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I'll leap in with my list.
1. Million Tiny Pieces - I know it was well loved but seriously? The writing style was abominable and amateurish and, in particular don't keep capitalizing terms that don't have any special significance - it's annoying and distracting. And as for the story, didn't like him, wasn't impressed with his rock bottom to rock star rise and still think he's a jerk (and an exaggerater if not an outright liar actually). Yeah, I realize over the top but it is just my personal opinion - he rubbed me the wrong way. I think there are better drug rehab stories out there.
2. The Game - actually pretty much everything I said about Million Tiny Pieces applies here. Don't ask me why I picked it up... Insanity driven by incredulity and the dangerous side of curiousity.
3. The Da Vinci Code - I definitely came out on the "not" side of the "hot or not" poll on this one. Picked it up during its glory days in the uber expensive illustrated edition which gathered dust until I guilted myself into reading it. I found it insulting to everyone's intelligence - from the purported learned academics serving as the main characters, to one of the greatest minds in history and finally to the reader. I like easy reads but something about the fictionalized intellectualism not ringing true in this book really sat badly with me.
4. Tuesday's with Morrie - I am a weeper, I weep at Hallmark commercials, overly adorable pictures of puppies and commercials with starving kids in Africa. It's a cross and I bear it. I didn't weep over Morrie. I also didn't understand why someone needed to write a 200 page book around the idea that people should take time to stop and smell the flowers...well, duh.
5. Emotional/Lifestyle self help books a la Secret - Also, on the well, duh theme. Plus I personally get a little defensive (okay a lot defensive) at anyone trying to tell me that their life and their choices are better than mine. Maybe for them but I'm actually pretty happy about mine. This also prevents me from reading any list that ends with " ... before you die". I'll make up my own mind thanks.
6. Shopaholic books. Seriously? The character is completely unlikeable. Want to smack her in fact.
7. Anything by Nicholas Sparks - Not saying his writing style is bad but, to explain how I feel let me describe a conversation I had with my friend before she dragged me off to see Nights in Rodanthe. Friend: "Wouldn't it be romantic to have someone like Nicholas Sparks for a husband?" Me (always contrary..sorry it's my nature): "Does that mean it would be horrifying to have Stephen King for a husband?...But seriously, Nicholas Sparks would be a horrible husband if his books were anything to go by. The man is sadistic or masochistic or both and loves nothing better than to rip apart a happy couple and kill off one of them in some horrifying manner leaving the other to stumble about forever more grieving for their lost love. Stop it already. No more. (And yes I wept in Nights in Rodanthe but it's a physical condition...I can't control it and I still hate him).
8. Not Wanted on the Voyage - read this for school and it just left a bad taste in my mouth. Something about it made me feel icky and not in a "Wow. That author really opened my eyes up to something" way.
JMO
Mel
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