On the first day here, in full on jet lag mode blended neatly with overwhelming book lust, I hit the library.
It was actually somewhat epic. Seems I had 2 bucks or so in library fines. Sadly, I had just been a good citizen and dumped most of my change in the parking meter, so could not pay the fine. Also I needed to renew the card, and the only piece of information with the relevant address on it was over a year old.
They didn't accept it.
I went home, somewhat despondently and got a new document - rummagerummagerummage - and went back.
Finally, the Toronto Public Library card that I frankly LOVE and cherish was renewed. Ecstatically I hit the stacks and checked out about 10 books.
Never in my life have I run across a stack of ten more dismal books.
I have no idea what happened, but they are dreadful. I am currently, and with absolutely no enthusiasm slogging through Rohinton Mistry's Family Matters, a "#1 BESTSELLER"
I loathe it. I keep giving it a try, but honestly. I grant I am only on page 129 or 469, but if I am still hating it unremittingly by page 129 it is not a good sign. The characters are chiefly repugnant, or so vulnerable and ill-used that it is agonizing, there is neglect, selfishness, craftyness and whining. UGH.
No idea what happened to me, but jet lag does not seem to be all that good for my book selection skills.
So here's the question....
What is the last book you read that you hated...or the book you hated MOST of them all.....
C'mon, let's here 'em....
what was the worst, and why.
13 comments:
Margaret Atwood ANYTHING..I have tried to read that lady so many times and every time (out of a dim sort of feeling of obligation only...) (and one which I now rapaciously ignore) it is a complete and utter failure....
I hate hate hate it....
What I can however recommend is if you have not yet read "Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society" LOVED and "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" READING NOW and anything by Sena Jeer Naslund, particularly "Ahabs Wife" which you will particularly love as it is a bit of a sailing yarn and "Adundance".
We are here, when can you come?
Nomad
Being in a book group I am often inveigled upon to read a book that I am less then fond of. Usually I quit. But the one I did read because it was a short story was Supertoys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldis. It was the basis of the film AI. It was the only book that everybody loathed. We were going through a phase of chosing by genre and I think Aldis might have just died so was in the papers. Since then we take turns in picking the book on the basis that at least you are likely to enjoy your own choice.
PS Is it just me or is that visual identifier thing impossible to see quite often
I wasn't crazy about Family Matters either - too overwhelmingly depressing. I could barely get throuhg "A Staggering Work of Genius" or whatever the title actually was. And at the risk of really dissing an author - I read the first one in a series by Kate Someone or Other (forgot the last name) and I think it was called The Friday Night Knitting Club. I found that an insult to intelligence everywhere. But just MY opinion, of course!
I loathed The DaVinci Code which was life-changing for many, so that tells you not to listen to me. But I generally avoid anything that's a "#1 Bestseller."
Surely with so many good book blogs out there, you should be able to find something to your taste!
Nomad, same same same. Though I did finish Alias Grace, an atypical book for her, and one I didn't mind. Indeed it has rather stuck with me.
Boo and Trev, I am sorry the visual identifier is a pain, I was just getting so much spam. That is the thing about book groups that has kept me away from them so far...there are so many books, I'm not sure I'd want to have to read something I didn't like.
Bodhi, I think I have officially bailed on Family Matters, just too darned bleak. Meh. I'm halfway through Paul Auster's Timbuktu in a day....enjoying that much more.
JG, yeah, but it's fun to see what people hate. I didn't loathe the Davinci code, but it certainly wasn't transformative or anything...a fun fast read for the beach more like it.....
The whole point of libraries is that you don't have to read the horrible books - you just give them back! There is no financial or other committment to them and there are too many very good books to bother with the bad ones. Take it back and get something you like.
I LOATHED 'The New Industrial State' by J K Galbraith with such passion that I threw it across the room. It was a set text. Other books I don't like I don't keep reading.
Hated some Knitting mystery books but they were so awful I can't remember the author, but they had both knitting patterns and recipes in them. Awful
I usually won't pick up books I know I won't like. So only book that I never finished was a more or less self-imposed "Madame Bovary" from Flaubert. Never managed to read more than two pages. The style, I suppose.
Helen, a very good point indeed, I'll give up on Family Matters...I've stopped reading it, but I haven't quite returned it yet...
ElP...ooof, Madame Bovary...deadly.
ooof! I've had some stinkers recently too.
'White Oleander' and 'Fall on Her Knees' to name two. Both just way way too mopey, moody and with unbelievable story lines.
I love the one word reviews on your books-read list :)
Good to know, I was debating Fall on her Knees...maybe I'll give it a miss.
But the good thing about a book group is you find authors to love that you might never have tried.
The verification thing seems to be OK. Trouble with free stuff on the web is that you can't really complain
Confession time. I pride myself in always finishing a book when I start it. You never know how it will end. With that said I through Divinci Code across the room at the end because I hated the ending. The twilight serious OMG about says it all according to my teenage nieces. I tried I truley did but you can not pay me to read those books. I got to about the 3rd chapter and wanted to burn it. I even read all of the Harry Potter books. I try to keep up with what my kids are reading. It is not easy sometimes!
Boo and Trev...indeed, the no complain option is a drag...maybe I should try an online bookclub. Kind of sucky though without the nibbles and drinks...
Terrie, Gone with the Wind. I would have thrown it overboard if it hadn't been a library book. HATED that one. The ending on the Davinci code was a letdown...ah well. I am not even going to try twilight...gag.
I didn't mind Potter, except book 5, bleh...
Has he tried out the Diana Wynn Jones books? Natalia really likes them....
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