Worst Book - Page 8

caleb72 · 07-19-2012, 03:53 AM

I'm surprised at some of the books mentioned, but it's also fun to see what really gets on people's nerves.

If I wanted to nominate a classic author who I thought really sucked I'd probably point to Thomas Hardy. My horrible experience partially reading Far from the Madding Crowd may not extend into his other works. However, please excuse me for not bothering to find out.

Generally, I may somewhat over-exaggerate my reverence for classics. As I get older (some might say more decrepid), I'm starting to develop a warm feeling for them that may or may not mean that I need to consider a catheter in the near future.

HarryT · 07-19-2012, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvReadin

Not sure that's true. Most of his books were serialised, and that generally indicates something considered suitable for reading by the family after dinner, and of course, the language we now consider dated wouldn't have been so then.

Dickens, like the other popular authors of his day, was writing popular entertainment for the middle classes. They were the "soap operas" of their time. Monthly or weekly magazine serialisation was the normal method for publishing novels at the time.

orlok · 07-19-2012, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caleb72

If I wanted to nominate a classic author who I thought really sucked I'd probably point to Thomas Hardy. My horrible experience partially reading Far from the Madding Crowd may not extend into his other works. However, please excuse me for not bothering to find out.

For me it was Tess of the D'Urbervilles, which I had to read for my A Levels (required for University entrance). I hated it so much I couldn't finish it, and had to leave out answering a whole third of my English Lit paper.

LuvReadin · 07-19-2012, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caleb72

If I wanted to nominate a classic author who I thought really sucked I'd probably point to Thomas Hardy. My horrible experience partially reading Far from the Madding Crowd may not extend into his other works. .

Have to agree with you on that one. I've really tried to get through some of them, but it's no good - I just don't get them. Years ago, I read what I still think is the best description of Hardy's novels: "They're all miserable, and then they die", and I'm afraid I concur fully with it!

spindlegirl · 07-19-2012, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caleb72

I'm surprised at some of the books mentioned, but it's also fun to see what really gets on people's nerves.

If I wanted to nominate a classic author who I thought really sucked I'd probably point to Thomas Hardy. My horrible experience partially reading Far from the Madding Crowd may not extend into his other works. However, please excuse me for not bothering to find out.

Generally, I may somewhat over-exaggerate my reverence for classics. As I get older (some might say more decrepid), I'm starting to develop a warm feeling for them that may or may not mean that I need to consider a catheter in the near future.

I had read (and liked) Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure, and then bought Far from the Madding Crowd (before e-books and PG/MR) and could not finish it. It was dull and I could not appreciate the main character.

HarryT · 07-19-2012, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvReadin

Have to agree with you on that one. I've really tried to get through some of them, but it's no good - I just don't get them. Years ago, I read what I still think is the best description of Hardy's novels: "They're all miserable, and then they die", and I'm afraid I concur fully with it!

Thomas Hardy was ground-breaking in that he was really the first author to write novels that broke the "rule" that "novels have to have a comedic (ie happy) ending". But I have to agree; Hardy's novels are undoubtedly great works of literature, but they're damned depressing.

Echo75 · 07-20-2012, 06:56 AM

The Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons wins worst book award for me (although I haven't read all of Twilight or 50 Shades of Grey, which by all accounts could be worse).

TBH had such a RIDICULOUS premise that I just couldn't get past it. I didn't like any of the characters either. Alexander was a controlling dipshit. Tatiana just kept doing stupid things, and I got a bit bored with hearing how few potatoes they had left. Then the middle of the book was wall-to-wall cheesy and vanilla sex for like 200 pages. I finished it, but only as an exercise in how not to write.

Oh, and of all the long depressing novels I had to read for my English Literature degree, I actually liked Hardy just for pushing the boundaries. :-)

bigjantailor · 07-20-2012, 10:52 AM

What if 'your' (as in anyone who writes, including me) was named as the worse book ever?

I would like to think that I would be big enough to love my book and not get angry. And remember bad is in the eye of the beholder, just as bueaty is - I love bad movies.

I would hope I could take a little pride in that my book is 'special' to someone.

Just some absurd thoughts on a rain summer morning, because I know my writing is the best (if the italics don't suggest sarcasim, this line should tell you I being sarcastic).

Have fun, Jason

HarryT · 07-20-2012, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjantailor

What if 'your' (as in anyone who writes, including me) was named as the worse book ever?

I would like to think that I would be big enough to love my book and not get angry. And remember bad is in the eye of the beholder, just as bueaty is - I love bad movies.

I would hope I could take a little pride in that my book is 'special' to someone.

Just some absurd thoughts on a rain summer morning, because I know my writing is the best (if the italics don't suggest sarcasim, this line should tell you I being sarcastic).

Have fun, Jason

I did say, right at the start of the thread, Jason, that I think one has to be wary of taking the stance that a book that simply doesn't appeal to one is automatically "bad". You make a very valid point.

raychensmith · 07-20-2012, 06:58 PM

Anything by Michael Connelly -- plodding, humorless stories populated by plodding, humorless characters described in plodding, humorless prose. (Alternative: James Ellroy's The Black Dahlia. Has all the interesting prose, humor, and kickass stories that Connelly lacks.)

hidari · 07-20-2012, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Thomas Hardy was ground-breaking in that he was really the first author to write novels that broke the "rule" that "novels have to have a comedic (ie happy) ending". But I have to agree; Hardy's novels are undoubtedly great works of literature, but they're damned depressing.

I find Hardy's novels to be interesting but slow at times. However, I would recommend people read Hardy's Poetry. After all, He was a poet first and foremost...at least in my opinion... much prefer his poetry to his prose.

Jozawun · 07-20-2012, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hidari

I find Hardy's novels to be interesting but slow at times. However, I would recommend people read Hardy's Poetry. After all, He was a poet first and foremost...at least in my opinion... much prefer his poetry to his prose.

Thomas Hardy, Joseph Conrad, Henry James and Nathaniel Hawthorne were all undeniably great writers, and every well-educated person should read at least one of each of their books.
But life is far too short to bother wading through a second.

speakingtohe · 07-21-2012, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raychensmith

Anything by Michael Connelly -- plodding, humorless stories populated by plodding, humorless characters described in plodding, humorless prose. (Alternative: James Ellroy's The Black Dahlia. Has all the interesting prose, humor, and kickass stories that Connelly lacks.)

Each to their own, I am a big fan of kickass and a big fan of Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch) who seems kind of kickass to me. Might take a while for him to get to it, but he does get to it.

Elllroy seems a bit more introspective and characters kind of self chatty but I only read one book. Will try another on your recomendation

Helen

jburma · 07-23-2012, 10:23 PM

I joined this site actually just for this post! Does this mean I'm a negative person?

My first read of Don Winslow was "The Dawn Patrol". I loved that book. I read "Savages" after a couple of his others that I did not like as much, but I thought Savages was just atrocious...absolutely unreadable...by far the worst of the lot. The best part of a book for me is character development. This book had characters in which I had absolutely no interest. They all were almost completely unlikeable. And the dialogue was even worse. I guess I'd like the movie if every one of these useless character was blown away.

I find it hysterical that this was made into a movie...my first thought was...what? that book?? The funnier thing is that people are calling it a masterpiece at this point and Winslow now wrote a prequel...talk about cashing in. Good Lord.

tompe · 07-24-2012, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doitsu

I really hated Lars Kepler's The Hypnotist (NPR review).
IMHO, this is easily the worst Nordic thriller that I've ever read, and I've read lots of them.

I could not finish it so I agree. I do not understand why it was so popular.

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07-19-2012, 03:53 AM	#106
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	I'm surprised at some of the books mentioned, but it's also fun to see what really gets on people's nerves. If I wanted to nominate a classic author who I thought really sucked I'd probably point to Thomas Hardy. My horrible experience partially reading Far from the Madding Crowd may not extend into his other works. However, please excuse me for not bothering to find out. Generally, I may somewhat over-exaggerate my reverence for classics. As I get older (some might say more decrepid), I'm starting to develop a warm feeling for them that may or may not mean that I need to consider a catheter in the near future.

07-20-2012, 06:56 AM	#112
Echo75 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 5000 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle	The Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons wins worst book award for me (although I haven't read all of Twilight or 50 Shades of Grey, which by all accounts could be worse). TBH had such a RIDICULOUS premise that I just couldn't get past it. I didn't like any of the characters either. Alexander was a controlling dipshit. Tatiana just kept doing stupid things, and I got a bit bored with hearing how few potatoes they had left. Then the middle of the book was wall-to-wall cheesy and vanilla sex for like 200 pages. I finished it, but only as an exercise in how not to write. Oh, and of all the long depressing novels I had to read for my English Literature degree, I actually liked Hardy just for pushing the boundaries. :-)

07-20-2012, 10:52 AM	#113
bigjantailor Defender of Consciousness Posts: 69 Karma: 3323596 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Vancouver Device: none	What if 'your' (as in anyone who writes, including me) was named as the worse book ever? I would like to think that I would be big enough to love my book and not get angry. And remember bad is in the eye of the beholder, just as bueaty is - I love bad movies. I would hope I could take a little pride in that my book is 'special' to someone. Just some absurd thoughts on a rain summer morning, because I know my writing is the best (if the italics don't suggest sarcasim, this line should tell you I being sarcastic). Have fun, Jason

07-20-2012, 06:58 PM	#115
raychensmith Member Posts: 19 Karma: 330010 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kindle	Anything by Michael Connelly -- plodding, humorless stories populated by plodding, humorless characters described in plodding, humorless prose. (Alternative: James Ellroy's The Black Dahlia. Has all the interesting prose, humor, and kickass stories that Connelly lacks.)

07-23-2012, 10:23 PM	#119
jburma Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: none	I joined this site actually just for this post! Does this mean I'm a negative person? My first read of Don Winslow was "The Dawn Patrol". I loved that book. I read "Savages" after a couple of his others that I did not like as much, but I thought Savages was just atrocious...absolutely unreadable...by far the worst of the lot. The best part of a book for me is character development. This book had characters in which I had absolutely no interest. They all were almost completely unlikeable. And the dialogue was even worse. I guess I'd like the movie if every one of these useless character was blown away. I find it hysterical that this was made into a movie...my first thought was...what? that book?? The funnier thing is that people are calling it a masterpiece at this point and Winslow now wrote a prequel...talk about cashing in. Good Lord.

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