Bookworms Unite! discussion

Hi, everyone!

Since we already have a Favorite Books thread, I thought it only fitting to have one to discuss our Least Favorite one, as well.


Any and all discussions are always welcome.:)

Pretty much everything I had to read for school...

I'm lucky that English class didn't kill my love of reading. My least favorite reads from those days were Foundation by Isaac Asimov and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

It's odd, though. Despite my dislike of having to analyze books to death in my classes, it ended up helping me out as a writer. Now I'm in love with foreshadowing, symbolism, etc!

I've read some truly great ones for English class, as well.

As for a least favorite, one that easily comes to mind for me is Case Histories.

Also, Almanac of the Dead.

I know this won't be popular, but OMG I HATED Moby Dick!

I absolutely hated The Scarlet Letter and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

I really, really did not like The Great Gatsby (Even though I live on Long Island and therefore was told I would love it.) and She's Come Undone.

Moby Dick I struggled with, but still liked it. I can see where some people wouldn't like it, though.

Do not read Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker; ugh! It made no sense; but of course, I don't like anything by Clive Barker.... I just don't get him I guess.... I threw this one against the wall.

Getting Out of Jersey was another irritating book. I won it off of the GR giveaways. I think I was fair in my review, but wanted to make sure the author knew that it could have been much better; uneditted, ARC or not. A story is good regardless.

Kathy wrote: "I really, really did not like The Great Gatsby (Even though I live on Long Island and therefore was told I would love it.) and She's Come Undone.

Moby Dick I struggled with, but still liked it. ..."

Yup, I was going to say Gatsby too. I'm also a big fan of the TV series Dexter, so I tried to read the first novel that the show is based on and did not like it at all! This was a while ago, so I want to give it another shot.

I'm a moderate Tom Clancy fan, and found Red Rabbit so painfully boring that I just couldn't get through. Unlike the Dexter novel (the specific name escapes me) I have given Red Rabbit multiple chances and can't get past page 100.

Christopher wrote: "Yup, I was going to say Gatsby too. I'm also a big fan of the TV series Dexter, so I tried to read the first novel that the show is based on and did not like it at all! This was a while ago, so I want to give it another shot.

I'm a moderate Tom Clancy fan, and found Red Rabbit so painfully boring that I just couldn't get through. Unlike the Dexter novel (the specific name escapes me) I have given Red Rabbit multiple chances and can't get past page 100. ."

I did not like Dexter at all. The supporting characters seemed so cliche' and pathetic. They all fell into the stereotypical roles...no thought process there. Maybe the series gets better, but i am not gonna try to find out. :/

I really hated the Tommynockers! I got to page 600 something and it was so confusing the way King described things that I put it down. I could not go for another 100 pages. i guess I'm just weak like that:(

I also hated Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. Those darn pirates irritated me so much! I would have thrown the book at the wall, but I read it on my kindle.

I would say Dreamcatcher, but it wasn't that I hated it, it was just that I was looking for something more "alien-y' and not explosions and aircraft's. (i know! I'm such a typical boy!)Haha!

Victor wrote: "I really hated the Tommynockers! I got to page 600 something and it was so confusing the way King described things that I put it down. I could not go for another 100 pages. i guess I'm just weak li..."

Hi, Victor!

What is it that you found so confusing about The Tommyknockers?

That makes me sad. I really liked The Tommyknockers!

Kathy wrote: "That makes me sad. I really liked The Tommyknockers!"

Yeah, I'm currently re-reading it, Kathy, and in all earnestness, I really do not see why it's so underrated, IMO..

You know what, Victor? I didn't like The Tommyknockers either. I felt that the (view spoiler)[ ending was a complete and total let down and I also thought the ending felt very rushed (hide spoiler)]. So you're not alone in that!

Dustin wrote: "Kathy wrote: "That makes me sad. I really liked The Tommyknockers!"

Yeah, I'm currently re-reading it, Kathy, and in all earnestness, I really do not see why it's so underrated, IMO.."

I don't either, Dustin. But Victor and Charlene aren't alone in feeling that way about it, it seems. :(

I'm sorry, Kathy:( I didn't like how the invetions were explained and the ship was confusing, too. Along with the confusion came the slow parts and I was not happy with it. I'll of course give it another try!:D

Kathy wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Kathy wrote: "That makes me sad. I really liked The Tommyknockers!"

Yeah, I'm currently re-reading it, Kathy, and in all earnestness, I really do not see why it's so underrated, IM..."

Indeed, they certainly are not alone. And that's okay, everyone entitled to his/her opinion(s.) We all interpret things differently, and I think that's one of the best aspects of reading.

I'm sorry you didn't care for it, Victor..

Kathy wrote: "I really, really did not like The Great Gatsby (Even though I live on Long Island and therefore was told I would love it.) and She's Come Undone.

Moby Dick I struggled with, but still liked it. ..."

Hi, Kathy!

Like you, I didn't hate Moby-Dick (I enjoyed it quite a bit, actually,) but I did struggle through it. The novel isn't easy to get through..

Victor wrote: "I'm sorry, Kathy:( I didn't like how the invetions were explained and the ship was confusing, too. Along with the confusion came the slow parts and I was not happy with it. I'll of course give it a..."

Victor, never feel like you need to explain yourself when it comes to how you feel about a book. It makes me sad, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. :)

Dustin wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I really, really did not like The Great Gatsby (Even though I live on Long Island and therefore was told I would love it.) and She's Come Undone.

Moby Dick I struggled with, but st..."

I want to re-read it w/out all of the nonsense...chapters on woodcarvings of whales, the laws governing whaling, knotmaking......I would love to just read the story....one of these days! :)

Yes, which is exactly what makes Moby-Dick such a difficult read, IMO. I think that some of the information regarding whaling, their oil and its many uses is interesting, but after awhile it's like, "Come on and tell the story already!!"

A friend explained it to me that there is alot of downtime for men who went out on whaling expeditions like that. That having to read through those types of chapters gives us a taste of the in-between necessary to the life/ but boring stuff. Makes you think...

Kathy wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I really, really did not like The Great Gatsby (Even though I live on Long Island and therefore was told I would love it.) and She's Come Undone.

Moby Dick I struggl..."

Exactly, Kathy!
Chapters and chapters too about all of the different types of whales...which I'm sure was quite interesting back in the day when they were discovering all that stuff. Now you can watch like a half hour show on Animal Planet and get all the same info. : )

Yeah, I've heard that, too. When it comes to Classics such as these, I think it's important (and very helpful) to consider the historical context.

Thanks, guys! I like to explain why I liked/didn't like a book.:D

I have Moby-Dick on my kindle. It's like 600 pages!

Good point, Dustin.

And Victor, it is quite the brick, isn't it?

Definitely!

uhm, am I in the minority for liking Moby Dick?? I really loved reading it and watching the movie with Gregory Peck.

I also tried Moby Dick. I did it on my own, not because of school or anything. I found it incredibly hard to get through, just needlessly dense and over-complicated. With that said, I didn't exactly dislike it, but didn't like it enough to wade through all of the muck and mud. The payoff just wasn't worth all of the effort. But I might try to go back to it one day. Idk...I'm having too much fun with 'simpler' stuff like Game of Thrones and Stephen King :-P

Christopher wrote: "I also tried Moby Dick. I did it on my own, not because of school or anything. I found it incredibly hard to get through, just needlessly dense and over-complicated. With that said, I didn't exactl..."

true. GoT has a lot of stuff going on; but it is actually easy to follow. It is very well-written IMO. And of course, I love The King! :D

Christopher, well said! I, too, read Moby Dick on my own. After all, classics are classics for a reason. Dense and overly complicated are perfect words to describe how I felt about this book.
Game of Thrones was a piece of cake after reading something like Moby Dick. : )

One book I did not like is Bite, by Richard Laymon. And I love Laymon, but this book was just pretty lame. I also tried to read a book called This is not a Game. Good grief I practically had to hand cuff it to my wrist to just get to the first 100 pages. I could not finish it though. LOL

Alondra wrote: "Do not read Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker; ugh! It made no sense; but of course, I don't like anything by Clive Barker.... I just don't get him I guess.... I threw this one against the wall.

Gett..."

I thought Mister B. Gone was pretty bad too. I mean, how many times do we need Mister B. to tell us to burn the freaking book? We get it, don't read the book, imminent doom, etc. etc. Get on with the damn story already!

I couldn't get through Outlander. I found the main character's actions completely ridiculous. I also couldn't get through The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I know people love it, but I just couldn't get into it.

A book I don't necessarily hate but don't completely understand the hype surrounding it is The Catcher in the Rye. I had never read until a couple of years ago, and my husband absolutely raved about it. I read it, thought it was ok, but it didn't change my life or anything. I think maybe the difference was that he read it as a teenager and I read it as an adult. Holden struck me as a whiny rich kid who does nothing but complain about how much life sucks for 250 pages. My husband considered Holden Caulfield to be some kind of hero, but I wonder if he read it as an adult, would he still have the same feelings?

Kathy wrote: "Good point, Dustin.

And Victor, it is quite the brick, isn't it?"

Thank you, Kathy.:)

I only have one book that I was iffy about, but I can't remember the name, lol. It is the only book that I have given less than 5 starts to.

I didn't really like Lord of the Flies either, but I plan on doing a re-read of that because it's been awhile. Maybe my perception of it has changed since I read it in school.

Holly wrote: "I only have one book that I was iffy about, but I can't remember the name, lol. It is the only book that I have given less than 5 starts to.

I didn't really like Lord of the Flies either, but I pl..."

Well, you know how I feel about Lord of The Flies, Holly, and I really hope you re-read it soon, and get more out of it the 2nd time around.:)

I really didn't like Catcher of the Rye and Lord of the Flies, also! I only read them fairly recently when my sons had to read them for school (I read whatever my boys read for school with them. So we can talk about it.) I wonder if I would've liked them if I had read them as a teen, myself. My boys both loved them. In Catcher in the Rye, I thought Holden was a spoiled brat! And pretty much the same w/ Lord of the Flies. I want to shake those kids and tell them to behave! lol. But maybe that's the "mom" in me.

Dustin wrote: "Holly wrote: "I only have one book that I was iffy about, but I can't remember the name, lol. It is the only book that I have given less than 5 starts to.

I didn't really like Lord of the Flies ei..."

Yes, I do Dustin. :) I hope I can get to it soon, too. With all of the upcoming buddy reads I have, though, I don't think I'll be able to get to it until the New Year. :(

Holly wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Holly wrote: "I only have one book that I was iffy about, but I can't remember the name, lol. It is the only book that I have given less than 5 starts to.

I didn't really like Lord ..."

:) Well whenever you can get to it, that's fine. As long as you do give it a 2nd chance, IMO.

Seeing as how we were discussing Moby-Dick, I thought I'd share the following:

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/H...

I'd like to add James Patterson to the list. I know this is least favorite BOOKS, but if you pick a James Patterson book (except for MAYBE some of his older stuff) you can easily pick it apart.

His books at this point are so formalistic and cookie cutter it drives me crazy. But what's worse, is the fact that he doesn't even write his own stuff anymore. How many releases did he have in the previous year? Something literally like 10 or 15. He just slaps his name on something that someone wrote in a week, filling in the blanks and calls it a day.

I agree, Christopher!
I enjoyed the first couple of books and then I realized, what a minute, these are all the same story!

Yeah like I said, Patterson just drives me crazy. It's just laziness. I've been busting my ass for the past nine months on my first novel...it's 200,000 words, creative and unique (imo at least lol) and based on some meaningful experiences. I poured my heart into it, and I'm still not done. I'm knee deep in the editing process, which I'm finding very difficult.

All of this rambling isn't meant to be a plug for my book, I'm just trying to say that writing for me takes a lot of dedication and more importantly a lot of love. Love for the craft and love for the words the writer is putting onto paper.

It seems obvious to me that Patterson is 'writing' solely for the money at this point and it's very uninspiring.

Christopher wrote: "Yeah like I said, Patterson just drives me crazy. It's just laziness. I've been busting my ass for the past nine months on my first novel...it's 200,000 words, creative and unique (imo at least lol..."

I totally, completely agree with you!

Christopher wrote: "I'd like to add James Patterson to the list. I know this is least favorite BOOKS, but if you pick a James Patterson book (except for MAYBE some of his older stuff) you can easily pick it apart.

H..."

Exactly! The first few of his books that I read (Kiss The Girls, Along Came A Spider) were great. I loved them, especially Cross's character. But then earlier this year, I learned that he actually hires ghost writers, and that immediately turned me off!

I work in a bookstore and in the field (publishing/marketing/selling books) the general consensus about James Patterson is.....if the book has a 2nd name on it, that author is the one that actually wrote it.

Kathy wrote: "I work in a bookstore and in the field (publishing/marketing/selling books) the general consensus about James Patterson is.....if the book has a 2nd name on it, that author is the one that actuall..."

Yeah, that's probably true, Kathy! Thank you.

Dustin wrote: "Christopher wrote: "I'd like to add James Patterson to the list. I know this is least favorite BOOKS, but if you pick a James Patterson book (except for MAYBE some of his older stuff) you can easil..."

I had no idea Patterson hired ghost writers. I love his early stuff and want to actually finish reading the Alex Cross novels. So how true is it?

It's true and fairly well known. Here's a piece from the NYT which states he has a stable of co-authors:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/mag...

Same thing with V. C. Andrews who has been dead for quite a while now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._C._An...