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1) Bad spelling
2) Bad grammar
3) Incorrect word usage
4) long stretches of narrative about the setting (I had this problem with "Valley of Horse's" by Jean Auel
5) Problems that are easily resolved but aren't til the end of the book. A simple misunderstanding for example that could be cleared up easily, but which keeps characters at odds.
6) A plot that's too thin for the book (not all plots are created equal).
7) A storyline that's too obvious.
8) Not being consistent with story rules. If it's established a genie can only grant 3 wishes the hero shouldn't be able to get out of trouble by making a fourth wish.
9) Stupid Villains. I mean we know the hero will triumph in the end, but it shouldn't be too easy for him.
10) Incorrect details. I don't mean having a few insignificant details wrong or an author taking some liberties with a real setting to make his/her story (Stephen King did this in The Stand with some real settings I understand) but the kind of errors that are the result of not doing proper research. For example if someone wrote that their character was speeding down the road at 110 mph (according to their speedometer) in a Delorian (ala back to the future) I'd question their research because I understand the speedometer on a Delorian only goes as high as 85 mph. Of course a lot of errors like the 1st 3 are caught usually by editors.
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