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What's a book that you wished you had never picked up (because it sucked so bad)?

Posted on 3/7/21 at 8:20 pm
Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
18936 posts
Posted on 3/7/21 at 8:20 pm
For me:

Posted by TowBROater
Watson
Member since Apr 2012
548 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 8:19 am to
The road by Cormac Mccarthy it was terrible.
Posted by Sneaky__Sally
Member since Jul 2015
12364 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 8:54 am to
I find it hard to remember, I do a lot of research now.

One I would say is "The Magic of Recluse" - not because it was terrible, but it got me like partially invested in this 20 book saga that was very, very repetitive and only like half the books I read were decent, none were incredible.

Feel like I wasted a lot of time in that series and it helped sort of turn me off of fantasy so I stopped looking for good fantasy for a really long time because I thought it was a genre with a few top notch stuff and a bunch of shite. Over the last few years (and with tons of recommendations from this board), I have discovered that I was very wrong in that assumption.

Whatever Dragonlance books I picked up and read fall into the same category.
Posted by TTownTiger
Austin
Member since Oct 2007
5301 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 10:19 am to
Because Netflix recently made it more publicly known with a limited series, I can't help but say Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. And it has nothing to do with the major twists in the 2nd half of the book (that actually makes the book a hell of a lot more interesting and...odd. Although still not very good). But basically because the entire plot rolls forward because the main character is a complete moron. She makes the wrong decision at every fork she comes to. She is the stereotypical irrational, weak female lead that is being frowned upon now.

Plus there are 2 or 3 chapters of the book early on that are exactly the same. In those, the main character knows she should cut off the forbidden relationships, but then convinces herself with poor logic to continue with them. The book could have been shortened by 100 pages with better flow and less repetitiveness.
Posted by The Spleen
Member since Dec 2010
38865 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 10:22 am to
Two come to mind immediately...

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand


Didn't finish either.
Posted by AUCE05
Member since Dec 2009
42568 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 10:39 am to
There is a ton of terrible authors. 7 habits of highly successful people is a great example. This guy rambled for 75% of his book. His ability to string words together without making a clear point was impressive.
Posted by Peepdip
Member since Aug 2016
4946 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 10:46 am to
Utopia avenue by David Mitchell. I loved Cloud Atlas, Number9dream, and Jacob DeZoet, but could only make it about 100 pages into utopia Avenue.
Posted by Peepdip
Member since Aug 2016
4946 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 10:47 am to
quote:

The road by Cormac Mccarthy it was terrible.
why do you think it was terrible? Are you one of those “he doesn’t use punctuation!” People?
Posted by pvilleguru
Member since Jun 2009
60453 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 11:02 am to
The Shack by whoever the frick wrote it.
Posted by AUCE05
Member since Dec 2009
42568 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 1:08 pm to
Spoilers:

Outside of the cannibalism, the book was a slow build to the fathers death. I can see how it would turn some people off.
This post was edited on 8/24/21 at 11:00 am
Posted by AllbyMyRelf
Virginia
Member since Nov 2014
3327 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 2:12 pm to
The Grapes of Wrath.

I know this will get down votes, but I can’t stand reading Steinbeck.
Posted by Boss13
Mobile
Member since Oct 2016
1158 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 2:22 pm to
Shantaram. Easily the worst book I have ever read. I only finished it to make my goodreads goal. It's the only book I will actively dissuade people from reading. Zero attchement to any characters and none of the story matters. It's just a man rambling with a whole lot of similes and metaphors thrown in.
Posted by Gamera
Member since Aug 2020
543 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 9:58 pm to
Agree completely. I’m a huge fan and think he is an important writer, but hated this book. Also didn’t care for The Bone Clocks.
Posted by Peepdip
Member since Aug 2016
4946 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 11:00 pm to
quote:

the book was a slow build to the fathers death.
So what? It’s the writing that’s good, not the action. What about the philosophical scene with the old man near the end? That’s a lot more important than the fathers death.

It’s like a 250 page book, why does it need to be packed with action?
This post was edited on 3/8/21 at 11:01 pm
Posted by Peepdip
Member since Aug 2016
4946 posts
Posted on 3/8/21 at 11:00 pm to
quote:

The Grapes of Wrath.

I know this will get down votes, but I can’t stand reading Steinbeck.
sucks for you
Posted by Statsattack
Il
Member since Feb 2013
3897 posts
Posted on 3/9/21 at 7:14 am to
david and goliath by gladwell
Posted by memphis tiger
Memphis, TN
Member since Feb 2006
20720 posts
Posted on 3/9/21 at 8:18 am to
2 that immediately come to mind

The Nix by Nathan Hill. Pure self indulgent drivel. Can’t for the life of me figure why it was so well reviewed.

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. Was really excited to read this and perhaps my expectations were too high. But I hated this book and hated every stupid decision by the main characters. I as not a well written book not a very good story in my opinion
Posted by AUCE05
Member since Dec 2009
42568 posts
Posted on 3/9/21 at 8:25 am to
I enjoyed it. But if you read No Country and then picked this up, I could see the head scratching.
Posted by Tigertown in ATL
Georgia foothills
Member since Sep 2009
29206 posts
Posted on 3/9/21 at 11:22 am to
quote:

The Grapes of Wrath.

I know this will get down votes, but I can’t stand reading Steinbeck.
sucks for you


I will make sure to look for what you like given your scintillating contribution to the discussion.

Another vote for Grapes. Did nothing for me.

I’m surprised to see Shantaram. I loved that book.
Posted by Tigertown in ATL
Georgia foothills
Member since Sep 2009
29206 posts
Posted on 3/9/21 at 11:23 am to
Also, the last few Grisham books. Pretty sure he didn’t even write them. Absolutely bland and poorly written.
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