Worst Books from the List

[Stephanie]

Which titles left you scratching your head with their placement on the "best books" list?

Were there any books you completely gave up on?

Are there any books you're dreading?

[LynnB]

Yes! Yes! Sci-Fi dread is taking me over! Much of the Reader's List and some of the Board's list have me wondering how they got on there. I'll have to go check titles and get back to this post.

[Stephanie]

I didn't make it through , and I also didn't make it through when I tried reading it about ten years ago. It's one I am going to attempt again.

[LynnB]

After looking at my shelves, of the books I've read so far, my least favs are (surprise, surprise) Stranger in a Strange Land and Dune.

[Stephanie]

I also tried to read several years ago and couldn't get into it. This is another one I have vowed to attempt again. You should see my original print out of this list from about ten years ago...it has writing all over it, the highlighters have faded...I love it!

[Stephanie]

My least favorites (not already mentioned) include:



Slaughterhouse-Five - I think people either love Vonnegut or really dislike Vonnegut. I am part of group two.
The Catcher in the Rye - Many people think The Great Gatsby is overrated; I think this mess is overrated. I MUCH prefer Nine Stories.
Beloved - All English majors I know that don't love Morrison feel guilty, including me.
The Wood Wife - I read this last year without realizing it was on the list and throughout the entire book I just kept thinking, "WHAT?" When it becomes the monthly pick I will be very anxious to hear what others have to say about it.

[Gregory]

Stephanie wrote: "I didn't make it through , and I also didn't make it through when I tried reading it about ten years ago. It's one I am going to attempt a..."

I also have had trouble reading the Dune series. This time I will listen to it on audio c.d. that way I probably will have a more easy time with it. I really really really want to be able to finish the Dune Series one day.

[Gregory]

What I find interesting is that a number of great books have been kept off the list. Also if I am making a mix tape I think that there should be only one musician or group per collection. Here we find that there are multiple listings by one author. E.g. Charles De Lint has 6 (at least) out of a 100 for the readers list. Not that his books are not great but this keeps other great writers off the list. E.g. Dan Simmons, Vernor Vinge, Elmore Leonard, John Nichols,Zora Neala Hurston, Barbara Kingsolver and that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

[Chris]

Tops on my list would have to be A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Perhaps it's because I had to read it in college and hated every single page of it. Needless to say I haven't rushed to read Ulysses.
I also really disliked The Sheltering Sky. And I can't for the life of me figure out what Zuleika Dobson was on this list.

[Shawn]

Hey Chris, what was it you disliked about The Sheltering Sky?

[Chris]

I disliked all the characters - intensely. They reminded me of some of Fitzgerald's characters with no ability to see inside themselves or one another. The whole thing felt a bit like just watching sand blow around.

[Garlan ✌]

I wasn't completely enamored with "The Sheltering Sky" to begin with, but it kind of grew on me. I believe I wound up giving it a 3 1/2 downgraded to 3*. Some of the descriptive passages were really good IMO.

[Chris]

I agree with you on the descriptions. I can still picture a number of scenes. I think I'm just more of a narrative-driven person.

[Chris]

Ryan wrote: "I am about 19 books in and light in august was a beast to read. I was not a fan. Also did not like Handmaid's tale."

Handmaid's Tale is actually one of my favorite books. Although I think it may have had a more intense impact on me because I read almost the whole thing while stuck on a plane delayed by a snowstorm. It was one of the first "dystopian" stories I had ever come across. While it's possible to poke all kinds of holes in the story, I still remember being totally caught up in it. What didn't you like?