Worst book(s) you read in 2020

Eight Detectives and Rules for Perfect Murders both sounded like dream books for me. I loved the concepts and ordered them in hardback because I just couldn't wait to read them. Both were huge disappointments - clumsily plotted, 2D characters, poorly written, completely lacking in suspense. I have no idea how either got published.

I adored Normal People and wept buckets at the end. It felt like someone had opened a window into my brain and plucked out my thoughts.

Some trite 'gothic horror' bollocks I can't even remember the name of. I learned more about sheep farming from it than I did about the rest of the plot.

One set in an asylum. The doctor was possessed by a demon in the second chapter. It was set in Yorkshire but I don't think the author could find the county on a map. All the dialogue was

'Eeeh, ah went t'shops for t'milk and fell in t'beck' (literally written like that). SO annoying. I know what a Yorkshire accent sounds like, you don't have to write in an accent.

Totally agree with Queenie and Haven’t they grown. Interested to read any more comments on Rodham before I buy it. I usually love her books

Easily the worst book I've ever read was The Lido. It is the only book I haven't finished to the bitter end as it was actually making me angry that it was so badly written and so obvious what was going to happen (later confirmed to me by other members of my book group).

I loved Crawdads but hadn't heard of it before I read it, so no hype to give me expectations.

Where the Crawdads Sing. Thank god it was a library book. Tedious, implausible self indulgent rubbish. I had to force myself to finish it

I read “Shrill” by Lindy West
Worst book ever.

Yes @HeadNorth I toiled through The Mirror and The Light as well. I can only assume her editor was on holiday, or too reverential to remove any of Mantels words. A very self indulgent finale I felt, and I enjoyed the other two.

The Mirror and the Light - what a disappointment. The hype can only have been based on her previous books and no one was brave enough to edit it or admit it is a tedious dirge.

I loved Wolf Hall. Bring up the Bodies was not as good, but still decent. Then this long, unending grind through tedious court politics. No thanks.

'Queenie' - badly written superficial drivel. God knows how CCW landed a weekly Guardian gig

'Normal People' - Emperor's New Clothes or what?

'An American Marriage' - (please say in a loud Chandler Bing voice) Could there BE any more stereotypes and cliches?

My best reads were The Nickel Boys and The Navigator of New York.

Normal People made me angry with how bad it was. I absolutely hated it. So unrealistic and should have been called Nasty People.

I liked Crawdads a lot though! Probably one of my favourites of the year.

The final Cromwell book was a cringer for me. Nowt of the serpentine suggestivity of the other two, read like a shopping list.

Hilary Mantel says that when she worked out the final scene she burst into tears - your sobs were not as loud as mine when I read it, mate.

Although every word David Mitchell writes is explosive genius, Utopia Avenue was a bit of a plod. He can't do everyday, cos he does it so well it's as meh as unedited reality. Books about other art forms don't work - even if they did, I'm a David Mitchell fan, not a music fan.

I liked normal people and milkman, just goes to show really how divisive things can be and how books can get such two opposite reactions.

My worst of the year is Lorna Doone, absolutely hated it. The main character isn't even Lorna but instead a man who views Lorna once and then practically stalks her for half the book. Lorna herself is like an idealised victorian lady who faints at the whiff of any upset. I kept reading thinking it would somehow get better and because I camp in the area the whole thing is set in and couldn't go this year.

I am pilgrim - couldn't get more than 1/3 through, utter shite. Also didn't like Normal People, the characters were just so stupid. Downloaded a sample of A Little Life on kindle, didn't think much of it so won't be purchasing.

Really interesting thread!

I’ve just given up on The Binding. Intriguing central idea, awful, awful writing. Felt like wading through treacle. Life’s too short.

I loved Queenie!

I enjoyed Crawdads but also agree that it wasn’t up to the hype. Once I’d finished it I felt a bit irritated by it.

I enjoyed The Last, but I do quite enjoy dystopian end-of-the-world stories.

I haven’t read Normal People because I was so irritated by Conversations with Friends (Sally Rooney’s first book). I am mildly curious though so might still give it a shot.

I could appreciate the writing skill of Girl, Woman, Other but the characters largely left me cold. I felt as if I was being preached to at times.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle was awful.

Also struggled to get into Milkman. Gave up after 100 pages and I know of a friend who did the same.

Ducks Newburyport. The biggest pile of utter drivel I have read in a long time.

I did find Sweet Sorrow tedious as well @rookiemere.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh for me as well. Awful characters and a flimsy storyline.

I've got Where The Crawdads Sing on my Kindle but I've seen so many poor responses that it's put me off. There's a few that's come up on here that I've loved though - Milkman, Educated, Normal People so who knows.

But the prize for the worst book this year goes to Wuthering Heights. I tried, I really did. I started with Audible with one of my favourite narrators (Juliet Stephenson - who also narrates North and South, which I loved. Despite the excellent narration, I just couldn't sort out my Lintons from my Haretons and gave up.

Wuthering Heights is the worst book I read this year. I was determined to see it through to the end, through gritted teeth. I listened to the audio version (not Juliet Stevenson narration, though). I could follow story and had a family tree in a print copy but I hated it so much. Huge disappointment.

I really enjoyed Queenie.
Hated Normal People and also really didn’t enjoy Girl, Woman, Other.

The Binding. Was so far of the mark.
The Truants. Rubbish.

Apart from the urban fantasy books on Kindle Unlimited that I tried which weren't worth reading (it can be hit and miss), the worst book for me this year was Norwegian Wood by Murakami. I cannot understand why people think it's so brilliant.

Also hated Eleanor Oliphant, but that was last year.