone should start a thread for books with awesome parents - I was having a similar real-life discussion recently, and I'd love some suggestions!
Two more to add to the pile of books I don't think anyone should bother reading:Cloud Atlas. So boring. Could not finish it.
Discovery of Witches. This is Twilight in academic clothing. No fun at all. Even Twilight had the decency to be a quick read.
Grace wrote: "Discovery of Witches."I just finished the third book. What a waste of time. The first book wasn't BAD, the second was feeble and whiny but I had hopes for the resolution. The third book was 2/3s review of the first two books, and then the big climax was handled like this: "And then there was a big climactic battle and the hero got hurt but the good guys won, and everyone went home to recover in private and then they all lived happily ever after." And I am not kidding.
Alicia wrote: "Has anyone read anything by Megan Abbott? I read this article http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014... yesterday and thought she sounded worth checki..."I really enjoyed Dare Me by Abbott, but disliked The Fever which just came out and I read last week.
Books I hated:
Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series, ESPECIALLY the last book, which took several months to get through, it was basically a recap of the 2nd book
The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint, read it for a book club and was so angry at my good friend that picked it
Come Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant, another book club pick that I hated
The Bad Girl by Mario Vargas Llosa, first book I literally threw across the room 3/4 of the way through because I couldn't take it anymore
Maze Runner
A Great and Terrible Beauty, both YA series, read the first book of both and hated them
Mod
Cloud Atlas. So boring. Could not finish it.
Discovery of Witches. This is Twilight in academic clothing. No fun a..."
I HATED Cloud Atlas. I tried reading for months, but would fall asleep after a page or two every time.
Oh and two more YA novels that made me stabby:Allegiant the final book in the Divergent series. Enjoyed the first, second was okay, but the third was so poorly written (two narrators, male and female that sound exactly the same) and the ending was awful and POINTLESS.
The Here and Now by Ann Brashares, deals with time travel and had giant plot holes
Two things: I would love a list of books that have decent parents as characters! There's not enough of them.Regarding Cloud Atlas, I loved 7/8ths of it, but I can see how someone would find it boring. I'll never see the movie though, as I much prefer the world I saw in my head.
Lindsay, I read the Divergent series with my kids. I liked the ending - I thought it was completely unexpected and a nice change from the norm.
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Regarding Cloud Atlas, I loved 7/8ths of it, but I can see how someone would find it bo..."
That is a good idea Tawnia. I am having a heck of a time thinking of one other than Little Women but I am working on it. I guess happy families are not as fun to write or read about :)
Bonnie wrote: "That is a good idea Tawnia. I am having a heck of a time thinking of one other than Little Women but I am working on it. I guess happy families are not as fun to write or read about :) "Nice Anna Karenina reference!
Mod
OMG, it is a nice reference, but I didn't realize I was making it until you said this. It is sort of true though that happy families are all alike. Tolstoy FTW!
I wasn't sure if it was deliberate or subconscious!
Bonnie wrote: "Tawnia wrote: "Two things: I would love a list of books that have decent parents as characters! There's not enough of them.Regarding Cloud Atlas, I loved 7/8ths of it, but I can see how someone w..."
Re: good parenting in books-- Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird
I just read Mr. Churchill's Secretary, which I had such high hopes for, but it was so anachronistic I could barely finish it. :(
Re: good parenting, I would say both the Ingallses and the Wilders in the Little House books; they raised their children to be confident and capable, and the relationships were loving. Although my sister and I have had several discussions over the years about a story we heard on NPR positing that Pa was somewhat abusive because every time they were settled somewhere he would pack everything and move them off to the frontier again.
I feel like someone needs to stick up for the Brontes here, haha! I've loved every Bronte I've read so far, by any of the sisters, though it did take me three tries over the course of several years to finish Wuthering Heights.But even as a Bronte fan, I think I can say with confidence that people who like these books (WH and Jane Eyre, especially) don't LIKE the male romantic leads. I don't think even Charlotte and Emily liked them...?
I'd recommend The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne, for those who like the feel of a Bronte but wish for healthier romantic relationships.
OMG I had to read WH for school and it was TORTURE. It was also a long time ago and I'd like to read it again, but I haven't yet gotten the courage.
I struggled with WH in high school and only read about 1/4 of the book. Then in college I took a course called "Great Novels" and had to read it but because this was not a high school course, I couldn't get away with cliffs notes so I powered through and came out with my original negative impression intact. Also I once saw an excerpt of a review of WH that was written when it first came out and here is what it said:
"How a human being could have attempted such a book as the present without committing suicide before he had finished a dozen chapters, is a mystery."
At least you can't say that the book doesn't inspire strong feelings!
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Ariana wrote: "I feel like someone needs to stick up for the Brontes here, haha! I've loved every Bronte I've read so far, by any of the sisters, though it did take me three tries over the course of several years..."I enjoyed Agnes Grey by Anne, but I have yet to dive into other Brontes... Jane Eyre is on this year's to read list though...
annabel wrote: "Although my sister and I have had several discussions over the years about a story we heard on NPR positing that Pa was somewhat abusive because every time they were settled somewhere he would pack everything and move them off to the frontier again. ..."I don't know - I've read a couple of biographies etc, and it seems like Pa never really got on. There were points where the books make it sound like Pa wants to move on for the thrill of wide open spaces, but they had a pretty marginal existence for nearly all of Laura's childhood - including things like running a seedy hotel (which in the books is one of the things fictionalised-Ma says a respectable girl would never do).
Joanie wrote: "Ever read a book that made you feel stabby? I have! Let's share are least favoritesGeorge R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones, though I cannot remember why I decided to read it, whether someone urged me into doing so, but UGH. MEH. This emperor has no clothes, or class, or enlightenment. Has plenty of women-hating and being-on-being violence and cruelty to children though. And stereotypes, and boring, flat prose. SO OVERRATED. I do wonder if NFL fans who want to avoid watching NFL for a bit due to the violent abuse scandals are sublimating their need for crude sex and violence by watching the GoT TV show or reading this stupid, time wasting book. Stabby? Oh yes. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. And, check out the "Honest Trailer" depiction of the GoT TV show on YouTube. Hilarious!
I just read The Position by Meg Wolitzer and actually had to force myself to finish it. The book was beautifully written but said absolutely nothing at the same time. It could have easily been a short story...not the long-winded blustery mess that it was.
Abigail wrote: "Lindsay, I read the Divergent series with my kids. I liked the ending - I thought it was completely unexpected and a nice change from the norm."Glad you guys liked it :)
I did like that the author wasn't afraid of... doing that in the end... but I thought it was poorly written and the ending unnecessary.
BBethB wrote: "George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones, though I cannot remember why I decided to r..."
Ugh, yes, thank you! I got about halfway through the first book before I gave up. Sooooo tedious. As a longtime fantasy reader, I actually really hate that this is the series that ordinary readers are picking up and getting all crazy excited about. There's so much more thought-provoking, innovative, better written work out there. And, seriously, killing off characters is actually pretty much par for the course in the genre, so let's stop pretending Martin is some kind of evil, outrageous mastermind.
Ooh but Game of Thrones gets so much better in my opinion! I will agree that it is hyped and I definitely get that you gave up during the first book because it is definitely the worst of the series - I started it, then put it away for about a year because I was bored - but A Storm of Swords, the 3rd book, is a really good read! :)
Stephanie wrote: Ugh, yes, thank you! I got about halfway through the first book before I gave u..."I, too, am a long time fantasy reader, and agree with you 100%. It makes me stabby, partly, because somehow having it on cable TV legitimizes all the shlock in the GoT series. I'm sitting in the stands at my daughter's track meet and most of the other parents are gossiping about GoT and how they cannot stop watching (meanwhile ignoring real life action right in front of them). Stabby, I tell you!
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I know I am very much in the minority on this but I HATED The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo so, so much. I must have started and stopped it at least five times, but felt it must get better if so many people love it, I had to just push through. Uggh..what a waste of time...just awful.
BBethB wrote: "Stephanie wrote: Ugh, yes, thank you! I got about halfway through the first book before I gave u..."I, too, am a long time fantasy reader, and agree with you 100%. It makes me stabby, partly, bec..."
Well, I'm joining this party too! I love fantasy but just couldn't get into A Game of Thrones. I must have tried it at least three times to no avail. I just legit didn't care what happened to any of the characters.
Francy wrote: "I know I am very much in the minority on this but I HATED The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo so, so much. I must have started and stopped it at least five times, but felt it must get be..."I haven't attempted. I don't do well with sexual violence and I don't care how many people say "oh but she turns the tables".
HATED Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In fact, I may have already complained about it up-thread. Not only did it include sexual violence, as you note, I thought it was unrealistic and badly written/translated.
One of the very few books I've ever ragequit was The Magicians. Just terrible. Every single character was awful and the plot was boring and kept dragging on. I have no idea what people see in that book.
Yesknopemaybe wrote: "One of the very few books I've ever ragequit was The Magicians. Just terrible. Every single character was awful and the plot was boring and kept dragging on. I have no idea what peop..."Same here! I read it for a book club and couldn't believe how bad it was. HP ripoff and then some.
I hated The Book Thief. Like, loathed it. I still can't believe I slogged through the entire book.
I'm so glad to hear you say that, Sarah. I tried to read that book, I really did, but I gave up half-way through. I just couldn't, and I do not understand the hype.
I also hated the magicians, the main character was such a tool!
Several post ago, Grace said " I like Hardy's poetry, but Jude the Obscure was the most horrifyingly sad book I've ever read. It's like a Victorian Grapes of Wrath. I could not deal with it. So not bad exactly, but very hard for me to read"I have to concur, both Jude and Grapes so amazingly depressing/sad it is hard to say you liked the book, let alone enjoyed it. It's not that you can't see and appreciate the literary merit , it' just the hopeless awfulness of it all...
I felt the same about the greatly acclaimed recent novel Burial Rites. My review was not popular ..... .
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Barbara wrote: "Several post ago, Grace said " I like Hardy's poetry, but Jude the Obscure was the most horrifyingly sad book I've ever read. It's like a Victorian Grapes of Wrath. I could not deal with it. So no..."Barbara, I just returned the Burial Rites audiobook to the library. I got through disc one, but the narrator's portrayal of Agnes' voice bothered me so much I couldn't bring myself to continue. She used this soft, pathetic-sounding voice to read Agnes, and I'm like, this woman is accused of murdering a bunch of people! If she's guilty, she is not a victim and shouldn't sound like she is! If she's innocent, she should be mad, outraged, not a doormouse!
Candace wrote: "I also hated the magicians, the main character was such a tool!"I thought I was the only one! I think that was the last book I finished even though I hated it all the way through.
Barbara wrote: "I felt the same about the greatly acclaimed recent novel Burial Rites. My review was not popular ..... .
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
..."
I can't find your review!
I loved Burial Rites, but boy was it bleak! And more so after my mother spoilt the ending for me (she'd thought the afterword was the preface and that I would know).
Here it is Alicia, and in post 262 above . I don't know where the Harry Potter one in your post came from .....https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Go Fug Yourself Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
It Was Me All Along (other topics)Consequences (other topics)
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The Girl on the Train (other topics)
The Girl on the Train (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ian McEwan (other topics)Fyodor Dostoevsky (other topics)
All Hardy is surpassingly sad, but beautiful. I have a tendency to read and watch depressing stuff. My son and I were looking at movies I had DVR'd today and as we looked from Sophie's Choice, to On the Waterfront, to Henry V, to Midnight Cowboy he said "shall I assume the meds aren't working?"