Books that you wish you hadn't read

[Sans]

Got a couple more.

The Ideal Wife (Dark Angel, #5) by Mary Balogh - It seemed like the "hero" preferred treating his wife like a child, even while taking his husbandly rights. That seemed really pervy to me. Also the fact that he's supposed to be this great rake, had how many women...but he can't tell that his wife isn't enjoying his attentions in the sack? Seriously?

All Jacked Up by Penny McCall - Terrible characters, way overboard on the sarcasm, no chemistry, ridiculous conflict, bad dialogue. Ugh.

[Mara]

Hi all,

Theres not many books that i regret reading... There are books that i hate, but in the end, i dont regret reading them...

But i rememeber many years ago, when i was 8yrs old, i read the most cheesiest and stupidest book in my life... It was all about how a boy had to cross a river with a bag of peas and a chicken and a fox... I got the dilemma... but why on earth would you write a 300 page book on how someone should cross a river? - i thought it was terribly disturbing, boring and a waste of time.

For a 8yr old to think that... It must have been bad! LOL

Mara
:)

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol)]

There are books I've read that only so-so ('Wicked Appetite' by Janet Evanovich comes to mind), but the only book that springs with alacrity to the front of my mind is 'Beloved' by Toni Morrison. I had to read it for college and I hated it. It was horrible and though I'm a fast reader it took me forever and a day to read it since I couldn't stand it. I had to force myself to finish it. Then I had to write a paper on it! Ugh, ugh, ugh!!

[Sashana]

Sans wrote: "I liked the first four Sookie books, but I started losing interest after Eric got his memory back. Bill was turning in to an a**hat and I had so many other books to read. I keep figuring that I'll ..."

Thank you! Sookie is getting on my nerves, I don't see how you go from sweet, virginal, southern bell, to humping every creature that moves. It's like reading two different series after so many books, and people wonder why I stay away from long series. *End Rant*

[Fran]

Evermore
I don't like how is written, and I think that it's a poorly copy of twilight. I think the main conflict could have developed much more.

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol)]

Sashana wrote: "Sans wrote: "I liked the first four Sookie books, but I started losing interest after Eric got his memory back. Bill was turning in to an a**hat and I had so many other books to read. I keep figuri..."

I can see the point, but I can also see it from Sookie's point. She couldn't get it on with humans because of her gift, talent, curse, whatever, so when vampires come out of the closet and she starts interacting with them, she has the opportunity to explore. Jeez, if had been me I'd be exploring a whole lot more than she's done in the series. I'd be well on my way to being the town slut and not caring what people thought. LOL

[Arthur]

Fran wrote: "Evermore
I don't like how is written, and I think that it's a poorly copy of twilight. I think the main conflict could have developed much more."

16 years old...I like to read about 20+. Then I can identify myself with the heroes. 16 is....far too far behind for me :)

[Angela]

When I was a teenager, I read The Dark Half by Stephen King. I can still remember the beginning of the book and often have nightmares about it. Horror is definitely not my genre.

[Sashana]

Fran wrote: "Evermore
I don't like how is written, and I think that it's a poorly copy of twilight. I think the main conflict could have developed much more."

Trust me, if you don't like the first book there is no was in hell you'll like the other two. I loved the first book in this series, the second book was a let down, and the third book I couldn't even bring myself to finish it.

[Carolyn F.]

I gave up on . I was halfway through the book and I couldn't take it any more. Very boring.

[Shay]

Carolyn F. wrote: "I gave up on . I was halfway through the book and I couldn't take it any more. Very boring."

I returned this unread too. It was stunning how bad it was. How can a book be this bad and not be so cheesy that it's almost campy and good?

[Sans]

Once Bitten was a DNF for me. It was reading like adults in Twilight with porn. The vamp smelled and tasted so good the girl passed out, his skin was like marble, he drove at crazy fast speeds and didn't get hurt, blah blah blah. I didn't want to waste my time so I removed it from my kindle.

[Carolyn F.]

Shay wrote: "Carolyn F. wrote: "I gave up on . I was halfway through the book and I couldn't take it any more. Very boring."

I returned this unread too. It was stunni..."

The book sounded like it would be good, I liked the premise. I just couldn't stay interested in it.

[Meg]

I don't regret reading this but this is one of the few books that I actively disliked before I was half way through:



I hate it when cheating on your spouse is supposed to help you grow as a person...the main character was selfish and annoying. It surprised me that I didn't like it cause I floved "The Secret Life of Bees"

[Sashana]

I don't think I've heard of someone who didn't like this book. It's not that I don't like it, it just wasn't as spectacular as I though it would be. I might try to finish it, no promises so far.

[Susie]

Banana Hammock - A Harry McGlade Mystery - I had never read a book like this & thought it would be fun. This was stupid & I couldn't even finish it. I'm not saying "write your own story" books are bad...just this one. ;-)

[Shay]

The Passage- waste of time and trees. Poor trees to have given their lives for nothing.

[Alyssa]

Hm, a book I regret reading. Honestly, I don't "regret" reading anything, I just feel disappointed....
, and were all terrible, IMO. (And I love Dessen!)

[Marianne]

The Conjuror's Bird was terrible. This was very much a case of judging a book by its cover and tbh, there is only so much interest I can feign about a book which is essentially about taxidermy.

I finished it, and I know it's blasphemy, but I always found Wuthering Heights extremely hard work. I find it so hard to get into books when the characters have few redeeming features. On the same note the book Left Bank is one I really wish I had skipped on. Never more have I desperately wished for a serial killer to come in and wipe out the entire cast of characters than I did with that book.

[Sandra]

i didn't like this one the first time I read it. It actually put me off Kelley Armstrong for a awhile. But after I read Dime Store Magic (nothing else to read that day) I read more of the Otherworld series. Then when I reread BittenI enjoyed it a lot more"

[Sandra]

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I absolutely LOVED Hunger Games and found Catching Fire almost as compelling. Therefore I had very high expectation for MockingJay. Sadly I was so disappointed in it I have decided to pretend it doesn't exist. I will consider the first 2 books as all there is in the series. I found MockingJay rather boring and everything that happened seemed rather pointless. I also found the romantic storyline rather abrupt and unbelievable. So sad.

[Sashana]

Sandra wrote: "Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I absolutely LOVED Hunger Games and found Catching Fire almost as compelling. Therefore I had very high expectation for MockingJay. Sadly I was so disappointed in it ..."

Lol, I'll pretend it doesnt exist with you. Lalalalalala...

[Zoe]

I'll pretend, too! I wasn't happy with what she did with any of the characters in Mockingjay. If those characters had been in Hunger Games, I wouldn't have read that book (never mind the series!). I only made it through Mockingjay because of the investment I already had in the characters from the previous books--I dragged myself through just to see what happened to them all.

[Angela]

Am I the only one who loved this book and was happy with the ending?

[Sashana]

Angie wrote: "Am I the only one who loved this book and was happy with the ending?"

I think the reaction to this book is pretty solid, it either you love it or hate it (few can find the middle ground). I didn't hate it but I'm a happily ever after girl so of course I found myself a little disappointed.

[Lisarenee]

Angie, Did you mean to put this into the Mockingjay discussion thread?
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...

[Angela]

Lisarenee wrote: "Angie, Did you mean to put this into the Mockingjay discussion thread?
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3..."

Thanks Lisarenee, I moved response to the right topic. I started out replying to a message and went into my full opinion on the book. Ooops.

[Angela]

Sashana wrote: "I think the reaction to this book is pretty solid, it either you love it or hate it (few can find the middle ground). I didn't hate it but I'm a happily ever after girl so of course I found myself a little disappointed."

I know how you feel. I loved the series, but MockingJay could have used a little more happiness; especially, since it's a YA book.

[Lisarenee]

Angie said, "Thanks Lisarenee, I moved response to the right topic. I started out replying to a message and went into my full opinion on the book. Ooops."

Don't worry about it. I tend to do the same thing every once in a while.

[Eyterna]

Sashana wrote: "Fran wrote: "Evermore
I don't like how is written, and I think that it's a poorly copy of twilight. I think the main conflict could have developed much more."

Trust me, if you don't..."

I know exactly how you feel. The first book gave me such high hopes, and then Ever's mistakes just kept annoying me. I read the second one and then the 3rd and 4th felt like copies of the 2nd.

I can honestly tell you now i've never disliked a series i've read before until this series. The stand-alone would've been great though.

I think usually i don't try to guess the plot of a book even if i'd know it a million miles away, and just read and try to get the perspective of the heroine as much as i can whilst reading it, thus keeping me interested even if afterwards i think, "Well, that wasn't very original!"

Usually anyway.

[Shay]

The Passage by Justin Cronin. It felt like a bad rip off of good books. Needed about 300-400 pages hacked off. Also, he spent most of the book with the least interesting characters in the book and he kept switching times, places, styles so whatever momentum he started building up was lost.

[Jesse]

My biggest regrets in recent years have been In the Woods and Spidey Legs Lana.

I bought the first because of all the critical acclaim and I have to say, I have no idea where it came from. It presents two mysteries one of which is never solved and I hate what the principle character ends up doing to his life. This book left an awful taste in my mouth and I want those hours of my life back!

The second I bought because I saw the author at a book store and thought the concept was interesting. My positive comments end there. The characters were poorly developed, the dialogue was unnatural at best and God awful at worst, and the plot made minimal sense at the best of times. Saying I was disappointed is like saying Kanye thinks highly of himself.

[Rachel]

In the Woods was awful. I only read about 50 pages. Kudos on finishing it. It really makes me hesitate when I see French's other novels on the shelf.

[Jesse]

Rachel wrote: "In the Woods was awful. I only read about 50 pages. Kudos on finishing it. It really makes me hesitate when I see French's other novels on the shelf."

I agree. The next book is just about Cassie and I'm curious but I've been burned by French once already.

[Shay]

I'm rereading Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens right now. Over halfway through and I wish I hadn't started it. The memory of reading the book is actually better than reading the book. Do not let this be your first Dickens read- it may put you off him forever.

[Rachel]

My first was A Tale of Two Cities and I enjoyed it. I had to read it for required summer reading my senior year. I will read more Dickens one day, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Sorry to hear you are not enjoying Little Dorrit. Thanks for the heads-up though. :)

[Sans]

I actually enjoyed In the Woods but I couldn't finish The Likeness (Cassie's book) and didn't bother trying Faithful Place (Frank's book).

[Jex]

A Clockwork Orange I could not get into it and its miracle I even finished it.

[Jennifer]

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. Self-indulgent, stream of consciousness, blah-blah-blah! I finished it, but wished I hadn't started it all the way through.

[Shay]

Jennifer wrote: "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. Self-indulgent, stream of consciousness, blah-blah-blah! I finished it, but wished I hadn't started it all the way through."

That's the book that made me never want to read anything by Eggers. I've never even read it, but the title alone created this irrational hatred towards him. (Plus it just seemed like such a typical "Oprah" book of the type I loathe.) But, so many people have told me how good Zeitoun is that I'm going to give it a try.

[Kristina]

The Help! A complete waste of time, I hated it!

[Amy J.]

The Road and Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster both were so awful in my opinion that I kept hoping for the main characters' deaths.

@Elise-- Did you read and enjoy Horns? I've only read Heart-Shaped Box, but I loved it. I'm wondering what else of his I might enjoy. Generally speaking, I'm not a fan of short stories

[Lisarenee]

Jessica, I had the same feeling about In The Woods as you. I liked it until the ending and then was thinking, "You're kidding me, right?" I did go on to read the other two books and they did not have the awful ending of the first book. Here is a link of my reaction to In The Woods (It's posted in this group) after I read the book:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

[Rachel]

Kristina, I was not a fan of The Help either. I did not see why everyone loved it so much!

[Kristina]

Rachel - I know right? I was like halfway through and thinking "okay it HAS to get better than this eventually.." it didn't lol

[♔ Shayna]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

So baaadd..... I had initially wanted to read this and then was forced to by my English class. Really wish my teacher had picked something else.

[Kristina]

also - i had to read it for a book club, and i should have known better because its not at all my type of book but i could barely get through it

[Lisarenee]

Kristina, I felt the same way about Eat, Pray, Love. Everyone was raving about it and I found it a tad depressing.

[Marianne]

niquae wrote: "
Like Rachel, A Tale of Two Cities was my first Dickens book. I read it for fun some time between 5th - 8th grae. I enjoyed it.

Then I tried reading Great Expectations for high school summer reading. I gave up after two pages, and didn't pick up another Dickens book until A Christmas Carol last December/January. "

I think the problem with Great Expectations is that there are so few genuinely likeable characters in it which doesn't help. I've read it a few times, once when I was a kid and obsessed with reading classics and then when I was older and it was part of my English Lit course and despite the differences in my age at the time, I never liked Pip and never particularly cared about him or his story. I was always a bigger fan of Joe.

A Tale Of Two Cities is wonderful though.

[Shay]

niquae wrote: "Rachel wrote: "My first was A Tale of Two Cities and I enjoyed it. I had to read it for required summer reading my senior year. I will read more Dickens one day, just haven't gotten aro..."

Dickens wrote a bunch of other Christmas stories for his magazine. I think it turned into a tradition and he published one a year for quite a few years. I'd never even heard of them until last Christmas but I plan to read some of them this Christmas.