Books I've had to put down and why

[Rachel]

Susan wrote: "Can anyone tell me about the Poldark books? I know the tv series has been a hit, although, I didn't watch it. I sadly suspect that the books may be like the Outlander books- full of explicit sexual..."

I've read the first 5 books in the Poldark series and they are not like Outlander. I read the first Outlander book to the end (got sucked into the story) but there were definitely "icky" parts and I wish I had put it aside without finishing. The Poldark books are not like that. No explicit sex in Poldark.

[[deleted user]]

Rachel wrote: "Susan wrote: "Can anyone tell me about the Poldark books? I know the tv series has been a hit, although, I didn't watch it. I sadly suspect that the books may be like the Outlander books- full of e..."

Thanks Rachel! I'm so glad to hear that. I have those on my to read list but wasn't sure about them.

[Laura]

I just put down Eleanor and Park. I only read about 2 pages. There were so many f bombs and other vulgarities that I knew it was probably setting the scene for a book full of the same. I hate it too because I had been on a wait list for it for about a month! I had read great reviews. Oh well! Onto the next book!

[C.]

Re: Rachel thank you so much for the info that the Poldark series of books are not at all like the Outlander series which is on my "offensive-Never Read" list!

Re: Laura I also thank you for the heads up about all the vulgar language, including "F" bombs in the book ~ 'Eleanor and Park',so I can remove it from my TBR list! I am so thankful for reviewers who mention when a book contains such offensive elements, so that I do not waste my time reserving them from my library! It seems that Rainbow Rowell is an author for me to avoid.

[Hannah]

C., I had to put down Rowell's Landline because of copious f bombs. I wouldn't recommend her at all.

Also, if anyone's thinking of reading The Hate You Give, it too is full of f bombs.

[Charmaine]

I made it through the first two short stories in Elizabeth Strout's book "Anything is Possible". But the third story called "Cracked" totally creeped me out and I gave up on the book then and there. This is the second book by this author I had to put down. The first was her much-acclaimed "Olive Kitteridge". It was very depressing! I do like her witting style, but she uses way too many expletives - including the eff bomb.

[Amanda]

I put down "A Study in Charlotte" after a few pages because of the F bombs, and several drug references. I was disappointed because I love Sherlock Holmes retellings, but it was too much.

[Lora]

Amanda wrote: "I put down "A Study in Charlotte" after a few pages because of the F bimbs, and several drug references. I was disappointed because I love Sherlock Holmes retellings, but it was too much."

Ugh, I hate when someone takes a perfectly recognizable character and highly beloved literature and turns it into a horrid story! There are some REALLY awful versions of Dracula out there, as you can imagine.

[Rachel]

Last week I put aside three books, all for bad language. They were
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, Small Great Things, and The Woman in Cabin 10.

[AlegnaB †]

Rachel wrote: "Last week I put aside three books, all for bad language. They were
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis...”

Thanks for the warning. That book was recommended by people I respect and who I would have expected to give a warning about the language, and I had no idea that it contains a lot of offensive language. I’ve moved it to my skip shelf.

I wish there were ClearPlay for audiobooks.

[Amanda]

That's too bad about "Hillbilly Elegy". I have that on my TBR.

[C.]

I also just removed "Hillbilly Elegy" from my TBR. Not interested in reading pervasive profanity, so thank you for the heads up!

[Hannah]

A friend's review mentioned containing language and "adult scenes."

[Cami]

The one I Renner putting down was the Red Tent. It was very disrespectful of Biblical characters and suggested that Jacob was really enjoying himself sexually with his wives and concubines. I was so shocked and I don't shock easily.

[Sandy]

I agree about The Red Tent. When they inferred Laban was committing sexual acts with his sheep I threw the book away.

[C.]

Sandy wrote: "I agree about The Red Tent. When they inferred Laban was committing sexual acts with his sheep I threw the book away."

Exactly....that book is pure disgusting filth, and I would think should be considered blasphemy!

[Rachel]

Hannah wrote: "A friend's review mentioned containing language and "adult scenes.""

The language in The Alice Network bothered me, and would gain an "R" rating if it was a movie. There was sexuality also. I'd say a strong PG-13. Nothing highly explicit, but a bit more than kissing, then fade to black. The "adult scenes" also happened several times in the book. I finished the book because it had an interesting and compelling story, however I wouldn't recommend it to anyone without the warning on content. The author is very good writer. It's a shame she included the questionable content.

[Leisel]

The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Steadman

A little background on me (because it relates to the story)... I'm adopted, and I have suffered through infertility.

I put the book down because it got to a point where I could see there was no good ending. Whatever happened, a mother's heart would be unfairly, brutally broken, and I just couldn't handle it, as I empathized too closely with both the main character, and the baby's mother of birth.

[C.]

Hannah wrote: "C., I had to put down Rowell's Landline because of copious f bombs. I wouldn't recommend her at all.

Also, if anyone's thinking of reading The Hate You Give, it too is full of f bo..."

Thank you for the warning, Hannah!

[Kim]

Call the Midwife — I didn’t put this one down but I had to skip a part in the middle... it’s all clean except one extremely graphic pornographic scene that I wish I hadn’t listened to. So if you read or listen to it, skip ahead when Mary is in the “all night diner” and the “entertainment” starts. It is DISGUSTING. There is mild cursing a few times in the book, but I wonder if they’re not swear words in England, like “bloody” isn’t a swear word in the U.S. it was a good book except for the one part. Too bad that she put that in.

[Rachel]

Kim wrote: "Call the Midwife — I didn’t put this one down but I had to skip a part in the middle... it’s all clean except one extremely graphic pornographic scene that I wish I hadn’t listened to. So if you re..."

I second this review. I loved the book, except for that one section. It was disgusting and very disturbing.

[Melanie]

House of Shadows by Nicola Cornick for language, include the F word.

[Sean]

Absolute Power (Baldacci) - overall vulgarity/sexuality in the first chapter or so.

Pillars of the Earth (Follett) - Loved the premise about the building of a cathedral, but one of the characters has many rape-related thoughts (not acted upon in the first 130 pages, but, probably would be).

[Hannah]

f word used to describe an actual sex scene. Left it on the shelf quite quickly. :)

[Hannah]

a friend's review let me know about cussing and fade out sex scenes and vulgarity. Here's a link to her review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Beth]

Weirdly enough, a book my mom got me from the christian book store was pretty bad, (in most regards, even aside from not being that clean). It still confuses me. By all accounts its *technically* "clean" (or at least clean *enough*) until probably halfway through and especially the end. But the vibes are very cringey and very uncomfortable throughout. It had some borderline incestual themes going on, but the ending is where I lost it and had to put it down. It had a very weird page that was just simply too uncomfortable of a description for me. The book is called Echoes from the Edge (the first book).

[Anne (In Search of Wonder)]

Leisel wrote: "The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Steadman

A little background on me (because it relates to the story)... I'm adopted, and I have suffered through infertility.

I put the book down because it got ..."

I totally understand what you said, and I completely agree, although I did finish the book. One thing that rescued the book for me was that the author definitely portrays the consequences of the deception that was perpetrated. Overall, the book was an excellent exploration of human justification of sin while exposing the reality of both the motives and results of choosing to do wrong. In that sense, I felt it was very well done.

[Hannah]

Beth wrote: "Weirdly enough, a book my mom got me from the christian book store was pretty bad, (in most regards, even aside from not being that clean). It still confuses me. By all accounts its *technically* "..."

Which author is that one by?

[AlegnaB †]

Hannah wrote: "Which author is that one by?"

It's probably Beyond the Reflection's Edge by Bryan Davis and published by Zondervan.

[Rachel]

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner for crude language.

[Robyn]

sex scenes in early pages. Didn't want to read about them in any more detail later.

[Robyn]

incest

[Robyn]

sex scenes, language

[C.]

I tried to read Phantoms by Dean Koontz, but gave up at 40%, because I couldn't take anymore of the pervasive vulgarity.....including religious swears and "F" bombs. At 40% it just became downright FILTHY with crude sexual talk added by a sleazy character aimed towards a 17 year old girl!

Disgusts me to think of the filthy minds of authors like Koontz and King making millions off such trash they write, and how they get their jollies while writing such filthy scenes!

[Robyn]

I know, I know...with a title like that, what was I thinking? I was hoping to like it because it was the March 2018 Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, but it very quickly started to be exactly what the title implies. Leaving it behind because of sex scenes and language.

[C.]

I recently had to stop reading ~ Area 51 (Area 51, #1) by Bob Mayer, because I was disgusted by the pervasive vulgarity including "F" bombs, and religious swears.

I also couldn't get past that the author doesn't even know that Nellis AFB and Area 51 are in NEVADA...… NOT New Mexico!

[Robyn]

Just 30 pages in and I didn't find it interesting enough to overlook the language. Over 10 uses of every type of swear word you wouldn't want to hear.

[Rachel]

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
I finished the book, but be warned that it has quite a bit of profanity, including several f-bombs.

[Robyn]

sex and profanity

[Robyn]

Catchy title, sort-of interesting plot, but when the "F-bombs" and "C***" word started to fly, I chose to walk away.

[Paul]

I want to thank all of you for bringing to light the vulgarities in these books. This is very helpful. I wish there were a rating system in Goodreads that could easily be accessed for every book. And BTW, where are all the men in this forum? Are only women offended? I think not!

[Ken]

Me:) Started reading - more than one - a great book, then ran into a string of profane and or vulgar language; quit reading and deleted it from my Kindle. Figure the author, with a little thought, can rephrase the before and after to convey a more descriptive verbiage while enhancing the story line.
Words are those things you have in your treasure chest, Don't corrupt them by seeking words from garbage dump; everyone knows what they are, and where to locate them.

[Hannah]

Thanks, guys, for speaking up.

I've always been of the opinion that characterization via profanity is very lazy writing.

[Sassa]

I also had to put down The Red Tent. I had it in the house 25 years but when I started reading it last week, it took 2 pages to realize it was not good for me.
Eleanor and Park was another because of the language.

[Robyn]

Language

[Robyn]

I stuck this out longer than I should have hoping it would be worth it...2/3 in I was too disgusted to carry on. Language, sex, etc.

[Rachel]

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus - Lots of profanity including numerous f-bombs. Also had references to teens having sex, but nothing explicit.

[C.]

Paul wrote: "And BTW, where are all the men in this forum? Are only women offended? I think not! ."

I think you pretty much nailed it....most men are not offended by profanity, graphic sex scenes, or grisly gore/violence, in the least! That's why church congregations are almost entirely women, and male authors tend to include the most offensive elements in their books! Especially in the Action/Adventure/Thriller genres.

[Margaret]

I do hope you are wrong about "most" men. I am finding female and male authors doing the same "profanity, graphic sex scenes, or grisly gore/violence" because it is selling books - unfortunately. Our society is not well, and it is a sign of of our very selves becoming insensitive to the offensive. Obviously some of us are fighting it, but I hope it is not "most" men.

[Paul]

I did a straw poll with a bunch of my guy friends and most of them read histories, non-fiction, technical, business and even religious books. As a whole, they don't read romantic fiction as often as my female friends. Also, they're typically not on Goodreads. Of my 133 friends on Goodreads, only 48 are men, and most of their accounts are dormant.