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Original poster

Books that were recommended to you but turned out to be absolute pointless drivel - the wasted hours you'll never get back - a warning list for others!

230 replies

MadreInglese · 28/02/2011 14:37

These immediately spring to mind:

Kate Mosse - Labyrinth
(also her The Winter Ghosts - should have known after I read one of hers that another would be just as crud)

Paulo Coehlo - The Alchemist

Audrey Niffeneger - Her Fearful Symmetry
(first half was readable then she appears to have taken some strange pills before embarking on the rest of the book)

Stephanie Meyer - The Twilight Trauma Saga

OP posts:
paddypoopants · 28/02/2011 16:05

Wolf Hall
The Slap
Man and Boy
The girl who kicked the hornets nest (didn't get past page 3) The other 2 were prob equally as bad but I listened to them on abridged audiobook which wasn't quite as painful.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 28/02/2011 16:02

I agree with Her Fearful Symmetry - such a con, I'd have given up halfway if I'd known it would get so daft and downright nasty by the end.

A couple of the later Anne Tylers have left me feeling flat at the end as well, despite being well-written and an enjoyable, insightful read.

LimburgseVlaai · 28/02/2011 15:58

Stieg Larsson 1+2 zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - have not bothered with number 3.

Dan Brown (Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons) made me laugh and laugh and laugh... So worth it if that's what you're after.

Actually, Da Vinci Code and Stieg Larsson 2 are very similar: Boring male hero who is inexplicably attractive to women. Monster albino who cannot feel pain hunts our hero couple. Easy easy clues.

tillyfernackerpants · 28/02/2011 15:56

Oh and anything by Dan Brown

tillyfernackerpants · 28/02/2011 15:53

Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Snow Falling on Cedars
The Shipping News
Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow

Anything by James Pattinson or Patricia Cornwell!

Dittany, I enjoyed the Steig Larsson books, seems you either love them or hate them

dittany · 28/02/2011 15:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RoundOrangeHead · 28/02/2011 15:44

The Road

RoundOrangeHead · 28/02/2011 15:44

`The Long Song

RoundOrangeHead · 28/02/2011 15:43

StiegLarson 1
StiegLarson 2
StiegLarson 3

Sidge · 28/02/2011 15:39

Time Travellers Wife
Lord of the Rings
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Jump
Anything by Cecilia Aherne or Sophie Kinsella

GretchenWiener · 28/02/2011 15:36

i hated TTW and liked symetry

Original poster
MadreInglese · 28/02/2011 15:36

yes to Da Vinci code, Angels and Demons also zzzzzz

I'm in two minds on the Steig Larsson trio, I have the first one unread on my shelf but am hearing very conflicting reviews so not sure whether to give it a go

re Labyrinth: I imagine if you know Carcasonne or that region then the scenic oh-look-at-the-beautiful-mountain twelve-page description bits would appeal, but I thought the story itself was shockingly crap

OP posts:
fivegomadindorset · 28/02/2011 15:33

The Little Stranger
The HOuse at Riverford
We Need to know about Kevin

Original poster
MadreInglese · 28/02/2011 15:31

Oh I quite liked Time Travellers Wife

lol @ gramercy Grin

OP posts:
GregorSamsa · 28/02/2011 15:31

Any books in that Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers
Agree re Kate Mosse Labyrinth etc.

Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk. Why? Just, why?

shellbell72 · 28/02/2011 15:30

I enjoyed five people you meet in heaven but tuesdays with morrie? absolute pants.
I too cannot 'get into' HP, tried several times.

lucysmum · 28/02/2011 15:27

I usually avoid things my husband reads so haven't considered Da Vinci code and the dead Danish chap on that basis - seems I have been vindicated !

mousesma · 28/02/2011 15:25

I enjoyed both the "Time traveller's wife" and "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen". Agree "Five people you meet in heaven" is a load of drivel though.

Absolutely hated the Stieg Larson Millenium trilogy and The Da Vinci Code, badly written nonsense both of them.

iamabadger · 28/02/2011 15:22

Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Lord of the Rings

bobbityboo · 28/02/2011 15:20

Time traveller's wife, 100 years of solitude, captain corelli's mandolin, anything by Rachel Cusk,

Themumsnot · 28/02/2011 15:20

Hated Labyrinth - had to read it for book group.
Actually, thinking about it a lot of the books I hated I had to read for book group.
Five People you meet in heaven - utter drivel.
Ukrainian Tractors.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.
Brick Lane. And it was LOOOOONG too.
That one about the Spanish Civil War by the woman who is married to Ian Hislop.

C4ro · 28/02/2011 15:17

YY to Time Travellers Wife. Utter blah and I was assured it was quality literature by my sister.

queenofboak · 28/02/2011 15:13

Jilly Cooper - Jump

Was so disappointed in this

gramercy · 28/02/2011 15:13

I'm reading Labyrinthe at the moment. It's a bit Da Vince for Birds but I'm enjoying (imaginging!) the scenery.

gramercy · 28/02/2011 15:12

Time Travellers Wife. Talk about repetitive. It got so I was cheering when the bloke finally copped it. Then, of course, he flippin' came back from another time.