Victorians! discussion

Have you ever read a book, only to wish you hadn't? Tell us about the book


For me it was Abel Ami. I disliked everything about that book from the plot to the selfish characters. I was stuck as I was the discussion leader. It was really challenging not to come out and say I really hate this book :)

First I thought that no, not really. There might be books that I have hated reading, but I've still felt good about having read them once I've finished. But then I thought of one. Three, actually.

I should have stopped after the first Twilight book. That one was vaguely entertaining. Book two was horrifyingly bad. And I didn't even stop there. I was stuck at my in-laws and I had already read all of the Terry Pratchett-books on my mother-in-law's shelf. So I read all the Twilight books. Why!? Why did I do that!? I should have re-read Pratchett instead. But I worked as a secondary school English teacher at the time, and I had pupils who had only ever read four books in their lives, and those were the Twilight books. So I wanted to see what they were like.

Deborah wrote: "Have you ever read a book, only to wish you hadn't? Tell us about the book

For me it was Abel Ami. I disliked everything about that book from the plot to the selfish characters. I was stuck as I ..."

Hmm... Can you tell us more? I didn't find it when I searched Goodreads for that title.

The one that has perhaps comes closest for me recently was A Little Life. I finally skipped part of it, but there has been value to me from what I did read. My review, which explains a bit of that, especially in its P.S., is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Usually I abandon a book that is not delivering. As Deborah suggests, the problem becomes when one is committed, at least to one degree or another, such as a f2f group read. Then I skim, but may resent not being able to spend time on something I really prefer to be reading. I do try to remember the rule for my Amherst writing method group -- identify what IS working (versus what is NOT).

Incidentally, Jude the Obscure may be the Victorian novel with which I have had the greatest difficulty. I actually finally addressed that by spending one read less with the novel and more with the critics who assessed one of my least favorite characters, Sue Brideshead.

Lily wrote: "Incidentally, Jude the Obscure may be the Victorian novel with which I have had the greatest difficulty. ."

Understandable. But it's a powerful book mostly, I think, because it gives an unblinkered look at how Victorian rural life really was for many people. We tend to glamorize the Victorian era. For most people, it was anything but.

Deborah wrote: "Have you ever read a book, only to wish you hadn't? Tell us about the book."

For me it was Fifty Shades of Grey. Yes, I suckered into the hype (fortunately I didn't spend money on the book, but waited out the library hold list). I kept waiting as I read to see why the book deserved so much attention, and never got there. It was for the most part insipid and dumb, with the little sex in it much less interesting than Lawrence and much milder than the Marquis de Sade. In the end I realized that it was really just the literary equivalent of the Pet Rock -- a pure fad with nothing of value behind it. (I think the book probably cost about the same amount as the Pet Rock, translated into current dollars, cost in its heyday.)

Kafka's The Metamorphosis - UGH! I had to read it in college, and thought 'why would anyone ever make up a story like that?' there is something deeply disturbing about it.

Since I don't "have" to read a book to the end anymore, I abandon at will. The latest one of note was Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse. I think I ditched that one at 15% after having started over twice and re-reading numerous paragraphs. Her endless meandering without saying anything made my brain hurt.

Bel-Ami is the book Deborah is referring to. Funnily enough, for me it was A Harlot High and Low, for which I was also the discussion leader and possibly the only one in the group to finish the book.

I totally agree with Kerstin, I couldn't stand The Metamorphosis! It was just too depressing for me, and the story felt pointless. I also really hated Palahniuk's book Choke. It was just so gross throughout, and the "plot" wasn't strong enough to make up for the rest of it that was so so unnecessary. I've liked at least one other Palahniuk book, but after Choke I'm really reluctant to read anything else of his.

Also, I'm glad this thread isn't strictly limited to Victorian novels, because I'll admit, I haven't yet found a Victorian novel which didn't have some aspect that made me glad I read it...

The Sisters Brothers, which I know was a hugely successful and popular book, was another one I gave up on.

Lily wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Have you ever read a book, only to wish you hadn't? Tell us about the book

For me it was Abel Ami. I disliked everything about that book from the plot to the selfish characters. I ..."

Sorry that should read Bel Ami. Autocorrect got me.

Frances wrote: "Bel-Ami is the book Deborah is referring to. Funnily enough, for me it was A Harlot High and Low, for which I was also the discussion leader and possibly the only one in ..."

No Frances. I finished it with you, and also disliked the book

Frances wrote: "Bel-Ami is the book Deborah is referring to. Funnily enough, for me it was A Harlot High and Low, for which I was also the discussion leader and possibly the only one in ..."

Isn't it awful when you get stuck being the discussion leader and you hate the book?

Deborah wrote: "Frances wrote: "Bel-Ami is the book Deborah is referring to. Funnily enough, for me it was A Harlot High and Low, for which I was also the discussion leader and possibly ..."

Thanks Deborah, we'll keep our fingers crossed for future reads:)

Everyman wrote: "Frances wrote: "Bel-Ami is the book Deborah is referring to. Funnily enough, for me it was A Harlot High and Low, for which I was also the discussion leader and possibly ..."

I have to say yes. And it's happened to me more than I'd like to admit. I guess the good news is I'm exposed to books I would have never picked up. Still, once in a while, I want to rebel and just read what I want :)

Great question, and interestingly phrased!

I agree with Leni ; there have been many books which have disappointed me, or I have had to read for one reason or another and have hated every minute, or books which were just frankly rubbish. But I don't regret having read a single one.

Disappointing books usually have some redeeming feature(s) otherwise you would not have felt disappointed. Books I've hated have either been for educational reasons so I got something out of them even if it wasn't enjoyment, or for reading group leading reasons - in which case I've hopefully helped others to get something out of it - plus I know to be wary of reading that author again ;-)) Rubbish books - eg ones I consider to be badly written, or are not as entertaining as they think they are - usually give you a lot to talk about with your literary and not-so-literary friends.

When I'm reading a book I'm not enjoying at all, can't see it getting better, or it evidently isn't the right moment, I drop it unless I have an obligation to read (eg: study, leading the discussion, a friend wrote it....). I think it was Lily who, somewhere on GR, provided the fabulous equation of the number of pages you should read before giving up on a book: I think it was something like 100 - (your age) = x. X being the number at which you can jump ship guilt-free!

Btw - I also finished Bel Ami and I thought it was great - a snapshot of a horrid society, but a really good snapshot. I think it might have been "Harlot" which Frances felt so lonely about if I've read her comment aright. Also Metamorphosis - I read it years and years ago, and also enjoyed it, though I can't remember why. Lots to dislike about Bel Ami and Kafka perhaps - but lots to talk about as a result!

Pip wrote: "I think it was Lily who, somewhere on GR, provided the fabulous equation of the number of pages you should read before giving up on a book: I think it was something like 100 - (your age) = x. X being the number at which you can jump ship guilt-free!..."

You give me credit I don't deserve, Pip. Nothing so imaginative from me. I just use my gut, or book getting mislaid, or ....! And guilt about a lot of things (even if therapists call it "the useless emotion"), but seldom about dropping a book.

Ooops! Sorry Lily, and sorry even more to the person who originally alerted me to the magic formula. Make yourself known and reap the glory!! Gosh, who was it? I'm going to have to go back and read every GR thread I've ever contributed to to find out - I will surely end up wishing that that was something I'd never read!!

Everyman wrote "Isn't it awful when you get stuck being the discussion leader and you hate the book?"

Confucius say "Wise Mod warmly encourage community leaders".

Yes, it's horrid having to lead the discussion of a book that you personally wouldn't have chosen in a million years. Sometimes, though, it works out ok, as it did here for me with Agnes Grey; I read well ahead of the group in order to provide thought-provoking questions, but it was hard work. And then.... The group discussion was so good (ie: the Vics members were so fab!) that I was pretty happy I'd read it in the end :-)

And that takes me back to my original (probably very politically incorrect) misquote; I volunteered to lead Agnes Grey a fair while before I became a moderator. I hadn't been the one to nominate it, but the Mods at the time were obviously very short of hands and I didn't want to see the group go under. I think we have a lot of very capable and energetic people here, and leading a discussion isn't the hassle it's often thought to be IF you chose the book and have strong reasons for nominating it. Party Political Broadcast ending with the slogan: "Make Your Mods Happy; Make Yourself Happy; Volunteer to Lead!" (I'm hoping Rose is going to become my official campaign mascot!!)