What's the most overrated book you ever read and why

[Gene]

Mine would have to be Infinite Jest. While this book had its moments, on a whole it was a book in need of revisions and an ending. I know many people consider this a "classic" but really, is it a classic because of the critics and honestly, how many people actually finished it. So my question is - what is the most overrated book you ever read and why?

[[deleted user]]

Codex could have been my favorite book, but the end destroyed any chance of THAT. So I'd say it's overrated.

[Sheila]

The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao kind of had me scratching my head over all the rave reviews.

[Jw]

IJ is a tough one to top in terms of overratedness, but it's a relative latecomer to the land of undeserved acclaim. There we find The Great Gatsby still basking in its melodramatic glory. I think some of Fitzgerald's Hollywood hackwork had greater character depth than this.

[Rohan]

I believe The Goldfinch is quite a overrated book. I read about 250 odd pages and I couldn't complete it. I lost interest mid-way. The story wasn't moving on. I know the writer is trying to show the grief of the boy..but it became too boring.

[Easytarget]

A topic started with an axe to grind against a book, boring.

[Cathlene]

IJ was the best book I ever read. It took 2 years.

[Phil]

I decided to read 'Infinite Jest' because I thought I was going to hate it, so I might as well hate it on its merits. But I really liked it. I understand about the ending, I had to look it up and apparently there are "clues" sprinkled through as to what the end is. I would read it again.
To stay somewhat on topic, not one I think is over-rated, but I've just never connected to is "V" by Thomas Pynchon. I've had it over 10 years, tried it several times, but just can't get past like 150 pages. The only other thing I've read by him is "Crying of Lot 49," which I remember being alright. Not bashing him, just not my cup of tea apparently.