Books that everyone likes except you?

Nanny27

Ian McEwan. Atonement bored me to tears.
As a teacher of A level English literature for many years I never quite found the courage to admit that I can't abide Jane Austin.

Same here! I've always been OK with admitting I disliked Austen. My HoD was aghast when I said I hated Dickens tho.

Cheesey

Anything by James Patterson. I am attracted by the idea of the stories but think they are so badly written. I know his books are very popular so maybe just not my cup of tea.
Similarly the Da Vinci code. Laborious.

The original James Patterson books are OK but since he started "collaborating" with other writers the books are not worth buying! The same has happened with Lee Child who is now collaborating with his brother

One for Black Country folk:
The Catcher in The Lye

Grandma70s, I am with you all the way on the Booker prize winners as they are mostly elitist, pretentious twaddle. I tried Lord of the Rings but did not get past the first chapter. My brother read it three times as a teenager and many enthusiasts for it seem to be bookish teenage boys. At A level we had to study Henry James, in particular Portrait of a Lady. The single most boring and irritating book l have ever read in my life. It still enrages me nearly forty years later. Henry James has one thing in common with the equally dreadful Mr. Men books my autistic son loved as a child - he never uses one word where fifty will do.

Granmarderby10

The Catcher In The Rhye Irritating adolescent twerp

? ?

... that really gave me a chuckle!

Jane43

I also found Heart Of Darkness hard going, I only finished it because it was the subject if an essay.

Oh yes. Really hard going. I did it for A level when my teacher was Frank Skinner.
He loved it. But we were an entirely female class, and we all hated it.

Elizabeth27

The books by Richard Osman, a lot of people raved about them but i read 2 and found them slow going and rather silly.

I agree except that I only managed to read the first one - decided not to waste my time with the second one as there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.

I know I'm in a small minority, and I can't put my finger on why I didn't love Where the Crawdads Sing. I might try reading it again and see if I change my mind.

Granmarderby10

The Catcher In The Rhye Irritating adolescent twerp

This was one of my O level English Literature set books. I enjoyed it at the time because I was a similar age to the protagonist but would not want to read it now for the very reason you have stated. On the other hand, Far From the Madding Crowd was also set for O level and it is a novel that can be read and enjoyed by all ages. A true classic.
In general, I do not particularly enjoy literature from the later nineteenth century as l find it verbose. I am with those who do not like the works of the Brontë sisters and as for Pickwick papers - I nearly lost the will to live there. I often enjoy the classics in film versions as you get the story without the padding. A more recent book that I did not enjoy but was popular here was A Terrible Kindness by Jo Wroe as I felt the protagonist was very self-indulgent.

Beechnut

GrannyGravy13

NanKate

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’. I started it twice but still couldn’t get into it.

I struggled with the first couple of chapters, then the characters and I suddenly clicked I really didn’t want it to end.

The same for me GrannyGravy. I wouldn’t mind seeing it made into a film.

It has been made into a film, I think it’s released this summer, cannot wait,

GrannyGravy13

NanKate

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’. I started it twice but still couldn’t get into it.

I struggled with the first couple of chapters, then the characters and I suddenly clicked I really didn’t want it to end.

The same for me GrannyGravy. I wouldn’t mind seeing it made into a film.

Anything by Donna Tart, Richard Osman's over hyped books.

I agree about James Patterson Cheesey however in our small voluntary library he is one of the most borrowed authors.

NanKate

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’. I started it twice but still couldn’t get into it.

I struggled with the first couple of chapters, then the characters and I suddenly clicked I really didn’t want it to end.

The Day Of The Jackal, so boring at the start, but glad I persevered, well worth reading.

I wanted him to succeed!

Nannagarra I agree about Maeve Binchy. Always seemed to go nowhere and be rather pointless.
My Nan didn’t like her books either.

I loved Atwood’s early work, but she’s far too clever for me now.

Worst book ever:
Bridget Flipping Jones’ Bloody Diary

aggie

I decided to read all Dickens ! But Pickwick Papers defeated me ! Think I read most of the rest and enjoyed them

... you rang? !

I've read all of Dickens - much of it twice.

But PPs defeated me too. I think you had to be there!

I enjoyed the illustrations though. Interestingly, Robert Seymour, after completing illustrations for the second monthly instalment, committed suicide. Robert Buss was hired for the third instalment, but Dickens didn't approve, so finally hired Hablot Knight Browne, who became known as "Phiz" and he and "Boz" became friends for 20+ years.

Elizabeth27

The books by Richard Osman, a lot of people raved about them but i read 2 and found them slow going and rather silly.

I agree - a friend recommended his first book and I did try to persevere, thinking it would get better, but it was so badly written I had to give up!

I'm another one who doesn't care for Richard Osmans books and really dislike sci fi. I loved 'This is going to hurt' much of it was a lived experience. I have never earned to Victoria Hislop either. Favourite authors Anita Brookner, Carol Shields, Marion Keyes. I have enjoyed some Fan Browns. Loved Gone Girl didn't get on with Chocolat but read to the end.

Anything by James Patterson. I am attracted by the idea of the stories but think they are so badly written. I know his books are very popular so maybe just not my cup of tea.
Similarly the Da Vinci code. Laborious.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo. Depressing.
For years I heard people going on about The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists so I bought it. Oh dear oh dear. I had no idea what it was about. Dreary, boring.

Victoria Hislop books are a no for me, I've tried a couple for reading group but ended up skimming through.

I will try ?

(Soon)

NanKate

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’. I started it twice but still couldn’t get into it.

I almost gave it up several times but ploughed through to the end as so many people raved about it. Not me though.

Everyone else seems to love it Calli so don’t be put off by me.

NanKate

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’. I started it twice but still couldn’t get into it.

I downloaded that on to my Kindle, not started it yet.