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Original poster

What is the worst book you have read recently and why was it so bad?

361 replies

Miaou · 30/07/2007 20:41

I've been reading light stuff atm and just grabbed this off the "chick lit" stand at the library just before having ds2 - I struggled valiantly through to the end but was really disappointed in it. The story was turgid and predictable, the characters one-dimensional, and I felt that what could have been an interesting story with the potential for some really sinister turns, was in fact incredibly dull. The final "showdown" between the mother and son was jaw-droppingly badly written and really let the whole book down.

However I have had lots of fun picking it to pieces so maybe it was worth it

OP posts:
MrsMuddle · 03/09/2007 21:02

Arlington Park. Load of pretentious shoite, written by someone who's attended one creative writing class too many. Sounded like it was meant to be an English desperate housewives. In reality, it was just desperately dull. Wish I hadn't wasted three hours of my life on it. I could be more disparaging, but I'm slightly nervous in case the author is a MNer.

Dior · 03/09/2007 20:31

Message withdrawn

ArcticRoll · 03/09/2007 20:26

Getting Rid Of Matthew-Jane Fallon.
Read it for book group.
Dire stuff.
Unbelievable and unsympathetic characters.
Clonky story line.
Predictable.
Yawn.
(Richard and Judy selected0

expatinscotland · 03/09/2007 14:34

The House at Riverton

bonitaMia · 03/09/2007 14:34

"The eight" by Katherine Neville.
I tried but I couldn't care less about any of the characters or the story itself, so I had to give it up after reading 1/4 or it. Life is too short.

BecauseImWorthIt · 02/09/2007 22:43

Sandra Howard - I think it's called The Glass House

Don't go anywhere near this at all

She clearly only got the contract because she's Michael Howard's wife.

Had the potential to be a really good story (which is why I bought it, natch) - but so, so badly written.

The kind of thing you write at school - she did this, and then he did that, and then she said this ... kind of stuff.

All superficial and glossed over.

Avoid at all costs!

Elasticwoman · 02/09/2007 22:26

Thunderpants - I couldn't get into Virginia Woolf as an undergrad, except Orlando - have you tried it or seen the film with Tilda Swinton?

The Hours (film) might throw some light on Mrs D if the music doesn't drive you crazy.

bakedpotato · 02/09/2007 22:20

Yes, he did. I half-enjoyed Pompeii. OK, so knowing the volcano was going to erupt and kill everyone kind of took some of the suspense away -- but it had a fair bit of atmosphere.
Imperium was just endless pages of Cicero's speeches. Dreck.

Elasticwoman · 02/09/2007 22:14

Didn't Robert Harris also write Pompeii? I couldn't finish it .

bakedpotato · 02/09/2007 22:13

Robert Harris, Imperium. Dull, dry, no colour at all.

I started flicking about 1/4 of the way in, it didn't appear to improve, so I gave up.

It made me realise that he's been losing it, badly, ever since Archangel.

sheepgomeep · 19/08/2007 16:18

I've read secret of crickly hall too.. thought it was excellent.

Best book at the moment.. Stephen Kings 'Cell'. Thought twice about using my mob lol!

I did like the deathly hallows too.

Worst book? I wasn't keen on James Herberts Shrine, Starting of ok then went crap

snugglynuggly · 17/08/2007 21:36

best book i have read lately was james herbert secret of crickley hall not biggest fan of ghost stories usually but this was excellent was scared to put the light ou swish thwack

Kathyis6incheshigh · 13/08/2007 14:32

My worst recent book was not a novel but Nigella Lawson's 'How To Eat'. To be fair the recipes are actually really good, but I just can't read the damn thing without being infuriated by her condescending, preachy, pretentious, etc etc way of writing. It's just so lifestyley and I just want to cook nice food, not to buy into a lifestyle and especially not that one.

LoveAngel · 13/08/2007 14:28

Nothing terrible recently but can't get through a Martin Amis novel without wanting to scream. What a knob.

wessexgirl · 12/08/2007 22:57

I don't get time to read rubbish books any more (though I read a few a week before the dds were born) but an ex once recommended Jonathan Livingstone Seagull most warmly.

We split up the next week.

ScottishMummy · 11/08/2007 19:05

Ta - wee one loves harry we read it all the time 'arry rocks

SixKindsofCrisis · 11/08/2007 19:02

Very wise Scottishmum

ScottishMummy · 11/08/2007 19:00

never read any harry potter - there is only one harry for me and he has a bucketful of dinosaurs

SixKindsofCrisis · 11/08/2007 18:57

Agree about Gruffalo and Thomas the Tank. Former is a joy to read aloud and latter is pure torture.
Worst book I have read recently has to be the Harry Potter. Serves me right for reading it, I know, but the first of her books was engaging and a clever conceit and I lived in hope that the ending of the series would be worth sifting through the truely dreadful writing. But no.

ScottishMummy · 11/08/2007 18:53

love gruffalo and any Ian Whybrow harry books haten Jodi Picoult

sauce · 11/08/2007 13:58

Speaking of tripping off the tongue, I love to read The Gruffalo aloud. It's the best! But I loathe Where the Wild Things Are and Goodnight, Moon.

suzywong · 11/08/2007 02:28

thank god that is the disposition of right minded women, then
I thought it was just me and I was Odd.

In fact I should have stayed away as the "E. Annie" set my nerves a-jangle from the offset.

Califrau · 11/08/2007 01:56

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suzywong · 11/08/2007 01:45

The Shipping News

didn't read much of it
it set my teeth on edge, so contrived.

Plus the portrait of E. ANnie on the back cover made me judder.

Mommalove · 11/08/2007 01:40

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