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Okay, my turn.I hate books that make me cry. I feel manipulated. I hate being manipulated. Therefore, I hated The Lovely Bones with the fire of a thousand suns.
I have only ever thrown one book. It was a Vampire Hunter book by Laurell K. Hamilton. I can't even remember which one it was, but the plot just was so stupid. The main character was pregnant and she didn't know which of her supernatural boyfriends was the father. Really?! Yuck.
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time had a beautiful cover. But it seemed to be written by a Greg Mortenson fanboy. "Mr. Greg can fall asleep standing up. Isn't he great!!"
I love A Tale of Two Cities. But I loathe Great Expectations. It's not a Dickens aversion. I hate that they choose this book to introduce high school kids to Dickens.
I'm usually sort of middle of the road on books I've read, but these get my dander up.
I understand that. Books like that also make me angry.I am studying serial murders for my second novel and I have to say that many of these murders should have been stopped long before they were able to murder so many innocent people.
I still haven't been able to come up with my own list of novels that I can't stand however I find myself defending another novel placed on the list! EEK!"I hate books that make me cry. I feel manipulated. I hate being manipulated. Therefore, I hated The Lovely Bones with the fire of a thousand suns." -- Adrienne
While I do respect your opinion and believe have absolutely ever right to hate whatever novel you want I am curious about one thing. Didn't you read what "The Lovely Bones" was about prior to reading it? This novel, in my opinion, does not manipulate the reader in any way. You are told on the back cover what has happened (don't want to spoil anything incase someone hasn't read the superb, tragic novel)...it's not about to get better. I loved "The Lovely Bones" plus it introduced me to one of the most vile human beings I've ever come across, novels and films (that is saying a lot considering all that I've read and all the films I've seen). I knew when I opened up to the front page, I'd be shedding some tears. I just don't understand how anyone couldn't see that if they read even the back cover. SO -- I'm not trying to put down your opinion on the novel "The Lovely Bones" by ANY means Adrienne -- I'm just curious as to why you weren't tipped off to the fact the novel might be a wee bit sad. Again, this is just my curiosity asking here.
Also -- at Joan. I happen to enjoy reading about True Crime...whether it be a work of non-fiction or fiction but some of these murders couldn't have possibly been stopped LONG before they were able to murder so many innocent people. Out of ALL the True Crime novels I've read and I'm just talking non-fiction now, the only murders that I've found that could have been stopped early on were involved in domestic abuse cases. They had their wives, sometimes the husbands, and children crying out for help from the police department, from lawyers, etc. etc. -- anyone who would listen and no one would listen or if they did listen, there was nothing they could do until someone was actually hurt. I honestly cannot think of ONE serial killer/mass murderer that gave away tips that would have given the justice system any clues as to who they were before they pretty much fell into their laps. I'm not trying to state we have a poor justice system -- although in some towns, some states we do -- I'm just stating serial killers especially are very cunning and they are extremely hard to capture. It is easy for us to say, after reading a non-fiction novel about how they were caught, "Oh well...they should have known it was him/her...look at all the evidence." Well, they didn't have all the evidence in the beginning or they would have caught the right man. Wait, I can think of one killer, although it would have been rather late even if they caught him then, if he would have been caught when first approached, maybe one or two lives might have been saved and that is Jeffrey Dahmer. The night one of his victims escaped and ran, half naked, down the street to a police car, with Dahmer behind him. The police didn't believe the boy's tale, they believed Dahmer's story (which I don't remember at the moment) and sent that boy off to his death. Jeffrey Dahmer, if I'm remembering correctly, was arrested about two weeks later -- THEN they discovered the true horrors of what he had done. Otherwise, he is the only one where I think the police had a bit of a hand in the loss of at least one life. What serial killers/mass murderers do you think could have been caught before they were? Again, my own curiosity. I'm not attacking you in any way, shape or form.
Melissa
I love, LOVE books that make me cry or that make me angry, and especially a combination of the two, but I do NOT like feeling manipulated, so I can understand where Adrienne is coming from, however I would disagree that any book that makes one feel sad is automatically manipulating them. Books are supposed to make us feel and experience something outside of ourselves. What is the point of reading something that doesn't affect you at all or that you have no emotional investment in?
Anyway, I did feel like The Lovely Bones was a bit manipulative. Certain parts felt like they were added in for shock or sympathy value, rather than being an honest account of the story. And the descriptions were... weird.
I thought it was OK, but I've read many better books, and The Lovely Bones certainly didn't make me want to rush out and read anything else of Sebold's.
Hello dear don't worry I don't feel attacked. Yes serial killers are very clever and are often able to elude the police. They move from state to state which makes it harder for them to be caught. Often the police do not share murder clues with other states. If they would compare open or even some closed murders stats these murders could be apprehended that much faster. Linkage blindness is what it is called when states don't share murder information across state lines. Linkage blindness prevents the capture of many serial killers.
For the record, I did not just read one fictional crime novel; I have and am studying serial killers in detail for my fictional novel of a serial killer.
Jo:)
No no no! I don't think I was entirely clear. It's not sad books I hate, it's the ones that make me feel like I'm supposed to cry in certain places. I have cried reading books that I liked. Melissa, I did know what the book was about. And I did know it would probably be difficult to read in some spots. And it was. So that wasn't the issue. There were some other places that were so overwritten and melodramatic, it just felt manipulative. Sorry. It's just how it felt.
I no longer read books with dogs on the cover because I know the dog will die. Without fail. I don't like that.
Fiona - Good point about Great Ex. I'd never thought about the characters being really not his usual type.
Adrienne wrote: "No no no! I don't think I was entirely clear. It's not sad books I hate, it's the ones that make me feel like I'm supposed to cry in certain places. I have cried reading books that I liked."LOL Yeah that definitely wasn't clear from your first comment. I do agree that there are manipulative books out there, though, and I agree that The Lovely Bones was one of them.
Joan,"For the record, I did not just read one fictional crime novel; I have and am studying serial killers in detail for my fictional novel of a serial killer."
I NEVER meant to imply that. I was just curious as to which serial killers/mass murderers you thought should have been captured before they were. Yes, states sharing information with each other is a HUGE problem, as is the FBI sharing information with local police departments -- obviously something must be done about this. I was just, again, being curious as to which serial killers you though should have been caught before they actually were -- where there was evidence pointing to them that the police ignored.
Melissa
Melissa, my original statement addressed the capture of these killers in general and the fact that thier capture is HINDRED by the local, state and federal authorities to aggressively consider; -Linkage blindness
- Making a solid commitment to the investigation
- Coordination
- Analyzing large amounts of information
- Pressure from the public and the media(Which can lead to missing some vital clues)
- Assessing the value of victimological information
Jo
Now back to the subject at hand. I like the Alex Crossnovels. I enjoyed reading his work.
Becky wrote: "I love, LOVE books that make me cry or that make me angry, and especially a combination of the two, but I do NOT like feeling manipulated, so I can understand where Adrienne is coming from, however..."I completely agree, Becky! The best books in my opinion are ones that can arouse real, honest emotion in me. The ones that do make me cry or want to throw the book across the room (yes I have done this, just the once) or the one that makes me close the book for a second and really think about what I just read, and feel a chill, or a shudder of the heart, or some kind of emotional tick. And my absolute favorite books are the ones that really settle into my bones when I close the book for the final time... books that I'm done with, but aren't done with me. It's the greatest feeling to be held by a book like that. I can read a book and enjoy it without these kinds of experiences, and say I genuinely liked the book, but it'll never be counted as one of my favorites. I'll never feel the need to write a letter to the author and thank him/her for doing so much to me with his/her words, dead or alive.
Fiona wrote: "I think school often can kill a perfectly good book though. In my experience anyway."
Again, I agree. I'm in complete tandem with you guys today. ;) I have read so many books in high school that I just completely disliked for what now appears to be no reason. Ironically enough, the over analysis and the tests and many teachers' need to emphasize their own interpretations, and ignore others', and use that as fact, is what really deters me. They seem to be trying to get me to love the classics, to dig into the meat of them, but it just turns me off. Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, The Red Badge of Courage, Silas Marner... all read and disliked in high school, and I'm positive that my opinion of them would be different today. I mean, I disliked The Things They Carried! What is wrong with the school I went to, to make me dislike that!?
Michelle wuote: "The best books in my opinion are ones that can arouse real, honest emotion in me. The ones that do make me cry or want to throw the book across the room (yes I have done this, just the once) or the one that makes me close the book for a second and really think about what I just read, and feel a chill, or a shudder of the heart, or some kind of emotional tick. And my absolute favorite books are the ones that really settle into my bones when I close the book for the final time... books that I'm done with, but aren't done with me. It's the greatest feeling to be held by a book like that."That's too beautiful and perfectly right, Michelle. Still percolating within you and it makes itself a little corner in your brain.
Michelle, I agree so much!! Perfectly said. :D
Anyway, this totally makes me think we need a Books I Hated In School Book Club where we are forced to re-confront our demons. Masochistic and courageous and morbidly fascinated people only.
Thanks guys! :) Kaion wrote: "Anyway, this totally makes me think we need a Books I Hated In School Book Club where we are forced to re-confront our demons. Masochistic and courageous and morbidly fascinated people only."
Masochistic and courageous and morbidly fascinated here. Count me IN.
Kaion wrote: "Anyway, this totally makes me think we need a Books I Hated In School Book Club where we are forced to re-confront our demons. Masochistic and courageous and morbidly fascinated people only."If you form it, they will come.
...maybe. :D
Soo... my list of books:1) pretty much all of the classics they teach in high school (Steinbeck, I'm looking STRAIGHT at you, fella.) I didn't even READ all of the classics in high school (we were usually given enough "leading details" for our questions/essays that, after attempting to read the books and failing, I simply wrote an essay using the details in the questions and bs and got A's) and they annoyed me. I've since attempted to read some of the ones that I skipped out on, and every time I have, they've been boring, non-relevant, and pretentious. **shrugs** Not that I have any feeling toward them.
1a) To Kill a Mockingbird
1b) The Great Gatsby
1c) ANYTHING by John Steinbeck
1d) Lord of the Flies
1e) ANYTHING by Charles Dickens - but this is only because he's so dreadfully depressing
You get the picture.
2) Haunted. I thought this book was just gross - not even horror, exactly, although horror can have gross elements - just a new (to me) genre of "gross."
3) Pretty much anything by Dan Brown. His ideas aren't (to me) unique, his plots are repetitive when they aren't railroaded or forgettable, and his characters are about as forgettable as his plots. If you want something that's in a similar genre, but better written, I suggest Steve Berry.
aaaaand, that's all I can think of, off the top of my head. I will now retreat into my fort, where flung things cannot hurt me. :D
When you're right, you're right. There are a lot of classics on this list. I won't tell if you don't.I hated
Ethan Frome - limp characters with no backbone.
Moby Dick - I was hoping aliens would kidnap them all
A Separate Peace - whiny teen with more money than sense
almost all Dickens - man was paid by the word!
Great Gatsby - what's so great about him?
I will duck and run for cover for loving Anita Blake series..I just ignore most of the sex although it does have a purpose, believe it or not.
I agree with whoever said The Scarlet Letter. I hated that book. And I absolutely hated Jane Eyre. I keep thinking that I'll re-read it one of these days, but I can't bring myself to do it. LOLI really hated Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot, and I regretted finishing it.
Abbie K. wrote: "almost all Dickens - man was paid by the word!"Actually that's not entirely true, but it is a common misconception.
That's so cool, El, I didn't know that. And it explains so much!
Holy schmoly, I kept reading and just got to the part about books costing over a weeks wage. Can you imagine? My library card would be soooo worn out.
Jayme, I think Dickens was a pretty interesting guy, which is a source of disagreement between me and my boyfriend. He also thinks Dickens wrote a bunch of trash, but I think the social commentary alone was pretty impressive and the way Dickens handled his publications also paved the way for every single popular writer to follow. Of course his writing isn't for everyone and that's okay, but I would hate for anyone to be turned off by possibly wrong information. :)
I agree with that whole paragraph, El. I haven't read enough Dickens. It's certainly on my list, but so are a lot of things...
That's a really interesting website. I'm impressed :D
Jess wrote: "Okay, well I don't have ten, but even still--don't hate me! :( 1. Blue by Benjamin Zucker
For me, it was an absolute chore to read this book. I didn't understand what the heck the point of this..."
Jess,
Like you, I couldn't stand Robinson Crusoe. We had to read it in college. I appriciate it as one of the first novels written, but I could not stand the characters or how they behaved towards other people. Also, I agree with the not-well-thought-out plot.
I really didn't like:The New York Trilogy I just could not get into this and had to leave it-couldn't follow it at all.
Generally, I don't like Virginia Andrews as I feel a little ashamed of myself for reading the ridiculous plotlines and silly characters. Argh. I've definitely quit these books now though.
Also don't like any Charles Dickens-way too descriptive for me.
1. The Twilight series: What can I say, other than repeat what we all should know: this series is just utter trash. The characters are flat, Bella is an idiot, Edward is abusive, Jacob is pathetic, and the story insults the intelligence of any woman who reads it. The fact that this book is as popular as it is, and that people want "their own Edwards" just reminds me why feminism is still important.2. The Kite Runner: The writing is terrible, the characters are one dimensional and not even likable, and the plot is not in any way realistic or believable. If it weren't set in Afghanistan I don't think it would have sold as much as it did.
3. Watchmen: The characters in this book make me want to barf. They are terrible terrible human beings, which would be fine, except that the author intends for us to like them by the end of the book. I find that, and the terrible and insulting way in which this book treats rape, to be enough reason to avoid this book at all costs.
5. A Separate Peace. I usually love books assigned in school, but I will never forgive the teacher who made me read this book. Maybe if the characters were actually fighting in the war I could have excused so much melodrama, but as it is I couldn't stand this book.
6. Anything written by Jodi Piccoult: I feel like she is one of the most over-hyped authors right now. Her writing isn't all that great, which would be fine if her stories made up for it. I feel like all she does is think of some cool or trendy issue in society (designer babies, school shootings, etc) and then writes the most cliched story she possibly can about it, because she knows that people will think it's deep and meaningful just because it's about said issue. Maybe if she were a bit more original I wouldn't hate her quite so much.
7. Ender's Game: So, I'm Orson Scott Card, and I want to write a book. What does my thought process look like? "I know, I'll write a book about space and battle training, but because it's set in the future I have to make it different. Oh, I know, I'll make it be little kids! That's so edgy and meaningful and totally futuristic, right? Then I'll write completely leaden characters who make no progress throughout the book. To do that I'll make sure that they don't have to be responsible for their decisions or actions in any way. The writing style doesn't really matter, so I'll just make it terrible. Then I can make sure that the sequels will get more and more insultingly misogynistic and homophobic as they go along, but no-one will notice because they are already reading the series! I'm a genius!"
8. A Wizard of Earthsea: First of all, I am a huge Le Guin fan. I have loved every book I've read of hers, except this one. Usually she writes beautifully, with fabulous style, progressive plots, and multi-dimensional characters all set in some of the most amazing worlds ever created. This time she just dumped all that out the window and wrote an unimaginative fantasy story in a mediocre style with a stereotypical plot and flat characters. What a disappointment. If you want to read Le Guin, just ignore this whole series and go read The Left Hand of Darkness or The Dispossessed, which are both incredible works of art.
9. Anything written by C.S. Lewis: Honestly, I'm not sure how he can take a wild fantasy story and turn it into something so boring that I couldn't bear to read it. But that's what he did with The Chronicles of Narnia. The problem with Lewis is that his writing style is just plain boring without being beautiful enough to make up for it. Besides, if I wanted to read a book of theology or apologetics, I would ask for it by name.
10. Eat, Pray, Love: Why on earth would I want to hear about some whiny privileged white lady traveling around the world on the publishing company's dollar, flirting with every guy she meets, complaining about money, and generally being annoying? She sets out to find herself, which means going to Italy to eat a lot and complain even more, going to India to sit in a resort and decide after four months that she has reached enlightenment, all while studiously not noticing that there are poor people in India, and going to Indonesia, where, to the horror of self-respecting women everywhere, she completes herself by finding an older man who can take care of her and patronize her for the rest of her life. I guess that divorce wasn't so bad after all, if it only took her a year to get over it so thoroughly. Why oh why is this book so popular? Curse you Oprah!
Emily wrote: "6. Anything written by Jodi Piccoult: I feel like she is one of the most over-hyped authors right now. Her writing isn't all that great, which would be fine if her stories made up for it. I feel like all she does is think of some cool or trendy issue in society (designer babies, school shootings, etc) and then writes the most cliched story she possibly can about it, because she knows that people will think it's deep and meaningful just because it's about said issue. Maybe if she were a bit more original I wouldn't hate her quite so much."THANK YOU. I have been telling this to people for what seems like years, and yet everyone continues to love this woman. I was so excited about reading her, based on hype, I bought three -- three -- of her books in haste (My Sister's Keeper, The Pact, and Nineteen Minutes). I was expecting My Sister's Keeper to be one of the best books I've ever read, based on what I've heard about it... but it was terrible. It honestly reads like bad fanfiction, if you've ever read any and know what I'm talking about. My Sister's Keeper took me forever to complete, because I dreaded reading it, I read about 70 pages of The Pact before declaring it unreadable, and haven't even cracked open Nineteen Minutes. I think I'm very well aware of what this woman has to offer by now, which is nothing. How she managed to get so popular is beyond me. And I really hate myself for giving her about $45 of my money. Money that could have been spent on so much quality fiction!
And your reaction to Eat, Pray, Love definitely makes me glad that I bought that book, too, based on hype lol. I really have to learn not to buy books simply because a majority tells me I should.
Emily wrote: "1. The Twilight series: What can I say, other than repeat what we all should know: this series is just utter trash. The characters are flat, Bella is an idiot, Edward is abusive, Jacob is pathetic,..."LOVE your description of "Eat, Pray, Love" or as I call it, "Me, Myself, and I" ;)
Kimberly wrote: "LOVE your description of "Eat, Pray, Love" or as I call it, "Me, Myself, and I" ;) "Haha, that's grea. Too true!
Woah. I just read this entire thread... Well, skimmed most of it and read parts of it. It is really interesting, as others have said, seeing books I love, or at least like, on this list (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit - love; The Kite Runner and The Devil Wears Prada - like for what they are, quick enough reads that distract my mind and take me elsewhere).Here's my own list:
1. Beloved - This book was one of very few that made me consider turning away from my anti-book-burning stance. I was the one who skated by in school without completing the required reading 90% of the time and still got good grades. This was one of the few required books I ever finished and I wanted to hang myself afterwards. I really did not like it.
2. The Old Man and The Sea - I fell asleep so many times reading this book. It is another book from the required reading list that I actually finished, and then we had to watch the movie so we could compare and contrast the two. I slept through the movie, too.
3. The Three Sisters - First of all, this woman needs to go back to high school English classes and relearn how to write. Then she needs to find herself an editor. Then she can rewrite this entire book, which had an intriguing story, so that it isn't so poorly written and edited that it makes me want to vomit for the rest of my life. I counted dozens of spelling and grammar errors, and that says nothing for the fact that the writing was incredibly clunky and slow-moving. It made this book painful to read and I felt like I had wasted my life by the time I finished.
4. Frankenstein - I had to read this book twice for school, once in eighth grade and then again my sophomore year of college. I can't even remember if I finished it in eighth grade because I hated it so much. I read about two chapters in college before remembering why I hated it and stopped. I may give this book a third chance, I'm not sure yet.
5. The Great Gatsby - Another required reading book, yes, but oh my goodness, this was torture. I finished all but the last two chapters before realizing I had no desire to continue on. Having to take a test over it and write a paper just sucked knowing I never read the last two chapters. I also plan on giving it a second chance some day, but only if I can do so without spending a penny on the book.
6. Life of Pi - EW. I was about ready to strangle the kid by the time this book finished. It left me confused and frustrated and annoyed to no end. I was lucky to have found it online so I didn't have to pay to finish it after I had to return the library copy. I never plan on reading this book again, and most likely will avoid the author, as well.
I think that's it for books I truly loathed, at least for right now. I'm waiting to reserve judgement on Twilight until I've had the chance to read the entire series, but they will most likely be 7-10 for me.
Also, I haven't hated all required reading. In eighth grade we also had to read The Martian Chronicles and although I didn't care for it initially just because I had to read it, I reread it later and loved it. The Things They Carried is another one I had to read, and I finished several days early because I could not put it down. I loved that book so much. There was another one on the Aztec empire and the destruction of it by the Spanish that I had to read and for whatever reason I really, really liked it. I can't remember the title, though.
To me 'Sense and Sensibility' was a bit of a bore and 'The Alchemist' which was quite disappointing. Now I would not really recommend these books to anyone but in the case of 'The Alchemist' lots of people think its one of the greatest books ever written so I guess its up to whoever to maybe check it out or whatever.
I think The Lord of the Rings might be the most boring tome ever written. I get why Tolkein is the father of fantasy and I can respect what he was trying to do and the world he created. But oh my god, snoozeville. Yes, Amanda. The HP books get much better. After the third one they stop being written for children and get a little bit darker.
Felina wrote: "I think The Lord of the Rings might be the most boring tome ever written. "I thought we were friends. O_O
Amanda wrote: "Wow, guys, just because something is required reading for school doesn't make it awful- maybe it just makes it inappropriate for teenagers. That being said, here are a few I could do without:The ..."
So I shouldn't swear off of Salinger altogether? Because I loathed
The Catcher in the Rye.
Amanda wrote: "Beloved- I didn't mind it so much until I read an interview with Toni Morrison where she said even SHE doesn't know who Beloved is. Really? Wow."I HATED that book. This makes me loathe it even more.
I can't help that I can effectively use The Lord of the Rings as a sleep aid.
Felina wrote: "I can't help that I can effectively use The Lord of the Rings as a sleep aid."LOL!
Felina wrote: "I think The Lord of the Rings might be the most boring tome ever written."I loved LOTR. I even bought the encyclopedia and all the companion books. I'm not quite as huge of a fan now, but I think the languages he created are just incredible. But if you didn't like it, then you should definitely never read The Silmarilion. It's brilliant as far as world building goes, but it's even more boring/hard to read than LOTR. I think you have to really love his world to get into it. On the other hand, if you like epic poetry, The Lays of Beleriand is beautiful. Also, The Hobbit is fabulous and much more readable. It was my favorite book growing up.
Catamorandi wrote: "Here is my Top Ten Books to Avoid:(in no particular order)
1. Finnegans Wake by James Joyce
2. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
3. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austin
4. Of Human Bondage b..."
Oh my goodness, Gone with the Wind is one of my favorite books of all time! I guess that this is the point of this thread though -- to drum up debate =)
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:1...."
I definitely agree with She's Come Undone. That book hurt my insides.
A book I struggled with for YEARS:Wicked..
Ugh. Awful. And for a story line and premise that COULD have been so wonderful...what a waste!
Yuck!
The one book I'm "refusing" to touch
"Eat, Pray, Love"
I can't do it...and no one is gonna make me! :)
I recently picked up Ender's Game and Gone with the Wind, which seem to be pretty panned here. But I don't think I can stay away.
Others that are really hyped that I own and still haven't attempted:
Life of Pi
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Running with Scissors
And I will admit...I'm am an English Lit GRADUATE...
Who has NEVER read any Jane Austen. (waiting for rotten tomatoes to be thrown) I will someday...
For what it's worth I loved Ender's Game, but I also liked Wicked, so take that as you will.
These lists are very enlightening. My top 10 books I wish I had not read, cannot recommend, caused headaches...The Old Man and the Sea
The Corrections
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Dear John and almost anything by Nicholas Sparks
(if you are going to write pure sap, at least let some of them end well)
Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates
Dero, I'm trying to read One Hundred Years of Solitude right now. The premise is interesting, but I'm having a tough time getting interested.I also just finished reading a really good book, and I have hard time getting interested in anything when I finish reading a book that I was super into, so that may be part of it.
I loathe Pride and Prejudice. Not only did I not get the "humor" but I didn't like the writing style. Hate me now. :)
I actually like The Great Gatsby, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies, and some others in this list. I don't get why some of you don't like The Chronicles of Narnia...
OK, for my list:
1) Pride and Prejudice - See above
2) 1984 - Writing was OK, but I don't like the characters. The main character said something like this "he wanted to rape her and slit her throat as she climaxed" Some details I could do without "The unrest was climaxing to a great orgasm" 0-o. Just 0-o. I also hated the ending.
3) Robinson Crusoe - See the writing style. 'Nuf said.
4) A Separate Peace - Confusing. It's not really related to war, and I don't get the point of this book.
5) Blink (By Malcolm Gladwell) - Just didn't like it; the writing style was ick and information wasn't a "OHMEGEE!111!"
6) Inkspell - Just boring.
7) Animal Farm - I already didn't like George Orwell, but since my best friend's mom suggested this to me, I thought "Oh well..." Ending was sad.
8) Breaking Her Fall (By Stephen Goodwin) - Lessee...Divorced main character is mentally unstable. MC sleeps with girlfriend. MC likes to go crazy and make life even worse for himself. MC's daughter wasn't even that big of a character as the book summary made her out to be.
9) Life As We Knew It (By Susan Pfeffer) - Leftist bias? OK, but as long as there isn't too much. But this book, however, is SWARMING with it. Udgh. This is more of a romance book than an action, fight-to-survive book. I was disappointed.
10) The Ramsay Scallop (Frances Temple) - Had to read this for 8th grade. Ultimately one of the most boring books I've ever read.
In my opinion, some books for HS aren't that suitable for kids of that age...In HS even I got traumatized. 0-o
I actually like The Great Gatsby, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies, and some others in this list. I don't get why some of you don't like The Chronicles of Narnia...
OK, for my list:
1) Pride and Prejudice - See above
2) 1984 - Writing was OK, but I don't like the characters. The main character said something like this "he wanted to rape her and slit her throat as she climaxed" Some details I could do without "The unrest was climaxing to a great orgasm" 0-o. Just 0-o. I also hated the ending.
3) Robinson Crusoe - See the writing style. 'Nuf said.
4) A Separate Peace - Confusing. It's not really related to war, and I don't get the point of this book.
5) Blink (By Malcolm Gladwell) - Just didn't like it; the writing style was ick and information wasn't a "OHMEGEE!111!"
6) Inkspell - Just boring.
7) Animal Farm - I already didn't like George Orwell, but since my best friend's mom suggested this to me, I thought "Oh well..." Ending was sad.
8) Breaking Her Fall (By Stephen Goodwin) - Lessee...Divorced main character is mentally unstable. MC sleeps with girlfriend. MC likes to go crazy and make life even worse for himself. MC's daughter wasn't even that big of a character as the book summary made her out to be.
9) Life As We Knew It (By Susan Pfeffer) - Leftist bias? OK, but as long as there isn't too much. But this book, however, is SWARMING with it. Udgh. This is more of a romance book than an action, fight-to-survive book. I was disappointed.
10) The Ramsay Scallop (Frances Temple) - Had to read this for 8th grade. Ultimately one of the most boring books I've ever read.
In my opinion, some books for HS aren't that suitable for kids of that age...In HS even I got traumatized. 0-o
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Lays of Beleriand (other topics)The Catcher in the Rye (other topics)
The Martian Chronicles (other topics)
The Old Man and the Sea (other topics)
The Things They Carried (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
V.C. Andrews (other topics)Charles Dickens (other topics)
Steve Berry (other topics)
John Steinbeck (other topics)
Dan Brown (other topics)
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In no particular order:
Cry, the Beloved Country
Why: Just a very strange book, I can't even remember. It was just truly boring!
What to read instead: A Fine Balance
1984
Why: I got through it, it was quick, but it simply could have been a short essay. Too long and repetitive.
What to read instead: Animal Farm
The Glass Castle: A Memoir
Why: Just eck! What to say, it was just pompous. I didn't care about any of the characters, and you knew that some of the experiences were exaggerated.
What to read instead: ANY book. The Last Town on Earth: A Novel