Register Guidelines E-Books Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   MobileRead Forums > E-Book General > Reading Recommendations

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 07-13-2012, 05:40 PM   #61
Jozawun
Fanatic
Jozawun ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Jozawun ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Jozawun ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Jozawun ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Jozawun ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Jozawun ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Jozawun ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Jozawun ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Jozawun ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Jozawun ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Jozawun ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Jozawun's Avatar
 
Posts: 519
Karma: 2693434
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia
Device: Cybook Gen 3, Pocketbook 902, Sony 650
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf View Post
Anything written by Ursula K. Le Guin is going to be a struggle to read and not enjoyable.
I first became entranced by SF in the late 1960s and early 70s, and read everything I could find by Asimov, Bradbury, Clarke and Heinlein, basically the only SF writers widely available here at that time.
At the same time, I was also reading huge quantities of other books in every genre and of every quality, and couldn't help noticing the generally poor quality of the actual writing of the SF blokes - particularly Heinlein (God, the bloody awful dialogue) and Asimov (almost schoolboyish).
So the discovery of Ursula K Le Guin's Hainish series of books was a revelation - at last, a genuine literary-quality writer writing interesting and enjoyable books in the SF genre!
Jozawun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2012, 07:55 PM   #62
Acousticvillage
Enthusiast
Acousticvillage can illuminate an eclipseAcousticvillage can illuminate an eclipseAcousticvillage can illuminate an eclipseAcousticvillage can illuminate an eclipseAcousticvillage can illuminate an eclipseAcousticvillage can illuminate an eclipseAcousticvillage can illuminate an eclipseAcousticvillage can illuminate an eclipseAcousticvillage can illuminate an eclipseAcousticvillage can illuminate an eclipseAcousticvillage can illuminate an eclipse
 
Posts: 37
Karma: 8276
Join Date: Sep 2010
Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, iPad, Marvin 3, Mapleread
Worst Book

It has got to be "Hogg" by Samuel R. Delaney.....absolutely the most vile, self-indulgent pornographic writing with no use or meaning anywhere...you couldn't even pretend that there was any hidden artistry or social comment....it was just so bad....
Acousticvillage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2012, 08:09 PM   #63
pshrynk
Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah!
pshrynk ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pshrynk ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pshrynk ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pshrynk ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pshrynk ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pshrynk ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pshrynk ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pshrynk ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pshrynk ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pshrynk ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pshrynk ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
pshrynk's Avatar
 
Posts: 11,726
Karma: 8255450
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox
Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!
Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT View Post
I like Battlefield Earth (in fact, not so long ago I bought the Kindle edition ). It's a fun romp of a space opera. Hubbard may perhaps have had a screw loose when it comes to religion, but he was a decent enough SF writer in his time.

The film version, on the other hand was dire. In fact it's so bad that it's worth watching for its very awfulness, if you see what I mean .
So we both agree that the movie was worse?
pshrynk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2012, 08:58 PM   #64
banjobama
Busy Read'n
banjobama ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.banjobama ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.banjobama ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.banjobama ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.banjobama ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.banjobama ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.banjobama ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.banjobama ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.banjobama ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.banjobama ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.banjobama ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
banjobama's Avatar
 
Posts: 980
Karma: 5039283
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Auburn, WA
Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5
The worst book I've ever read is Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein! I hated everything about it. And like someone else said, I hated Robert A. Heinlein at the end also.

Last edited by banjobama; 07-13-2012 at 09:02 PM.
banjobama is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2012, 09:34 PM   #65
spindlegirl
Wizard
spindlegirl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.spindlegirl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.spindlegirl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.spindlegirl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.spindlegirl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.spindlegirl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.spindlegirl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.spindlegirl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.spindlegirl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.spindlegirl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.spindlegirl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
spindlegirl's Avatar
 
Posts: 1,594
Karma: 21245891
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Canada
Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader
Worst book I ever read was Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve. I was at the library with my children when they were much younger and it was the ONLY one I had a chance to grab of my own choosing (because my husband and I were overseeing our children's choices for the most part).

Ick Ick ick.
spindlegirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2012, 09:48 PM   #66
JSWolf
Resident Curmudgeon
JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
JSWolf's Avatar
 
Posts: 73,660
Karma: 127838196
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT View Post
I like Battlefield Earth (in fact, not so long ago I bought the Kindle edition ). It's a fun romp of a space opera. Hubbard may perhaps have had a screw loose when it comes to religion, but he was a decent enough SF writer in his time.

The film version, on the other hand was dire. In fact it's so bad that it's worth watching for its very awfulness, if you see what I mean .
Decent? Now way in hell was Hubbard a decent SF writer. His 10 book monsterpiece was also incredibly awful. Battlefield Earth is so bad, a sharp stick to the eye is preferable.
JSWolf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2012, 09:51 PM   #67
JSWolf
Resident Curmudgeon
JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
JSWolf's Avatar
 
Posts: 73,660
Karma: 127838196
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
Quote:
Originally Posted by pshrynk View Post
So we both agree that the movie was worse?
Actually, the movie is so much better then the book. I'll now tell you why the movie is that much better then the book.

Battlefield Earth is a very large book. It will take you a lot longer to read then it will to watch the movie. Thus, you lose more of your life to that nasty book then you do to that nasty movie. So given losing more of your life vs losing less of your life, losing less of your life is better so reading the book is worse then watching the movie.
JSWolf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2012, 10:03 PM   #68
Apache
Readaholic
Apache ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Apache ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Apache ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Apache ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Apache ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Apache ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Apache ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Apache ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Apache ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Apache ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Apache ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Apache's Avatar
 
Posts: 5,129
Karma: 89858112
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: South Georgia
Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf View Post
Decent? Now way in hell was Hubbard a decent SF writer. His 10 book monsterpiece was also incredibly awful. Battlefield Earth is so bad, a sharp stick to the eye is preferable.
This. I never did finish any of his books that I started. I think Battlefield Earth is the worst Science Fiction Book I have ever read.
Apache

Last edited by Apache; 07-13-2012 at 10:05 PM.
Apache is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2012, 06:46 AM   #69
tompe
Grand Sorcerer
tompe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.tompe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.tompe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.tompe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.tompe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.tompe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.tompe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.tompe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.tompe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.tompe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.tompe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 7,452
Karma: 7185064
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Linköpng, Sweden
Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apache View Post
This. I never did finish any of his books that I started. I think Battlefield Earth is the worst Science Fiction Book I have ever read.
It is one of the few books I did not finish. Another one that I did not finish since it was such a bad fiction book is Atlas Shrugged.
tompe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2012, 08:16 AM   #70
HarryT
eBook Enthusiast
HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
HarryT's Avatar
 
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf View Post
Decent? Now way in hell was Hubbard a decent SF writer. His 10 book monsterpiece was also incredibly awful. Battlefield Earth is so bad, a sharp stick to the eye is preferable.
The 10-volume "Invasion Earth" was dire. But I don't think Hubbard wrote it (or at least, very little of it).
HarryT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2012, 09:24 AM   #71
rhadin
Literacy = Understanding
rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
rhadin's Avatar
 
Posts: 4,833
Karma: 59674358
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The World of Books
Device: Nook, Nook Tablet
Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT View Post
I like Battlefield Earth (in fact, not so long ago I bought the Kindle edition ). It's a fun romp of a space opera. Hubbard may perhaps have had a screw loose when it comes to religion, but he was a decent enough SF writer in his time.

The film version, on the other hand was dire. In fact it's so bad that it's worth watching for its very awfulness, if you see what I mean .
Except it isn't worth watching the movie for any reason at all.
rhadin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2012, 09:35 AM   #72
rhadin
Literacy = Understanding
rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.rhadin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
rhadin's Avatar
 
Posts: 4,833
Karma: 59674358
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The World of Books
Device: Nook, Nook Tablet
Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT View Post
The 10-volume "Invasion Earth" was dire. But I don't think Hubbard wrote it (or at least, very little of it).
Well I think it depends on how old you were when you read it. I read the 10-volume "Invasion Earth" series when I was 11 or 12 years old and thought it was great. I still remmeber it as being great but I haven't read it since.

I've noted that whether a book is good or bad, assuming that it isn't riddled with spelling and grammar errors which are another issue, often depends on your age and mental state/development when you read the book.

I agree that some books transcend the ages in terms of greatness -- To Kill a Mockingbird, Elmer Gantry, and The Thin Man, to name three examples -- but I don't find that to be true of "bad books". Bad books come and go as I grow older, more experienced, and more selective.
rhadin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2012, 12:59 PM   #73
Xanthe
Plan B Is Now In Force
Xanthe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Xanthe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Xanthe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Xanthe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Xanthe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Xanthe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Xanthe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Xanthe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Xanthe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Xanthe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Xanthe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Xanthe's Avatar
 
Posts: 1,894
Karma: 8086979
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Surebleak
Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2
There used to be a book review forum called The Wall (can't seem to locate it anymore) in which folks posted books that deserved to be thrown against the wall. I know that I added a few to the listings there.

One book that will forever stick in my brain as one of the worst books is Laurell K. Hamilton's "Incubus Dreams". That's the book in which she self-destroyed her Anita Blake series, IMO.

Another is Talia Gryphon's (should have known right from the author's name) "Key to Conflict". That was just so poorly written and edited, it didn't deserve to be published. For a hint, see http://satireknight.wikispaces.com/Talia+Gryphon
Xanthe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2012, 01:09 AM   #74
silasgreenback
New Leaf Turner
silasgreenback ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.silasgreenback ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.silasgreenback ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.silasgreenback ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.silasgreenback ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.silasgreenback ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.silasgreenback ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.silasgreenback ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.silasgreenback ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.silasgreenback ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.silasgreenback ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
silasgreenback's Avatar
 
Posts: 260
Karma: 1026664
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Hadestown
Device: Kobo Glo
One of the worst books in recent memory is Naked in Death by J.D. Robb. I was hopeful that it would be a new series I could get into, but it turned out to be one I'll stay away from.

My main gripe was a character named Roarke. I won't go into describing him, but he was so over the top ridiculous and unlikeable that I had to imagine absurd stand-ins for him to be able to stomach the book long enough to finish it.

If you're familiar with the series, you may find it amusing that Mitt Romney as Roarke is kinda fun and so is the bloated Alec Baldwin.
silasgreenback is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2012, 02:24 AM   #75
HarryT
eBook Enthusiast
HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
HarryT's Avatar
 
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
Quote:
Originally Posted by silasgreenback View Post
One of the worst books in recent memory is Naked in Death by J.D. Robb. I was hopeful that it would be a new series I could get into, but it turned out to be one I'll stay away from
The "In Death" series is very popular and successful. Perhaps it's simply that it didn't appeal to you rather it being "bad"?
HarryT is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Worst Book(s) You Ever Read? covingtoncat73 Reading Recommendations 95 05-11-2011 11:31 AM
Worst Ever Ending to a Book WillieMcIntyre General Discussions 60 04-01-2011 11:42 AM
Worst (& Best) Book Translations mjh215 Lounge 3 11-24-2008 02:58 PM
Worst (& Best) book series finales mjh215 Lounge 14 11-18-2008 08:53 AM
What is the Worst Book you have had to Edit? andyafro Sony Reader 2 12-01-2007 09:40 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:52 PM.


MobileRead.com is a privately owned, operated and funded community.