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Top Ten Books to Avoid
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KittyLiterature
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Dec 20, 2009 02:26PM
Next: Terrible writing. Poor grammar. Spelling msitakes. Zero plot. My two year old could do better. Grrr... don't buy it.
Single & Single: I have had this book for many years. I try to read it, but after a few chapters I find it extraodinarily tedious. I have no sympathy for any of the characters, and the premise of the story seems to constantly illude me.
The Dante Club: Love his othesr work, but this book is mind numbing. I am half way through and I feel like I will never reach the end. I still feel like I haven't got anywhere in the story yet. Yawn.
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Ok here are mine books to avoid like the plague sorry to those who I offend. Deception Point, Dan Brown - not a huge fan but for some moment of insanity picked this up. The writing was so bland, the word then and that, were used about a million times through the novel, a simile would have been nice.
A Dangerous Liaison, Carole Seymour-Jones. A biography about Simone De Beauvior and Jean-Paul Sartre. Now a bio on existentialism, weird french people smoking and sleeping with anyone in the 1930s and 40s would have been interesting. No, Seymour-Jones was just nasty. It was like listening to someone b***h about someone behind their backs. De Beauvior and Sartre were two very complicated people with many light and shades. I don't need an author to like their subject but you need to be fair!
The Surgeon, Tess Gerritsen. I know there are lot of Gerritsen fans out there but this was one of the most predictable thrillers I have ever read. You need more than gore and blood to make a thriller interesting. For me anyway.
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer - yes I know I am committing a grave sin by even mention this much loved author. But Breaking Dawn was like the final nail in the coffin for me. Bella finally what little personality she had, the love triangle just got weird for me. Characters who may have had a chance at having a spark were pushed into the back ground coloured bage. And don't get me started on the writing or the ending !!!!!
Oh wow that rant made me feel better.
I a so glad to get my computer back up and working so I could get back to Goodreads. I am even more excited to read these lists. I have felt almost guilty about not liking some books. Most of them are on these lists more than once. A weight off - yeah.Here is my list.
1. Lord of the Flies - why in the world do teachers require students to read this book. No wonder so many don't like to read.
2. She's Come Undone. - Boring, dumb and insulting. An etch-a-scatch artist?
3. The Hobbitt series. Just could not connect to it.
4. Harry Potter - same as above
5. Misery - Just wished both characters would kill each other off and end my misery
6. The Dogs of Babel - story of a man having a bad time with his wife's death. Should have been kept private.
I have others I am not fond of, but these are the ones I would never want to read again.
Too many great books to read to deal with these.
Hmmm. I'd add The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Although it has a message, it was extremely depressing, probably the most depressing book I've ever read. And the last part of the book was a rant about socialism, which was odd considering it was never explicitly mentioned before that.
Aww, I think it's not fair to recommend avoiding any book just becuase it's sad. I think people would miss out on a lot of great literature that way! :)
Bhumi wrote: "Hmmm. I'd add The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Although it has a message, it was extremely depressing, probably the most depressing book I've ever read. And the last part of the book was a rant about ..."I agree, Bhumi. It wasn't even so depressing as it was unreal in how many bad things the author wrote for this family. And then it turned into propoganda.
Chris wrote: "I a so glad to get my computer back up and working so I could get back to Goodreads. I am even more excited to read these lists. I have felt almost guilty about not liking some books. Most of th..."HA HA HA HA .... thank you, thank you ... I was having a terrible day today, but I love your sense of humour. A bright spot in an otherwise bad day.
I could only really think of 4.The Twilight Saga-I hate romance literature anyway, and this just reinforced my disgust with the genre. This book is an insult to the few good romance novels that are out there, like Pride and Prejudice, The Arabian Nights, etc.. I kept hoping Bella would get a brain or that the writing and the grammar mistakes would clean up, but it never happened. I would read sections aloud to my friends and we would crack up laughing for all the wrong reasons. I heard some people say that they would love to have a relationship like Edward and Bella have, and I'm shocked. Who on earth would want to be in a relationship where a controlling obsessive guy stalks you and the girl is even worse. She coninually risks her life merely for sex. The whole book is filled with completely superficial nonsense, none of which is grounded in real life (not including the vampirical aspect). This is purely incoherent, superficial, non-sensical drivel. This also insults any vampire literature that tries to be relatively serious. I mean REALLY; sparkly, vegetarian vampires. There is something very wrong with the very idea of a vampire glittering. Vampires are supposed to be monsters, they can struggle with the morality of their lifestyle, needing to kill to live, and that makes them interesting. But seriously, vegetarians? Twilight makes me weep for real literature. I find it very sad that kids in my school know all about Twilight but they have never even heard of Don Quixote. The only kudos I give to Twilight is that it helped get young people to read, though I'm saddened that this is their introduction to books.
The Angel Experiment- This book had a good premise, however, it tried way too hard to be like an action movie. After I read it, I realized that not much had really happened. There was very little character development and it was very shallow. I felt like the story only scratched the surface. I wanted to like this book, and I would have too, if only it had delved deeper into the moral issues and the characters themselves. They were all very interesting, but you never find out why they are the way they are and what happened to make them act the way they do. What makes them tick and why? I know this may sound boring, but I really like to get into a character's psyche and I couldn't do that with this book. The only thing described in great detail were the battle sequences, it seemed like everything in between was merely filler between battles.
Emma- I know this is supposed to be a classic but it was so dry and uninteresting.Like I said before, romance isn't my thing, but I had genuinely liked Pride and Prejudice and I thought that Emma would be just as interesting. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Emma was just so dumb, she kept trying to hook up the wrong people and she never really learned from her obvious mistakes. Now, I didn't actually get to the end, so she may learn her lesson and become contrite, I don't know. The book was so dry I couldn't finish it.
The Shack- Everyone shouted this books praises to the sky and sang "Hallelujah" after they read it. They said it was soo deep. I was very wary when I approached this book. Generally, when a book pleases the masses so easily, it is formulaic, simplistic and unintelligent (e.g. Twilight). However, my grandmother gave me a copy and said she wanted to hear my thoughts, so I was coerced. The only highlight in this book, for me, was that God was portrayed as a healthy black woman. I loved that. Other than that the book was rather ...meh. If you want to read something deeply theological, read Mere Christianity or the Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. If you want to read something from an athiest's point of view, I would highly recommend George Bernard Shaw's plays, particularly the Devil's Disciple, or Man and Superman (it's my favorite play of all time). Those are all much deeper and more thought provoking.
(P.S. I really liked Lord of the Flies and The Tale of Two Cities. The Dante Club wasn't that bad, Kitty, but I agree that it was pretty dry in some parts.)
As for The Jungle, Socialism really isn't all that horrible. If you read Shaw,or Alan Mass, they argue that another world-a socialist world-is possible, one in which people come before profit and working people control society democratically, putting the world's resources to meeting human needs.
Books I despised...DaVinci Code(and anything else he writes)...D.Brown -gack!
Twilight(series)...S. Meyer -oh dear lord the angst!
hmmm..am sure there are more. I try not to dwell on the ones that leave a bad taste in my mouth.
Brenda wrote: "Chris wrote: "I a so glad to get my computer back up and working so I could get back to Goodreads. I am even more excited to read these lists. I have felt almost guilty about not liking some book..."Thank you Brenda. I am even happier to find someone who does understand my humour.
Hmmmm, the ones that I despised.....Lolita.....twisted, just sick and twisted
Loving Frank... ummm, ok... whatever
Twilight.... pure torture
The first two, I read completely........ OMG, what a waste of time....
The third...... I read 100 pages, got off the couch and threw it in the trash can.
Kari...I loved Edgar Sawtelle. Yes, sad ending & it did make me cry my eyes out..but to me that is the sign of a good book..one that really got to me. This was one that kept me up for nights after I finished just thinking about it over & over. I gave it a 5-star.
It's really interesting to my WHY people avoid certain books, or say that others should. I gravitate toward emotionally difficult books. They make me appreciate things so much more after reading about the horrors that other people have lived through. I would never tell anyone not to read something because it is sad or depressing... Only because it's poorly written, or the story is horrible, or technical reasons like that... Never because of the subject itself.
But that's why I love this thread, because everyone's different and I love being shocked that people hate the books I loved, or loved books that I loathed. LOL
Becky..I agree. There are those books I loved that others couldn't stand & vice versa. To each their own.
Becky, I agree with what you've said. Nicely put.
Becky wrote: "I gravitate toward emotionally difficult books. They make me appreciate things so much more after reading about the horrors that other people have lived through. I would never tell anyone not to read something because it is sad or depressing... Only because it's poorly written, or the story is horrible, or technical reasons like that... Never because of the subject itself."I agree wholeheartedly! This is me as well. The more a book "wrecks me" emotionally the better. :-)
Ashley wrote: "This list seems a very cathartic beginning to my activity in this group (although probably not a very endearing first impression). The most painful books I've ever read, in no particular order"I totally loved Dogs of Babel. And Of Mice and Men is one of my all-time favorites.
But I HATE:
Everything is Illuminated
Water for Elephants
Twilight
I know I hated more...but these will probably get me killed enough...
Lori wrote: "The Road... oh. no. I looooovvveed that book!Tho I know that McCarthy isnt for everyone. I am actually afraid to read any of his other novels, as they just dont sound as good as The Road...
To..."
Lori, you really should read "Blood Meridian" -- it's one of my all-time favorites. But it's MAJORLY grusome. Just as a warning.
Shelbi wrote: "Ashley wrote: "This list seems a very cathartic beginning to my activity in this group (although probably not a very endearing first impression). The most painful books I've ever read, in no partic..."I hated Everything is Illuminated too. I did not think it was funny and the horrible English tried my last nerve
Was "Everything is Illuminated" supposed to be funny? I haven't read it, but I never pegged it as a humorous book. Hmm! Go figure.
I am currently reading "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers. It has been on my list for a long time and I'm finally getting around to it. However, I'm not making much progress because I find it so depressing. Has anyone read it out there? (I'm sure there are many). Let me know your take. Carson was only 23 when she wrote it and she was highly acclaimed for it. I'll keep trudging...
Theresa wrote: "I am currently reading "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers. It has been on my list for a long time and I'm finally getting around to it. However, I'm not making much progress because..."I loved that book, and it's impressive she wrote such a startling story at a relatively young age. Certainly if you're not interested in unhappy stories it might not appeal to you.
The Member of the Wedding by McCullers was very good too.
Tess wrote: "I'm relieved to see I'm not alone in hating the first book on my list:1. Lord of the Flies blech
2. The Kite Runner cliched, badly written twaddle
3. Marley & Me he can't w..."
Tell us how you really feel, Tess! :)
Tess - I doubt you will like Moby Dick but try it anyway. A chapter a week maybe. War & Peace? Crime & Punishment? Atlas Shrugged? The Fountainhead? How about the Ripley series or any of the othe others Hightower wrote? The Small g ? Lord of the Rings trilogy? Wind in the Willows?
It's a bit of a relief, reading this thread. Books I hated in school: (And you guys have been so eloquent, I'm not going to rehash what everyone has already said about Heart of Darkness and Jane Eyre and The Stranger)
1. The Alchemist- completely manufactured new age-y stuff
2. To Kill A Mockingbird *dodges*- I know lots of people love this one, I just found it really unbelievable and unfocused and saccharine- too "lesson"y!
3. The Poisonwood Bible
4. Where the Red Fern Grows- it's about a boy and his dog and how they have wholesome fun systematically hunting down and murdering raccoons for the social prestige O.O I was horrified as a kid!
Books I voluntarily read all the way through despite all the warning signs:
4. Wicked. I've read Wicked ... twice. (Tara- I read Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister first, and I really liked it! I think it lacks in the plot development often and falls into mystic talk about beauty too often, but I really enjoyed how the relationships between the sisters were portrayed.) And my like for i is the only way I can explain reading Wicked again, despite hating it the first time. It's not just that Wicked manages to skip around any interesting parts of its plot and meanders and is trying to hard to make a political statement- it completely misses the point of the original Oz books. Oz *was* dark- but not in the way portrayed in Wicked. (The witches were dictators, but they were *effective* dictators, dammit!)
6. Like Water For Chocolate- I didn't like the movie I saw in class, and thought the book might be better... it was worse. (It's not romantic, it's terrible everyone's codependency.)
Books I didn't finish, cause life is short:
7. Watership Down- A teacher recommended this to me. I honestly don't remember much outside the constant asides about rabbit behavior. And them being upwind.
8. Saturday- I gave up and skipped to the relevant parts and was relieved I didn't slog through for another few weeks to get there.
9. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation- A book with a cover this pretty shouldn't be this sucky. It was actually despairing how much worse it kept getting despite my disbelief it could.
Books I have successfully avoided:
10. Harry Potter 5 (Order of the Phoenix?) *ducks again* I have nothing particularly heinous against the Harry Potter series- they aren't the worst books I've read. I was born into the perfect age of HP worship and I hung around for the first four books hoping I would "get" it instead of finding them all a little pedestrian and corny. The experience did teach me something about how little popularity means to personal experience when you just don't like something. Which *has* helped me in the avoidance of Twilight and The Da Vinci Code.
Reading this big list *does* make me worry about wanting to read Catch-22 though. (And I feel like the only person in the world who's never read Catcher in the Rye!)
LOL, Kaion, I haven't read Catcher in the Rye either. (We read almost nothing published past 1950 at my school. I think the only exceptions were To Kill a Mockingbird and Old Man and the Sea.)
Becky wrote: "Was "Everything is Illuminated" supposed to be funny? I haven't read it, but I never pegged it as a humorous book. Hmm! Go figure."Nah. While there are certainly funny parts, it's overall a pretty serious book. It made me cry.
ETA: Coincidentally, the parts I thought were funny happened to be the "translator" and his terrible english. Different strokes though, right Terri? ;o)
Watership Down was a pleasure to read....to my children esp when we discussed the religious, Biblical connections - ok they liked it more as adventures of rabbits. I ain't religious but at that time they were curious. That issue aside they liked it as an adventure story with rabbits, much as they like Wind in the Willows, which definately has it's religious subtext but remains an enjoyable read aside from that.
To Kill A Mockingbird was meant to be a preachey bit of social engineering which is a distraction at this time but when/where it was written it was earth-shaking.
Kaion wrote: "It's a bit of a relief, reading this thread. Books I hated in school: (And you guys have been so eloquent, I'm not going to rehash what everyone has already said about Heart of Darkness and Jane ..."
I absolutely agree with you about The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. People tend to rave about this book and I was so bored with it, yet kept going. I finally got to page 200 and thought 'enough is enough' and threw it at the wall.
I like most of the books I read too. But:TWILIGHT SERIES- cannot stand this!
Princess Diaries #10- am I the only one who noticed how dramatically the whole point of the story changed from the first book?
I know I won't be popular for this but I hate Jane Austen's books! Silly!
I find it very hard to get through Jane Austen books...perhaps I'm not patient enough? Working on that possibility. I have made it through most of the Twilight Series (now, I just want to finish it and move on). Still think that the HP series is much better. Content-wise, it has more substance, even if it's about a "magical world".
The worst so far... Catch-22 I agree whole-heartedly with Lori on this one, so uch so that I was nodding repeatedly with her description on top of this discussion.
Jennifer wrote: "Still think that the HP series is much better. Content-wise, it has more substance, even if it's about a 'magical world'..."Hey! As a fantasy fan, "even if"? I don't think any genre necessarily means a novel tends towards escapist-ness/content-less than another.
I LOVE HP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mod
I have made it through most of the Twilight Series (now, I just want to finish i..."
Thank you Jennifer!! I still get lots of shit for not finishing that book... I just couldnt allow myself to be tortured like that!
Sorry but I can't stand Jane Austen books!
I haven't read Jane Austen books but I probably won't now. And Jennifer, I agree that Harry Potter is much better!
Mahum, you should try one and see if you like it before deciding never to try reading Austen. I happen to love her books, and many, many people do.
Ah, ok. Maybe I will, then. I will check in the library to see if they have any.
I can't believe the Twilight series didn't make my list... maybe I hadn't read them yet when I made my list. Anyways, they definitely belong. Along with Mere Christianity and The Case for Faith... so that makes my list of books I hate 13 books long lol
You should try either Sense and Sensibility or Pride and Prejudice first. Those are her most popular books. Emma is up there as well, but it's rather long and a lot to commit to if you're not sure you'd like it. (My favorite it S&S, so I recommend that one.) Good luck! :)
I think Sense and Sensibility was my first Austen, but Pride and Prejudice is my favorite.
Yup, I love Pride and Prejudice too. I think I might need to re-read Sense and Sensibility to get the full gist of it again. I remember not enjoying it as much the first time.
So many of you in this group really don't like Jane Austen. Just saying.
I wouldn't say that. This thread is a place for people to come and say what they don't like. There's over 6000 people in this group and there is only 800 posts here. Only a small percentage of people in the group have actually come here to say what they don't like, and a small percentage of THOSE people have said that they don't like Austen. A few people in a row. Everyone has their own tastes... If you like classics, or if you like 19th century romances with some social commentary and satire, you will probably like Austen. If you don't, then you probably won't.
I happen to love Miss Austen.
Susanna wrote: "I happen to love Miss Austen."So do I. :)
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