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The worst books you read in 2017

139 replies

BestIsWest · 17/12/2017 12:02

Inspired by @SouthEastDweller’s best books of 2017 thread, what’s your worst read of 2017?

Mine is unquestionably The End OfThe World Running Club. Just dire. Misogynistic macho drivel. And there wasn’t even much running.

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HoardingQueen · 25/04/2018 09:40

The Girls...couldn't wait to get it over with..completely overrated!

Bookreader2403 · 17/04/2018 18:44

I absolutely hated and could not finish The Keeper of Lost Things! Dear lord what utter tripe! It was just cliche after cliche.. I roll my eyes even at the mere mention of it!

EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic · 01/03/2018 19:17

Defintely the Trouble with Goats and Sheep. I think from the blurb that the author has given up her job to write. Big mistake.

HappydaysArehere · 26/02/2018 08:27

I loved The Keeper of Lost Things. Have to step up for that one.

Toomuchsplother · 26/02/2018 07:05

I think it was The Loving Husband by Christobel Kent. I agree complete drivel. I gave it one star on GoodReads with a note saying I would give it none if I could.

NinjagoNinja · 25/02/2018 22:19

Oh sorry, just realised it can't be that one. As you were.

NinjagoNinja · 25/02/2018 22:19

My contribution is a book my MIL left for me to read after staying here because she knows how much I love books. I think it says everything that I can remember neither the author nor title, nor even the details of the plot. Do you know the one?! It was to do with a woman whose husband doesn't come home one night and then it turns out he's mixed up in some dodgy enterprise and he gets murdered by someone she knows who then threatens her but it's all also linked to some event from his teenage years ... Drivel beyond belief

Was it The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty?

NinjagoNinja · 25/02/2018 22:12

Just finished Eleanor Oliphant. Disappointing ending. Just made me sigh and roll my eyes. My local Waterstones is really pushing this, but it's not literature, it's the first draft of a movie. Nice writing, poor plotting and insulting ending.

FucksBizz · 06/01/2018 17:32

The Power - good concept, poor execution
The Teacher - utter utter shite

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 01/01/2018 16:20

I read A True History of the Kelly Gang but couldn't finish it.

Ned Kelly should make for an exciting story, but it's all descriptions of early Australian farming practices and faux-naive poor grammar. I know it won all those awards, but it bored me to death.

I loved The Trouble With Goats and Sheep though.

Glowerglass · 01/01/2018 11:43

The Power also.

To be honest this and Eileen were probably not the worst books I read in 2017 (I ready constantly and some of it is awful tripe) but they were the most disappointing. They had good reviews and I expected much more from the authors.

Its the betrayal, really.

southeastdweller · 31/12/2017 21:08

Late entry here - Diary of a Bookseller. Very boring and samey, I'm amazed this got published.

mrsmuddlepies · 31/12/2017 20:35

I loved Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill. I enjoyed the sequel, Jacob's Room is Full of Books even more. I looked up Susan Hill on the web afterwards. Suffice it to say, She surprised me with her recent life choices.
This is in response to a pp. Everyone I know who has read the books has loved them.

Frouby · 31/12/2017 20:09

The Goldfinch. I kept ploughing on with it because mn said it was amazing.

It wasn't.

The Trouble With Goats and Sheep was rubbish too. Nothing happens.

I enjoyed Eleanor Olliphant. And The Keeper of.Lost things was ok in the first half but then just got silly.

I have tried 3 timea to read the first of the Jo Nesbo series. It's not for me.

And am halfway through the Frieda Klein is it? Am up to halfway through Thursday and struggling to return to it.

Lots of started and scrapped books too.

I don't think 2017 has been a good year.

Glowerglass · 31/12/2017 19:54

Eileen. - I did finish it. There were plenty I abandoned..

But really, it got such good reviews.....

Kitsharrington · 31/12/2017 17:09

My worst is Yanagihara’s A Little Life. And maybe not just in 2017 - possibly ever! I wish I could have those hours back.

Dire!!!

bettyblueeyes83 · 31/12/2017 00:44

Loved Essex Serpent and the Power, bored by Serious Sweet (took me weeks to finish in dribs and drabs), hated Eleanor Oliphant!

Anniethinggose · 31/12/2017 00:27

Sleep, Pale Sister by Joanne Harris

VanderlyleGeek · 31/12/2017 00:03

Oops. Blush. But, Mitzi Bytes is really terrible.

VanderlyleGeek · 31/12/2017 00:02

I said up thread that The Bookshop was the worst book I've read this year, but I was wrong. The absolute worst book I read this year Mitzi Bytes by Kerry Clare. F Aoo

minsmum · 31/12/2017 00:01

The Maestro, the Magistrate and the Mathematician I think it was called no idea who wrote it. A book club pick which was so awful that no one finished it.

irrationallyworried · 30/12/2017 23:45

"The Tidal Zone" by Sarah Moss. Good opening few pages but dreadful after that.

I also gave up on the John O'Farrell very quickly - agree it was unreadable.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 30/12/2017 23:37

The Black Eyed Susan
I gave up pretty early on this book, first chapter was written in god awful dreamlike style, I didn't realise it would continue through out the whole book. Like reading book whilst drunk.

Overthehillsandfaraway8 · 27/12/2017 16:32

Zoe Ferraris' new novel which was just awful. Not nearly as good as the previous two.

lastqueenofscotland · 27/12/2017 16:30

4 3 2 1 by Paul auster. He'd not written anything since the 80s I don't think... should have stayed that way.

Big brother by lionel shriver. If she hadn't already written we need to talk about Kevin and had the laurels of that to rest on I don't think this would have been published. Utter shite.

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