Are there books you hate, but everyone else raves about?

lemonhead · Jun 9, 2009

I guess I'm in the mood to start conversations today.

I hate Charles Dickens with a passion. I refuse to read anymore of his books since I left high school. I wish to God he hadn't been paid by the word...and I think he's completely overrated as a writer.

I also am not a fan of Phillip Pullman. I like the Golden Compass but the rest of the series I feel like just get's stinkier. By the Amber Spyglass I was flipping pages and feeling like I was being hit over the head with Pullman's religious beliefs. I also feel like he was trying to hard...

So are there any books that you know other people love, or are highly acclaimed and you just don't get it??

Zipotes · Jun 9, 2009

The House of Night Series! I couldn't get further than the first one. It was as if the author was trying way too hard to sound like a teen and it just came out unnatural and turned me off.
However, it's a very popular series and most people love it. Go figure. Maybe something's wrong with me.

Juneluv12 · Jun 9, 2009

If we're talking classics, not a big fan of Wuthering Heights, and I'm not sure why SMeyer wanted to pull that love story. Give me Jane Eyre anyday.

I may get shot for this one, but I never really loved The Giver....maybe I was having an off day!!!

kaitlin008 · Jun 9, 2009

Zipotes said:
The House of Night Series! I couldn't get further than the first one. It was as if the author was trying way too hard to sound like a teen and it just came out unnatural and turned me off.

I second this--that was exactly how I felt. I actually didn't even get all the way through the first one.

I know there are several other books I feel this way about, but for some reason none of them will come to mind!

Red.Ink.Rain · Jun 9, 2009

June - honestly, I didn't love The Giver either. I liked it, but it's definitely not a favorite. And I had a friend recommend "Pirates!" by Celia Rees, saying it was absolutely amazing...but I was laughing the whole time I was reading because it was just so stupid.

I'm also with lemonhead - I didn't like The Golden Compass series. The first one was the best, but after that it got preachy and weird.

Juneluv12 · Jun 9, 2009

kaitlin008 said:
I second this--that was exactly how I felt. I actually didn't even get all the way through the first one.

I know there are several other books I feel this way about, but for some reason none of them will come to mind!

We'll you guys make me glad I didn't pick them up at the discount bin at TJ Max the other day!!!

raburrell · Jun 9, 2009

Catcher in the Rye. I wanted to smack the crap out of Holden the entire time I was reading it.
(With apologies to the probable legions around here who want to smack *me* now...)

misslissy · Jun 9, 2009

I really don't like Eragon and following. Everyone is like these are amazing and I'm like, they give me a headache.

Juneluv12 · Jun 9, 2009

raburrell said:
Catcher in the Rye. I wanted to smack the crap out of Holden the entire time I was reading it.
(With apologies to the probable legions around here who want to smack *me* now...)

Then feel my pain because I have to teach it next year! Ugh! That and The Scarlet Letter.

Leah_Michelle · Jun 9, 2009

Stephen King. I really can't stand to read his work. It doesn't flow for me like other things do. I completely respect him and his ideas, but I can't read his books. I've tried really hard to.

Becky · Jun 9, 2009

I have two that I can think of at the minute: Lord of the Flies by William Golidng is one of them. It's not like his message is subtle - it's very clear, and I found it dull! But maybe that's just because I had to read it for college.

The next is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon. All my friends raved about it, but I hated it! I felt it was dull, pointless and went off the story too much. I realise it was meant to, but it just got on my nerves after a while!

With Phillip Pullman, I did enjoy them, but found my enjoyment waning as I got to the final one.

scarletpeaches · Jun 9, 2009

Jane Eyre.

It hinges on one of the biggest coincidences in 'classic' literature and I'd happily burn every copy.

Adam · Jun 9, 2009

Pride and bloody prejudice.

scarletpeaches · Jun 9, 2009

Adzmodeus said:
Pride and bloody prejudice.

Now with added zombies!

Adam · Jun 9, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
Now with added zombies!

Still not enough to get me to read it. (As, apparently, an understanding of the original is required.)

Got to page 70 and wanted to throw it out the window. :rant:

*Waits for the "P+P is exceptional, you muppet!" reppies.*

Leah_Michelle · Jun 9, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
Now with added zombies!

Oh my God, that's right! My friend was telling me about that. We were pretty much in tears from laughing by just reading that!

MissKris · Jun 9, 2009

Leah_Michelle said:
Stephen King. I really can't stand to read his work. It doesn't flow for me like other things do. I completely respect him and his ideas, but I can't read his books. I've tried really hard to.

I agree. He bores me to tears.

Um, love P+P. But thinks everyone's entitled to their own opinion. Thinks the addition of zombies will ROCK!!!

As for YA, I hated 13 Reasons Why, even though other folks flip out over it. I hated all the characters and wanted to drown them in lime-flavored jello. Fricken got on my nerves.

I'm finally getting to the part in Uglies that's actually somewhat interesting, but I've found the book to be awfully slow, over all. Westerfeld talks on his website about how he wanted to write a book that was action packed, but so far there's mostly been this girl riding around on a hoverboard, wishing she was pretty. *snore*

Cybernaught · Jun 9, 2009

Dickens overrated? Waaaaaaaaaa....? :box:

KD_Kilker · Jun 9, 2009

TUH.WHY.HUH.LIIIIIGHT.

I can't believe no one's mentioned it already.

peachiemkey · Jun 9, 2009

KD_Kilker said:
TUH.WHY.HUH.LIIIIIGHT.

I can't believe no one's mentioned it already.

Maybe because it's a given, on this board.

I... okay, this is going to sound awful, but you know how everyone loves John Green? Even *I* love John Green - I check his blog constantly. But as for his books... I couldn't get past page five of Abundance of Katherines. I put down Looking for Alaska halfway through and never bothered picking it up again. Paper Towns, eh. I feel like I SHOULD love his books - his style is so me! - but I just can't get into them at all.

Others. Well, there are a lot of books that didn't live up to my expectations. But that's just because I'm picky and I tend to not finish books I don't ABSOLUTELY love. (I'm lazy like that.)

I've hated most (okay, all) of the so-called classics I've read so far in high school, but that might just be because I'm in high school. Might.

wandergirl · Jun 9, 2009

MissKris said:
As for YA, I hated 13 Reasons Why, even though other folks flip out over it. I hated all the characters and wanted to drown them in lime-flavored jello. Fricken got on my nerves.

I'm finally getting to the part in Uglies that's actually somewhat interesting, but I've found the book to be awfully slow, over all. Westerfeld talks on his website about how he wanted to write a book that was action packed, but so far there's mostly been this girl riding around on a hoverboard, wishing she was pretty. *snore*

Kris, our tastes are pretty similar I think -- I felt the same about both of those. I finished the Uglies series not too long ago, and I can barely remember any of it. That's not a good thing. lol

And I haven't read P&P yet, but considering the readers I know who love it, I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy it.

TerzaRima · Jun 9, 2009

Jane Eyre.

It hinges on one of the biggest coincidences in 'classic' literature and I'd happily burn every copy.

I'LL FIGHT YOU

scarletpeaches · Jun 9, 2009

Bring it on.

Adam · Jun 9, 2009

TerzaRima said:
I'LL FIGHT YOU

scarletpeaches said:
Bring it on.

Um, can you guys wait til I've read it?

I need to know what side I'm on.

Zoombie · Jun 9, 2009

No, Jane Eyre is awesome! I loved the part where she got kidnapped by the super villain Acheron Hades and there's the big fist fight on the roof while the mansion burns down.

Yeah, that was awesome.

Are there books you hate, but everyone else raves about?

Life isn't all beer and skittles.

Steel Magnolia & Snarky Pants

Seeing newness all the time

Not your kid brother's YA

Steel Magnolia & Snarky Pants

Treguna Makoidees Trecorum SadisDee

Only a sassbucket sometimes.

Steel Magnolia & Snarky Pants

Fangirling

Not dead.

Not dead.

Fangirling

Is the random.

Decker

Carpe diem

circuits in the sea

~kirsten hubbard

Absinthe O'Malice

Not dead.

Dragon of the Multiverse