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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:
SixKindsOfCrisis · 31/07/2007 23:43

What's so terrible about the lovely bones? Agree it's not perfect, a little mawkish perhaps. But I thought it was good. I read it shortly after The Little Friend (Donna Tartt), which made me feel almost sick with misery, and was surprised that the author of Lovely Bones managed to convey a plausible kind of half recovery from the murder of a child

UnquietDad · 31/07/2007 22:35

issy - what, you do the lascivious lingering or people linger lasciviously over you?

It's odd, just as many men read as women and from what i can tell just as many men discuss books online as women. But book clubs seem 99% female. I wouldn't want to join one.

MrsSpoon · 31/07/2007 22:26

Agree with quite a few of these, particularly the Abortionist's Daughter, the Pelzer books and The Lovely Bones. Also read something recently called The Butterfly House, it was going cheap and obviously for good reason. I have The Memory Keepers Daughter on my bookshelves waiting to be read and given all the comments I think it might just stay there unread.

Glad to hear the new Kate Atkinson is good, bought that the other day.

Pruners I know what you mean about the Ginger Baby book but her first book, No Wonder I Take a Drink, was IMO hysterical and well worth a read, her latested on ONly STrange People Go to Church was drivel.

Bluestocking · 31/07/2007 22:24

Has fishface gone yet?

FluffyMummy123 · 31/07/2007 22:23

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Issy · 31/07/2007 22:23

Yep Aitch, that's me. The Book Club killer. Actually I've always wanted to belong to a book club but never found one that would have me. Too much lascivious lingering!

Bluestocking · 31/07/2007 22:22

Ponce yourself. Spice Avenue is still here although I wouldn't say it was in Moseley, it's more Balsall Heath. Issy, you will see that I have given in to the mighty codforce.

FluffyMummy123 · 31/07/2007 22:21

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FluffyMummy123 · 31/07/2007 22:21

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Aitch · 31/07/2007 22:20

issy are you rachel cusk?

Issy · 31/07/2007 22:17

Got about half way through Interpretation of Murder and gave up. IIRC there was a discordant note in its lascivious lingering on the flogging and strangling scenes. Although probably not as arousing for the author as churning out all that explanatory narrative about New York's architectural history or the schisms amongst Freudian pyschologists.

You might as well give into Cod now MumInBrum and change your name. Cod will just hound you until you do

Issy (formerly known as 'Issymum')

FluffyMummy123 · 31/07/2007 22:16

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ForcesSweetheart · 31/07/2007 22:15

wtf??
not only did I love Lovely Bones, I can't wait to get my fat little paws onto the next Jasper Fforde.
wonder what that says about me!

Bluestocking · 31/07/2007 22:15

Moseley, of course.

sassy · 31/07/2007 22:13

ooh you have a twin!

bluestocking - greensleeves.

FluffyMummy123 · 31/07/2007 22:13

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Bluestocking · 31/07/2007 22:13

Excellent suggestion Aitch!

MuminBrum · 31/07/2007 22:11

Oy, Cod, MB wants you here

FluffyMummy123 · 31/07/2007 22:10

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Aitch · 31/07/2007 22:10

is bluestocking taken? i like that name very much. (so it's probably taken...)

MuminBrum · 31/07/2007 22:09

Sutton Codfield?

FluffyMummy123 · 31/07/2007 22:09

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FluffyMummy123 · 31/07/2007 22:08

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MuminBrum · 31/07/2007 22:08

FGS I do not live in frigging Sutton Coldfield.

FluffyMummy123 · 31/07/2007 22:08

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