The Next Best Book Club discussion

Okay, kids. It's time to list the most frustrating novels you've ever read. But what do I mean by frustrating? I mean novels that you liked but made you angry in the end. I mean novels that displayed so much potential at times while you read, but which never quite followed through. So this is not a place to list novels you simply never liked. Which ones made you scream because they were so close and yet so far? If you want to, include some reasons with each title.
My list:
1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
See my review

2. Indecision by Benjamin Kunkel
I was so excited with the summary on the dust jacket! I kind of liked what I was reading inside, but he ended up boring the crap out of me by the middle and through the end.

3. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
I already knew the story when I went to read this one. I quite enjoyed the movie and talking to my friends who loved the tale. I tried reading it three times and never got past chapter five because Tolkien's writing in this one is clearly not for me. Everything moved way too slowly. I wanted to fall asleep.

Interesting topic I can't say that I can put anything on this list...which is strange for me. I usually either like it or hate it but don't have a lot of - oh that would have been good if only....

I'm not sure if this was ever a book - but I do have a movie that fitst this category perfectly. Pay it forward (Halley Joel Osmet, Kevin Spacey, The woman from Twister)....Great writing....Great idea....Fantastic acting and good characters. Everything was perfection until the last few minutes then they did the unthinkable. To this day if I watch that movie I turn it off before the last scene.

Wife of GR author: Michael J. Sullivan | The Crown Conspiracy (10/08) | Avempartha (04/09)

Oh but I can see your point about Tolkien - he is a fantasy icon - but he can be very long winded and he is a "hard read"...Try not to let that turn you off to the genre though.

Robin wrote: "Interesting topic I can't say that I can put anything on this list...which is strange for me. I usually either like it or hate it but don't have a lot of - oh that would have been good if only....
..."

:) It is indeed a book. And oddly enough, I've read it. I remember enoying it, although I must've been in middle school at the time. I remember it was much grander than the movie though. How did the movie end again? In the book, there was a mass gathering in Washinton, D.C. or something.

<<(view spoiler)[>

In the movie - (and probably the book) they kill the kid. I wanted him, his mother, and the teacher to live "happily ever after". It really irked me that his idea finally takes roots, his family is finaly getting straightened out and then boom - you are dead. (hide spoiler)]

Moby dick
Everything I hear about it makes it sound as such a good classic. It is my thirth attempt to finish it and it isn't going well. I actually do scream because of this book. I think I am looking for that good part somewhere in it....

Poisonwood Bible
Poisonwood Bible
Poisonwood Bible

is the epitome of frustrating. Due to subject matter. Her writing is beautiful, but could these people (parents) be any dumber?

I had to read MD in H.S. YUK YUK YUK

But I'm sure it would seem differently to me now. I'm just not into the subject matter. And I hate being told I have to read something. Anything.

Fiona...I knew you would reply:-)))))

Nono, I am determined to finish it....once. I actually checked in the library while printing something ..I had the plan to read a bit of it there...but didn't find it.

Oooooooh, I suddenly realize something...about an hour ago I came home and there was my letter with pps number (NI number in England)...which means I can go with that proof of address to the library!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you are naughty...... I just know that there will suddenly be a part that makes me feel so absorbed in the story that I can't stop. No?

I think it's great Jeane that you want to stick with it. I'm not much of a stick with it girl anymore when it comes to something that is supposed to entertain me. It's not supposed to be work, right (reading)? But if you've set a goal to read this book, and it is a classic, I think it's great that you're following thru.

I don't mean to criticize what you're doing at all. I actually admire it.

I wonder sometimes if it's an age thing. My mom is 84, and she's really been drawn to the classics in her 80's. She's told me so many times that she just doesn't have time to waste on so-so books anymore.

I think the older I get, I feel the same way. There are too many great ones. My goal is to FIND those, in whichever way I can, and to NEVER waste time anymore on a book that isn't doing it for me.

**edit: OK, I'm only 40 people. I know, my mom is 84, looks like I might be 64, or 54 you were thinking?? No. Just 40. I'm the youngest of nine. (Can you say Catholic family? I knew you could!)

But still! Too many books to waste time on crappy ones!

**end of rant

I used to have to read a book completely whether I liked it or not. I've come to the realization that I read too slowly and there's simply not enough time in the world to justify doing that anymore. If it's a book that I should know about for some reason, there's probably enough information available about it on the internet for me to be adequately informed about the title.

This year in a book club that I'm in we read a book called Kil'n People. It had a great premise (a sci-fi world where people could clone themselves to do the things they don't enjoy), was moving along quite well (even though each chapter was written from a different character's perpective which meant that you had to get back into it again each time). Then at the end it just faded out, all the build up to nothing, just pointless raving about nothing. So frustrating.
However, I pride myself on being one of only two members to have read every book so I can still make this claim.
My late uncle's motto was 'Life's too short to read a book you don't enjoy'. He was probably right but I don't always follow this advice,

The Stand- I love his writing, and the premise was awesome, but the end... total cop out. He was in his drug phase, and I always wonder if he ran out of cocaine or something. I mean, it was sooooo long, and then...fizzle!
Come to think of it Cell ends with a fizzle as well. Maybe it's a pattern?

Laura, I do understand what you say...but fortunately didn't get that feeling yet. Maybe it is an age thing, don't know. It also doesn't feel like something I have to do. I can scream because I keep wondering why this is seen as such a great classic, but I want to read it. And if in the end I didn't find anything in there...well that's okay in some way. Gonna hate it yes but....well at least I will know I didn't liked it. Just know that I will keep wondering about this book till I finish it and that's even worse for me than reading a book after three atempts and not liek it at all. And I think I might have not finsihed two, max three books I ever started reading. Can't stop reading a book when I started it. The worse case is that I will need a lot of time to finish it, but in the meantime I jsut read other books. I will get there!!!!

Boy, can we get off topic, or what???!!

So Fiona - for a moment I considered putting the Stand on this book in this category because of the cheesy ending - but in the end I couldn't do it because there was just so much good in the book I could over look the end.

Wife of GR author: Michael J. Sullivan | The Crown Conspiracy (10/08) | Avempartha (04/09)

sorrry Lori:-))

Of Mice and Men for reasons previously stated in the "Top Ten Books to Avoid" thread

Son of Rosemary by Ira Levin. Rosemary's baby was so good and so creepy. Then I pick up the sequel and it's not as good, but not totally horrible. But then I get to the end and lo and behold!!!! It was all a dream, or was it??? What the hell kind of cop out was that? That has to be one of the most unoriginal endings I've ever read. And to top it all off Ira Levin is suppose to be a master of horrors. That's about as frightening as a... I can't even make a joke here... It's just not frightening at all.

I can't think of any others just yet.

The Book of Lost Things
Snow Falling on Cedars
The Secret of Lost Things: A Novel

All had huge potential that was simply never fulfilled IMO.

Beloved.

I have been posting everywhere about my loathing of this book. I figure, if I can save others from the misery and torment that I experienced, then GR has served a valuable purpose.

Some people actually love this book, although I can't imagine why. The writing is terrible, and jumps from one narrative style to another, from one time to another, with no warning. It was like trying to decipher runny scrambled eggs with bits of shell in it. The pieces are there, but they're a jumbled, sloppy mess. (I should put that in my review.)

To make matters worse, none of the characters even remotely made me care about them in any way. None of them.

Then there was the fact that the book went on for over 100 pages after the book ended. Or should have ended.

Please... Do it for me. Don't read this book.

Joanna wrote: "Hannibal by Thomas Harris
I absolutely loved Silence of the Lambs, and felt so betrayed by the portrayal of Clarice in this book. And the ending... I don't even have words. Awful. Awful. Awful."

Joanna, I completely agree! Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs were great books and then he comes out with Hannibal......I was so stunned by the change in Clarice! I don't want to say too much because, somebody might not have read it yet. Let's just say that the Clarice in Silence of the Lambs would NOT have done what Clarice in Hannibal does at the end! I know it's his story to tell, but he obviously didn't know Clarice very well to think that could ever possibly happen! I was so frustrated when I read it! What was he thinking?????

I agree with you guys about Hannibal. Harris is an excellent writer, but he's one of those with constipation of the pen, unlike, say, Nora Roberts, who has diarhea of the pen. I think they wanted a movie sequel, he wanted to write the book, forced himself to do so, much more quickly than his habit, and ruined the character!

Kandice: "Come to think of it Cell ends with a fizzle as well. Maybe it's a pattern?"

You should check out some of his others. Carrie ends with a bang. Literally! And many of his are great books. Everything from Lisey's Story on just bites. I couldn't even finish Cell and I used to be an avid King fan. I'm hoping it's just a slump.

Son of Rosemary by Ira Levin. Rosemary's baby was so good and so creepy. Then I pick up the sequel and it's n..."

Ugh, I know what you mean. It was sooo cheap! I don't know why but I got the feeling that he was forced to write it or something because so many people demanded a sequel because he sure as heck didn't seem like he put any effort into it at all.

Grace, have you read Duma Key? I really enjoyed that one, it was very creepy. I haven't read Lisey's Story yet. It's on my list though and I will be reading it soon.

I haven't been able to find it here for awhile. I live in the boonies, unfortunately, but maybe I'll check abebooks and give it a go.

Winter's Tale--This book kicked my butt. There was so much symbolism. I would think I had it all figured out and then the rug would be pulled out from under me. I kept feeling like I was this close to finally understanding what it was all about, but I just never got there. I finally gave up on trying to figure it out and just read it, hoping for a big revelation at the end, but it never happened.

becky wrote

I have been posting everywhere about my loathing of this book. I figure, if I can save others from the misery and torment that I experienced, then GR has served a valuable purpose.

Some people actually love this book, although I can't imagine why. The writing is terrible, and jumps from one narrative style to another, from one time to another, with no warning. It was like trying to decipher runny scrambled eggs with bits of shell in it. The pieces are there, but they're a jumbled, sloppy mess. (I should put that in my review.)

To make matters worse, none of the characters even remotely made me care about them in any way. None of them.

Then there was the fact that the book went on for over 100 pages after the book ended. Or should have ended.

Please... Do it for me. Don't read this book.

we read this book in ap lit last year... OMG it was so frustrating. The descriptions of things were so creepy and i figured out the twist in the plot so early on that it was not exciting at all. not a good read.

1. The Road
2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - tried to read this three times and stopped at the same place all three times
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - started out well and deteriorated from there - didn't finish - couldn't believe that Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn't get thrown out of Hogwarts after all of their antics

The Road....I agree!

Perfume...great book...went superweird at the end.

Any book by John Grishman....for...I have written a really compellng story, and I don't know how to stop...so someone will have sex...the end.

What the heck!?!?

Debbie wrote: "Any book by John Grishman....for...I have written a really compellng story, and I don't know how to stop...so someone w..."


Boy, what Grisham was that? I wouldn't put him on any Top 5, but "so someone will have sex?" That's not Grisham. Grisham is that someone will (usually) win over the justice system, but in case he doesn't, you will think it was a bad judicial decision.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Any book by John Grishman....for...I have written a really compellng story, and I don't know how to stop...so someone w..."


Boy, what Grisham was that? I wouldn't put him on any..."

The Firm was the first one...story as you say...go back and read the end. He CANNOT stop a book. This is the 3 most frustrating list, right?

I have to say The Pact by Jodi Picoult. I thought it would be a great book, but while it was a good book, the thing that stopped it from being great is that I could not stand any of the characters in the story. I found them all extremely childish and selfish.

The Little Friend, by Donna Tart- the ending (or lack of) wanted to make me scream!

The Shining- Stephen King. I can never get more than halfway through this novel because I find Jack so irritating.

Lolita- Also because I cannot seem to summon up the energy to get more than halfway through this novel. I'm actually ashamed of this- considering it's supposed to be one of the greatest books in the history of Western lit.

I recommend the Jeremy Irons reading of the audiobook. If I were reading it I would have thrown it across the room in a rage several times... but Irons is so good, witty, perverted, slimy, sexy...

hmmm- good idea- then I can at least say I've 'read' it. heh

I am listing frustrating books that I actually finished. There are some, I never could get to the end of.

"To the Lighthouse" by Virginia Woolf: I've never been able to "get with" stream of consciousness writing. Never got past page 100 of "Ulysses".

"Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West"
by Cormac McCarthy: I loved it and I hated it. See my review at: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

"War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy: I love historical fiction but slogging through this novel almost made me swear off the genre. I kept thinking, I should like this book.

I have two that were frustrating in different ways:
1)The Dive From Clausen's Pier A Novel: the main character drove me crazy! one of the most frustrating characters that I can recall.

2)The Tenth Circle A Novel: listened to it on audio and it droned on and on and on and on...I thought it would never end.

I just thought of another one that I really wanted to like but couldn't. Just about anything by Dean Koontz and John Saul. I'll admit that John Saul is a pretty decent writer but I'm sick of books filled with childrens' deaths and abuse that serve no purpose to the story except for shock value.
And Dean Koontz couldn't finish a story to save his life.

Grace wrote: "I just thought of another one that I really wanted to like but couldn't. Just about anything by Dean Koontz and John Saul. I'll admit that John Saul is a pretty decent writer but I'm sick of books ..."

I knew there was a reason why I didn't like Koontz's stories. Thanks for your input.

It's like he just gets to the end of the books and can't think of anything so he says, "The End. That will be all mystical and leave them wanting more!"

I actually thought Tenth Circle was pretty good- maybe the actor on the tape just had poor skills?

I was addicted to John Saul in middle school- but you're right- all that crap about childrens' death/abuse kinda made me paranoid.

You've got me curious now- I want to pick up Koontz just to see what he's like.

Salma wrote: "You've got me curious now- I want to pick up Koontz just to see what he's like. "

If you are a member of Bookmooch you can mooch a Koontz novel from me.

Bookmooch? What's that?

www.bookmooch.com

book trading website, you list books up you're willing to give away, people "mooch" them, and you get points to mooch other books from other people.

sounds cool

Salma wrote: "Bookmooch? What's that?"

My Bookmooch user name is ejhahn. Hope you join.

Ed