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Original poster

Popular book that you didn’t enjoy

459 replies

Wanttocry · 19/06/2021 16:33

Not really a TAAT but inspired by the Crawdads thread.

What’s a book that has been raved about, but that you didn’t really enjoy? For me it would have to be The Goldfinch, I just didn’t really get it.

OP posts:
thecatfromjapan · 19/06/2021 17:08

Totally agree with The Secret History.

I do not get the love for this.

Original poster
Wanttocry · 19/06/2021 17:04

@lljkk

Life of Pi

Never got on with any Lionel Shriver books, either

I’ve not read We need to talk about Kevin but I quite enjoyed The Post-Birthday World. Basically Sliding Doors as a book.
OP posts:
Wearywithteens · 19/06/2021 17:03

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

oldperson1 · 19/06/2021 17:02

Gone Girl
The Midnight Library

YanTanTethera123 · 19/06/2021 17:02

I agree with all above.
I’ve come to the conclusion that as soon as a book is labelled ‘Best seller’ then I’m not going to like it!

elQuintoConyo · 19/06/2021 17:02

A Confederacy of Dunces. Raved about by many as being hilarious. About as funny as someone shitting on your pizza.

StyleAndLasers · 19/06/2021 17:01

I liked the Crawdads but I didn’t know much about it before I read it so didn’t have any expectations. Also like Captain Corellis Mandolin and the Time Travelers Wife. I am reading The Goldfinch now.
Mine are The Miniaturist (well written but disappointing plot/ ending), A Little Life (couldn’t finish it) and all Sophie Hannah books except her Agatha Christie ones. I have heard her speak, and she is great, but her books just make me cross with their inability to follow up on what is usually a really interesting premise.

BIWI · 19/06/2021 17:01

@Vicliz24

Captain Corellis Mandolin. I really tried to plough through it but gave up .
Totally agree. I tried three times - the third time after we'd had a holiday in Kefalonia - and just couldn't bear it. Totally over-written and such pretentious language.
ExhaustedGrinch · 19/06/2021 17:01

The Bell Jar, thought it was complete shite.

NattyDiamondDoll · 19/06/2021 17:00

To kill a mockingbird

IHaveBrilloHair · 19/06/2021 17:00

We are all completely beside ourselves

Total shit.

thecatfromjapan · 19/06/2021 16:59

The Kite Runner.

My heart sinks when people recommend it.

lljkk · 19/06/2021 16:59

Life of Pi

Never got on with any Lionel Shriver books, either

SydneyCarton · 19/06/2021 16:59

Oh yes, Catcher In The Rye. Even when I first read it as an annoying 17 year old myself I thought he was awful. I quite liked Gone Girl, but Sharp Objects and Dark Places are better, I think.

VeryLongBeeeeep · 19/06/2021 16:58

The Lovely Bones. Interesting premise, increasingly poor execution as it went on. Totally WTF?? by the end.

SydneyCarton · 19/06/2021 16:56

Agree about Normal People; I was on a waiting list for it for ages at the library and thought it was going to be great. Huh. Also Wolf Hall; I have read loads of fiction and non-fiction around that period, know the principle characters, thought focusing on Cromwell was such a good idea rather than making him the peripheral villain, and I just couldn’t get into it at all Sad

RampantIvy · 19/06/2021 16:56

The Midnight Library
Gone Girl
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Normal People

Loved, loved, loved Where the Crawdads Sing

HoldontoOneMoreDay · 19/06/2021 16:55

OMG YES! The Goldfinch. What a load of shite.

Firevixen · 19/06/2021 16:55

Catcher in the rye. Literally nothing happens at all. Just an annoying teenager talking about themself.

converseandjeans · 19/06/2021 16:54

Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Behind the Scenes at the Museum
Fifty Shades - this was so hyped up but I managed a few chapters before giving up

Original poster
Wanttocry · 19/06/2021 16:53

@ithoughtisawapuddycat

Agree about Normal People. Hated it, felt like there was no point at all.
Maybe it’s a literary thing I didn’t get, but I didn’t like the lack of speech marks in it.
OP posts:
LawnFever · 19/06/2021 16:52

Me before you, awful depiction of disability and attitudes towards disability dressed up as romance, it made me so mad

LawnFever · 19/06/2021 16:51

@AgentProvocateur

Crawdads and Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Trite and boring.
Snap, and How to Stop Time by Matt Haig too - need to accept his style just isn’t my thing and stop reading his books
Vicliz24 · 19/06/2021 16:50

Captain Corellis Mandolin. I really tried to plough through it but gave up .

leafygarden42 · 19/06/2021 16:50

The Time Traveller's Wife - not because of grooming though - just because it was total crap. Grin Grin

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