What in your opinion is the most overrated novel ever written

Alwaysinspired · Oct 4, 2011

I apologize in advance if this subject has already been covered in the past. I'm curious to know what you feel is the most overrated novel ever written. Why is it your choice? I'll start.

The Great Gatsby. Now, I know there will be people that will want to debate me on this, but hear me out. I chose it, because before I read it I had such high expectations. Upon completing it, those expectations were not met. Yes, it was a good read, but I wouldn't call it a "masterpiece," nor would I say that F. Scott Fitzgerald was a genius for writing it. It's interesting, because I know several people who are avid readers and they shared the same opinion as I did about the book.

kaitie · Oct 4, 2011

Lol! My first thought was The Great Gatsby. When I read it the first time I was highly unimpressed, but I've seen so many people put it on the list of best novels of all time that it always makes me kind of raise an eyebrow and think "Reaaaally?"

That being said, I do plan to go back and read it again and see if I still feel that way. I might have just not understood it the first time around. It's entirely possible that the book really is sheer brilliance and I just wasn't quite at a level to appreciate that yet when I read it.

Alwaysinspired · Oct 4, 2011

kaitie said:
Lol! My first thought was The Great Gatsby. When I read it the first time I was highly unimpressed, but I've seen so many people put it on the list of best novels of all time that it always makes me kind of raise an eyebrow and think "Reaaaally?"

That being said, I do plan to go back and read it again and see if I still feel that way. I might have just not understood it the first time around. It's entirely possible that the book really is sheer brilliance and I just wasn't quite at a level to appreciate that yet when I read it.

I thought that too when I first read it, so I went back several months ago and read it again. I realized my first impression was right. LOL

Chasing the Horizon · Oct 4, 2011

I'd choose Lord of the Rings. I only made it through the first 50 pages of the first book because it was the worst example of pointless info-dumping I've ever seen in a published novel. I guess it explains why so many newbie fantasy writers think they should discuss every single little thing about their world in the first few chapters, though.

Phaeal · Oct 4, 2011

I love The Great Gatsby. You two are obviously wrong. Chasing the Horizon is also wrong about The Lord of the Rings. Sigh.

My choice for most overrated novel is one that's recently been released, and its author is very much alive, so I think I'll pass on this question.

Overrated dead authors? Hmmm. I just keep thinking of more overrated live authors.

Alwaysinspired · Oct 4, 2011

Phaeal said:
I love The Great Gatsby. You two are obviously wrong. Chasing the Horizon is also wrong about The Lord of the Rings. Sigh.

My choice for most overrated novel is one that's recently been released, and its author is very much alive, so I think I'll pass on this question.

Overrated dead authors? Hmmm. I just keep thinking of more overrated live authors.

You're entitled to love it, just like I'm entitled not to

You know the old saying opinions are like *ssholes, we all have one. I don't blame you for not wanting to mention someone's novel if the author is still living

elindsen · Oct 4, 2011

I say anything by Stephen King. I've read Ythe dead zone and one other and his writing , to me, is very inflated.

Bufty · Oct 4, 2011

Alwaysinspired · Oct 4, 2011

elindsen said:
I say anything by Stephen King. I've read Ythe dead zone and one other and his writing , to me, is very inflated.

I haven't read Stephen King in years. That being said, I will say I liked his early work

Kyla Laufreyson · Oct 4, 2011

Well...there's one book that jumps immediately to mind. Hint: it involves vampires.

The one by a dead guy would have to be Moby Dick. Half the book was giant descriptions of whale parts and what they do with them once the whale is dead! If I wanted to learn about that, I would have read a book about it...a non-fiction one.

Shakesbear · Oct 4, 2011

Chasing the Horizon said:
I'd choose Lord of the Rings. I only made it through the first 50 pages of the first book because it was the worst example of pointless info-dumping I've ever seen in a published novel. I guess it explains why so many newbie fantasy writers think they should discuss every single little thing about their world in the first few chapters, though.

You read fifty pages out of just over one thousand and on that alone you make a decision that the book is over rated? There may be an 'info dump' a the start of the book - but there is much more to it than that. Mind, I always skip the songs - they really are bad!

I honestly can't think of a book that I would think of as over rated - though I probably will in the middle of the night!

Ashes Oh Ashes · Oct 4, 2011

A book about vampires. *Ehem*. That's just my opinion though.

As for Lord of the Rings...What?!?! The story might be the single best ever written. While his writing bored me at times, the sheer power behind the narrative left me wondering what I'd do with myself post-reading.

Devil Ledbetter · Oct 4, 2011

Arianna Sterling said:
Well...there's one book that jumps immediately to mind. Hint: it involves vampires.

A Discovery of Witches was terribly overrated IMO, but I doubt that's what you're referring too.

Cyia · Oct 4, 2011

It's a tie between half the reading list for my Senior English Lit class in high school.

blacbird · Oct 4, 2011

Moby Dick.

caw

Devil Ledbetter · Oct 4, 2011

How could I forget The Bridges of Madison County?

nchahine · Oct 4, 2011

Phaeal said:
My choice for most overrated novel is one that's recently been released, and its author is very much alive, so I think I'll pass on this question.

Let me guess: it starts with a 'T' and ends with a 't'.

Honestly, I was expecting more hate for everyone's favorite YA vampire author. Everyone's pretty tame today.

scarletpeaches · Oct 4, 2011

Chasing the Horizon said:
I'd choose Lord of the Rings. I only made it through the first 50 pages of the first book because it was the worst example of pointless info-dumping I've ever seen in a published novel. I guess it explains why so many newbie fantasy writers think they should discuss every single little thing about their world in the first few chapters, though.

Yup. This, to the letter.

Shakesbear said:
You read fifty pages out of just over one thousand and on that alone you make a decision that the book is over rated? There may be an 'info dump' a the start of the book - but there is much more to it than that. Mind, I always skip the songs - they really are bad!

I read nearly four times as much and still think it was over-rated.

Yes, there's an info-dump at the start of the book. And probably all the way through it for all I know. But if people don't like info-dumps -- and we're constantly warned against them -- they're not going to read any further.

It doesn't matter if the rest of the book is spectacular. If you can't get past the info-dump, you're never going to know.

And the fact you skip bits says a lot.

Ashes Oh Ashes said:
As for Lord of the Rings...What?!?! The story might be the single best ever written. While his writing bored me at times, the sheer power behind the narrative left me wondering what I'd do with myself post-reading.

If writing bores me I don't carry on reading. I don't give a damn about the story if the writing isn't there and I don't see why readers should have to choose. Writing or story? I want both.

Devil Ledbetter · Oct 4, 2011

nchahine said:
Let me guess: it starts with a 'T' and ends with a 't'.

Honestly, I was expecting more hate for everyone's favorite YA vampire author. Everyone's pretty tame today.

For all its problems (and I could recite them chapter and verse) that particular book was quite readable, at least.

scarletpeaches · Oct 4, 2011

I think any book becomes overrated when it's hyped rather than read.

There are so many books which people praise and don't dare criticise -- take for example Pride and Prejudice. I've read it twice. But there are probably people out there who are put off by the constant praise and hype it gathers. Certain books have a reputation rather than a readership and I can understand why that alone would put people off reading them.

It becomes a bit Emperor's-New-Clothes where people don't dare develop their own opinion of a book for fear the chattering masses will shoot them down for daring to say "Hang on, the emperor has no clothes on!"

alleycat · Oct 4, 2011

Since the question is about overrated books, not necessarily bad books, LoTR would probably be on my list as well. And maybe Catcher in the Rye.

bettielee · Oct 4, 2011

Shakesbear said:
You read fifty pages out of just over one thousand and on that alone you make a decision that the book is over rated? There may be an 'info dump' a the start of the book - but there is much more to it than that. Mind, I always skip the songs - they really are bad!

I honestly can't think of a book that I would think of as over rated - though I probably will in the middle of the night!

gasp! Shock! I luv the songs!

For me, Catcher in the Rye. Read it again to give it a fresh eye - still didn't do anything for me.

seun · Oct 4, 2011

I don't know about ever but I found Far From The Madding Crowd tedious.

Ooh, Gabriel Oak. What a meaningful name. How I will ever decipher the MASSIVELY UNSUBTLE mystery as to what it could mean?

mac3910 · Oct 4, 2011

Crime and Punishment. I get the message being conveyed, but I just barely survived it.

scarletpeaches · Oct 4, 2011

The Da Vinci Code, all things Harry Potter, Twilight, LotR...a case could be made for all of them.

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