I just read a terrible book

As for loathing, I’ve just finished The Twyford Code. I thought I knew what was going on, although wasn’t particularly gripped by it, got to the twist, realised that I didn’t, and didn’t care enough to go back and double check.
it might have been very clever, but I didn’t like the characters enough to spend the time.
perhaps that says more about me than the book though !

@Humanwoman - I love Susanna Gregory. Personally, I preferred the ones slightly later in that series where the plague was a factor, but generally, it’s a fascinating period and ( I thought ) well written. Also worth trying her series set in Cambridge too.

I haven't read any of the 50 Shades books but when it first came out I skimmed through it on the shelf in Morrison's. I read a passage where Christian Grey removes her Converse and socks and sucks her toes. Having had Converse on all day ... It made me feel sick.

Yeah, The Road is one of the greatest novels of its time, quite stunningly brilliant. Sure, you want to be reading some light trash either side of reading it but to dismiss it because it's not very optimistic is a huge mistake.

Thanks to this thread I've given myself permission to ditch How to Kill Your Family, so hurrah! I also recently gave up on The Starless Sea. I used to be someone who felt obliged to finish books, but life is definitely too short. I just hope I find something to get be back into reading, the last book I enjoyed was The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo in October. About to start Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson, which I see has also been mentioned.....will give it a go anyway as I've loved a few of hers.

Last year I attempted to read The Midnight Library; Robert Webb's novel; and A Man Called Ove. I think they were all billed as heart warming/life affirming etc. Hated all of them. In each the premise was person miserable in life, gets a chance at redemption, takes chance and finds hope once more. Load of guff. I also dislike A Wonderful Life for the same reason.

I HATED Enduring Love. I invented a drinking game where you have to take a swig every time he uses the word "beauteous" to describe his wife.

I liked The Child in Time, though.

The Miniaturist I thought vastly overrated and the writer really didn’t know much about Dutch baby houses and how they were created and furnished.

The Midnight Library annoyed me because the author was stacking the odds to prove the heroine’s real life was the best out of all the possible alternatives to drive home a Victorian-style moral.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was such a disappointment. It’s hard to see how a novel seemingly inspired by the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands could end up such rom-com slush. Give me an accurate historical account any day.

I love McEwan , am collecting all of his books - there's something so clean about his writing I just find them so easy and compelling to read.

Not many Mills and Boon heroes are described as having one leg and hair like pubes 😁

(Obviously you don't have to like the book!)

My Absolute Darling was one I couldn't finish. The scenes of the man raping his daughter were just too much. Just distasteful. People raved about the book, claiming the descriptions of scenery etc. were so fantastic but for me there was nothing exceptional about the writing. Not a book I'd ever re-visit.

Oh, and I couldn’t get past the first couple of chapters of the first Cormoran Strike book. The description of the main character was reminiscent of a Mills and Boon book, which put me off altogether.

I agree with The Foundling. It was far-fetched and there were some inaccuracies such as referring to piano lessons in 1750. The piano had only just been invented at this stage and the harpsichord or, even more likely, the clavichord, would have been the domestic keyboard instrument until towards the end of the eighteenth century. I did not enjoy The Lamplighters by Emma Stonix, either.5

The time travellers wife, I thought I was the only one who hated it! Read it years ago and cannot recall exact reasons for my dislike of it, but I remember feeling quite bewildered that so many loved it!

The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Should have been a great book written from the perspective of said tattooist. But I found it totally underwhelming, poorly written with awful character development. I never connected with any of the characters, so was totally devoid of emotion. Considering the topic and emotional response is what you expect!

Also agree with The Historian, hated it! No idea why I finished it!

The Road is one of the best books I’ve ever read but I agree, unrelentingly miserable. I feel a wave of sadness coming over me just thinking about it!

Maybe I’m just a simple type, but I just don’t get Ian McEwan as a writer at all. My DD is a secondary English teacher and she always looks forward to his next offering, but not for me.
We clearly have such a completely different taste in book; she also recommended The Road by Cormac McCarthy to read on holiday. The only positive thing I could say about it was there wasn’t too many pages! It was so depressing. I get that a good story doesn’t necessarily have to have a happy ending, but I want some sort of optimism at some point before everyone dies.

Annoying! I wrote a proper reply and Mumsnet crashed and I lost it.

So long story, short - milkman. Not my cup of tea at all. Had to force myself to finish it to see if anything actually happened.

DH Lawrence is a creep. Writing about one of his female characters having an orgasm while breastfeeding stopping me reading any more. I was only 16 and childless but could still work out that that was bullshit and really weird.

I really enjoyed the two Richard Osman books I've read! I also liked Never Let Me Go, Crawdads, Elinor Oliphant and the Luminaries.

I absolutely hated To Set A Watchman and wish I'd never read it - can't believe it was even written by the person who wrote TKAM.

I cannot read The Road To Wigan Pier - I have tried many times over the years and I just can't get past the first chapter! Ditto Return Of The Native. In both cases, I like their other stuff, just allergic to these!

I loved Never Let Me Go and Klara and the Sun. I reread both more than once which is something I rarely do. DS (14) also enjoyed Klara and the Sun and he is not a big reader. Both books really stayed with me. Loved the simplicity of the language. Found them very understated and very moving.

Didn't mind the Crawdads. Can see why they made it into a film, but have no desire to see it.
Bored to tears by Normal People.
Can't get on with the Essex Serpent. I keep starting it and giving up.
Was very underwhelmed by the Miniaturist. Felt like I must have missed something.

Currently working my way through Mrs Henry Wood's novels. I only knew East Lynne but there are so many. All are hugely enjoyable if a little samey.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. I don't know why they were even friends. The friend was a total bitch.

The other one I hated was The Buried Giant. WTAF? I loved Remains of The Day but this was utterly shit and so boring!

I’ve been trying to read this forever. Usually a fan of his but lord it’s slow.

I didn't even get past the first chapter of Thursday Murder Club. After all the hype it was unbelievably disappointing and spectacularly crap.

Secret History
Normal people
Night Circus
White Teeth

Really hated these books, don't understand the hype at all!!!

Books shouldn't feel like homework, we buy and read them for enjoyment surely but there's so much tosh out there with amazing reviews attached to them......so frustrating!

I read Never Let me go years ago & thought it was ok. Read Klara and the sun last month & found it a real bore fest

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