Really Rubbish Books

Nexus
I loved the first few Tess Gerritson, but went off them.

I also really enjoyed the first couple of Karen Rose thrillers, but they have become so predictable, damaged woman, after a rocky start, falls for big, rugged, handsome hero. They have lots of incredibly badly written sex, and solve the crime.

I remember a tutor at art school recommending ‘Finnegan’s Wake ‘. By James Joyce . I struggled for ages and then gave up.

I can't remember the name of the book but it was by the author of The Time Traveller's Wife. About a pair of twins? I just know that I hated the people. hated the story and hated the atmosphere of the whole thing.

Deedaa

Her fearful Symmetry, I didn’t like it either.

Bellman & Black, Diane Setterfield. I'm still not sure what it was actually supposed to be about. It was like Are You being Served vs the COOP Funeral Service. Blimmin awful book.

I’m another one who adored M.M. Kaye’s “The Far Pavilions”. I followed it up with her “Shadow of the Moon” and didn’t enjoy it half as much. But this has reminded me of how much I loved John Masters’ novels of India. Read them all. Must read then again.

Greyduster

I’m another one who adored M.M. Kaye’s “The Far Pavilions”. I followed it up with her “Shadow of the Moon” and didn’t enjoy it half as much. But this has reminded me of how much I loved John Masters’ novels of India. Read them all. Must read then again.

Makes me remember the Thorn Birds, loved it but another bit of wrong casting with Richard Chamberlain as Ralph de Bricassart.

Sorry a digression...
Maybe we should have a thread “really long books I have read”....

Couldn't get on with The Goldfinch or The Miniaturist, couldn't finish either of them. I've also tried to like Curtis Sittenfeld but again her books do nothing for me.

Louise Penny is consistently brilliant though - her Inspector Gamache novels set in and around Montreal are excellent.

I notice someone above said she did not enjoy Midnight Library or The Thursday Murder Club. Neither did I. The former was ridiculous and boring and the second, although it started well, became tedious in the second half and by the end I didn't care who had dunnit.

I always used to finish any book I started but as I have become older I won't waste my time with a book I don't like.

I used to love Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine and was so sorry when I discovered I had read them all.

I have just read Dear Child by Romy Hausmann. I did finish it but only because it was to be discussed at our book club. By the end I had lost the will to live.

I am surprised so many did not like Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch (or was it a greenfinch - can't remember) because I loved that. Catch 22? Big groan. Only managed a very few chapters.

I'm currently reading While Paris Slept by Ruth Druart which is excellent. (About a young Jewish mother who gives her baby to a male stranger just as she is about to be herded on to a train taking her to Auschwitz.) Don't be put off by the title, it is excellent.

The Thursday Murder Club. Neither did I. The former was ridiculous and boring and the second, although it started well, became tedious in the second half and by the end I didn't care who had dunnit.

That really made me laugh NeverTooOld I felt the same! I only persevered with it (much against my better judgement) because one of my daughter’s bought it me for Christmas.
?

Gulligranny

I loved Miniaturist, I bought it, then my daughter said it was awful, so I left it. At least a year later I decided to give it a go, and really enjoyed it.

Re books you read years ago and enjoyed, then don’t if you re-read them years later.

I used to devour Jilly Cooper novels, wouldn’t want to read one now. And I struggled to get through a Miss Read at the start of the first lockdown. What used to seem comfortable and nostalgic just seemed old fashioned and trite.

I suppose we grow out of certain books as we get older.

I didn’t like the Da Vinci Code, thought it was rubbish and I don’t like Harry Potter, either. I like the movies but not the books. Anything to do with Barbara Cartland is just an embarrassment as is that thing I started but couldn’t read about shades of grey ( can even remember the proper title)

I bought Oscar and Lucinda, by Peter Carey, back in the late 80s. It started off tediously and then just got more and more tedious. But, come on! It's won the Booker Prize! It must be good! So on and on and on.... and on (yawn) I ploughed. Right through to the bitter end.

I think it was that book which taught me that actually I really do not have to finish a book that is boring the life out of me. I've ditched several since. Life is too short and there are so many really good books to discover.

MerylStreep

Up until a few weeks ago I’d never read a book recommended by someone I didn’t know, but a poster recommended
Where The Crawdads Sing. I absolutely loved it: one of those books I never wanted to end.

I have a friend who up until a few years ago read the most awful rubbish ( I make no apologies for that statement)
One day I gave her The Far Pavillions: she absolutely loved it. It changed her reading choices.

I read Where The Crawdads Sing too. An excellent read and what an ending! It is one of those books that stays with you after you have finished it.

Callistemon

^“I am pilgrim”. Gave up halfway. Too grim for words^
My sister-in-law recommended that one saying it was one of the best books she had read for a long time, so I downloaded it but couldn't get on with it.

Oh I absolutely loved that book, couldn't put it down! Yes, grim, and so absurdly far fetched, but by golly when you find out what the story is actually about, it becomes a breathless page-turner!

I've asked for the title to be tweaked, by the way.

Re Donna Tartt.
I recently bought the audio version of True Grit for DH.

Donna Tartt is the narrator!

She did an absolutely awesome job of it! She has a really youthful Southern accent to perform Mattie. A really memorable and unusual performance.
I really recommend it.

Julie
I quite enjoyed Oscar and Lucinda, but some of the Booker winners have been quite undeserving in my opinion.
Sometimes, the books that got into the short list are better.

A lot of 'reallys' there, Fanny

Just having a quick look at previous winners, it has to be said, there are also some amazing brilliant winners.
Just trying to be fair.

Sarnia
Absolutely ? It’s a book that will be read again.
Another ‘loved’ book that I’m starting today is: A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Notsoold that was me who posted regarding dislike of Midnight Library and The Thursday Murder Club, but we aren't alone on the latter, it seems many on GN didn't think much of that. Regarding ML it appears to have wall to wall glowing appraisals and reviews so it did make me wonder what I was missing, like you I found it boring. Maybe a bad omen that I should have taken notice of, I read somewhere Harry and Meghan had chosen it as a favoured book choice It seems we agree on other likes "The Goldfinch" and I too loved Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine's books. Sadly missed.

I don't think the Booker Prize is any guarantee of a good read, of course books are subjective, but some of the worst ones I've read have been Booker winners and the worst one of all was Lincoln in the Bardo.

Thank you for starting the thread Fanny Cornforth, I like to know what other have enjoyed and not enjoyed as far as books are concerned. I think we can all agree to disagree without falling out over our choices.

Oh dear, someone managed to involve them even here, I was really enjoying this thread.

Sometimes, the books that got into the short list are better.
Yes I agree - Notes on a Scandal, Brick Lane, The Handmaid's Tale, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, to name just a few.

Oh just disregard my comment Lucca it's incidental.