Books to avoid

[Redglitter]

Plenty of threads for recommendations but what books would you advise people to avoid

For me it's 'Her' by Harriet Gray

A total non story with a dreadful ending. I actually thought my kindle had forgotten to download the last chapter. Don't know if the author was running late for her deadline or what but ugh avoid

[Wolfiefan]

Cloud Atlas. Like WTF?

[CaptainHolt]

Kate Mosse - Labyrinth - too ridiculous

Jojo Moyes - Me before you - Unrealistically worthy portrayal of 'working class' family plus woman being taught, pygmalion like, about foreign language films. Also cringy.

The 100 year old man - Dull as fuck.

[Redglitter]

oops Her is by Harriet Lane not Grey

[slkk]

Quite enjoyed me before you.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Gone Girl. Was actually quite cross that I'd wasted part of my life on it.

[TheyGotTheMustardOut]

Run, Rabbit by Updike - grow the fuck up, Rabbit! The book gave me the rage.

[ladydepp]

Girl on the train - awful, I really don't get its popularity

(but Cloud Atlas is one of my all time favourites!)

[slkk]

Also enjoyed gone girl and girl on train. But not cloud atlas.

[BualadhBos]

The Tme Traveller's Wife. rubbish and very long

[treaclesoda]

Lord of the Rings. I'm very stubborn and don't like to let a book 'beat' me, but bloody hell it was tedious.

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

ladydepp was going to say The Girl on the Train too. Painful.

[Costacoffeeplease]

The poisonwood bible and Jonathan strange and mr Norrell - I wasted hours on both of these

[wwbuffydo]

Can't believe no-ones claimed this yet- but 50 shades of grey. I hate it. A lot.

[DuchessofMalfi]

I loved Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Her by Harriet Lane was my favourite read of last summer.

But I will give you The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro. Truly the worst book of the year so far. I can't believe I wasted time on that utter tripe. Have no idea what he was thinking when he wrote that. He's a good writer and I have enjoyed several of his previous books but he's seriously lost the plot with this one imo.

[Cric]

Time travellers wife is one of my favourites.... I love it!!!

[RhubarbAndMustard]

Yes to Gone Girl. I'm half way through and thinking when will this get any better.

[MrsPnut]

Lovely bones by Alice Seabold. I've started this book twice and both times given up in disgust because it's dire.

[33goingon64]

The Dice Man. Misogynistic crap.

[slkk]

I think lovely bones is for teenagers. I loved the time travellers wife gripping though I read the first half grumbling and tutting that it was a 'stupid book, stupid idea' but somehow couldn't stop reading. Loved it.

[LeBearPolar]

Girl on the Train was just meh after all the bloody hype. She gave me the rage too.

The latest Marian Keyes - i used to like her because although I don't like chick-lit, she has a sharp humour. I can read Rachel's Holiday over and over again. But she's just gone soft now: it's basically your run of the mill stuff.

[TobikkoRoll]

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, don't know why I succumbed to the hype - I thought it was awful. Poorly written and just what was the point of the main character?!?

Also have not enjoyed The Miniaturist, no revelation and no satisfaction

[maudpringles]

A quiet belief in Angels - relentless misery

[CoteDAzur]

"Cloud Atlas. Like WTF?"

Like, great book that you didn't get

[CoteDAzur]

Re "Books to avoid" - I'd put in that list any heavily-marketed, over-hyped book by an unknown author that suddenly becomes a bestseller. I'll happily wait a year or two, then read it if it's still talked about as a great book.

[DuchessofMalfi]

Maud - I managed about two pages of A Quiet Belief in Angels before giving up. I'd forgotten about that one. Not my cup of tea at all.

Oh and Brick Lane by Monica Ali - boring. Struggled through to the end, but wished I hadn't bothered.