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Books you feel were overrated

296 replies

ClearSky456 · 27/03/2024 13:36

Just finished Lessons in Chemistry and kind of wondering what all the fuss was about?! Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it but given so many people had told me I HAD to read it, I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed.

Anyone else felt the same, or anyone felt like this about another book recently? I had the same feeling with Daisy Jones and the Six too.

OP posts:
EveryKneeShallBow · 27/03/2024 19:16

irts · 27/03/2024 16:18

Catcher in the Rye.
Absolute nonsense!!

So glad you posted this. I am utterly mystified by its popularity.

Pixit · 27/03/2024 19:14

@CluelessPadme yes! She talks about "homeless people" in such disparaging terms. Like, you are homeless, you utter wazzock. Yes yes your story is complicated, but so is everyone else's. As you would know if you ever took the fucking time to engage with them and find out instead of eating fucking fudge and making excuses for yourself.

NeedToKnow101 · 27/03/2024 19:12

Another one for whom A Little Life immediately sprang to mind. Bag 'o' shite!

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 27/03/2024 19:12

Pixit · 27/03/2024 19:09

@HowardTJMoon lol Dickens is a soap opera writer for sure but come on, the man knows how to set a scene. A lone boat nodding along the misty, oily, night time Thames, helmed by a silent figure seen only in silhouette against the deserted shoreline. Long inured to the mystery of the depths around him, he feels a faint dark nudge against his oar ...

…what happens next?

CluelessPadme · 27/03/2024 19:10

I liked Lessons in Chemistry and loved both Wolf Hall and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.

But I’m currently reading The Salt Path and really disliking it. She’s so passive, and dull, and judgmental about everyone she meets. The writing is pretty poor too. I’ve no idea how it was such a big seller

Pixit · 27/03/2024 19:09

@HowardTJMoon lol Dickens is a soap opera writer for sure but come on, the man knows how to set a scene. A lone boat nodding along the misty, oily, night time Thames, helmed by a silent figure seen only in silhouette against the deserted shoreline. Long inured to the mystery of the depths around him, he feels a faint dark nudge against his oar ...

cloudjumper · 27/03/2024 19:09

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - such hard work

The Boy/Mole/Fox/Horse whatever - just a collection of Instagram inspirational quotes, such drivel. Time I will never get back.

I was also very disappointed by The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Gnomegarden32 · 27/03/2024 19:08

I gave up with Lessons in Chemistry as it wasn't very well written. I now just ignore all marketing hype tbh

DerekFaker · 27/03/2024 19:07

SirChenjins · 27/03/2024 13:52

Where the Crawdads Sing - not only was it overrated, it was utter rubbish.

I was underwhelmed by the film and was thinking hmmn maybe the book is better. Maybe not!

Pixit · 27/03/2024 19:00

@newtlover yeah 5 People You Meet was an early example of this faux homespun wisdom bollocks that's everywhere now. Hallmark cards are cheaper, take less of your time and are more emotionally resonant.

Agree with you that Hamnet is a great book. It was very well imagined and beautifully put together.

HowardTJMoon · 27/03/2024 18:58

Anything by Charles sodding Dickens. What a load of overly sentimental, mawkish pap. It's got all the depth of Neighbours.

Hibernatalie · 27/03/2024 18:56

Oh wow I loved all of these! Haha
Except Crawdads, have picked it up several times and never got into it.
Lessons in Chemistry I have a copy but never started - I just know it's over hyped.
A Little Life I haven't read but I have a copy on the pile and I think it'll like it.

girlmeetsboy · 27/03/2024 18:54

Riverlee · 27/03/2024 13:40

Eleanor Oiphant - didn’t get the love for this and the main character really annoyed me.

Me too! I cant say I didn't enjoy it but she was so grating!

Luluem · 27/03/2024 18:52

Agreed on both Jane Austin and Crawdads!

Nateismine · 27/03/2024 18:52

MybrilliantLina · 27/03/2024 16:20

A Little Life - It was awful.

Agree completely.

cerisepanther73 · 27/03/2024 18:50

@171513mum
Fifty shades of Crap 💩 book,

I am genuinely puzzled baffled why it became one summer a hit book craze that some people were talking about...🤔

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 27/03/2024 18:50

A pp nominated anything by Anne Tyler. Oh yes, dreadful dull nothingness, all of them.

But the most overrated book of the last 50 years is easily…The Goldfinch. What a terrible, terrible book.

For bad endings, The Essex Serpent.

newtlover · 27/03/2024 18:47

totally agree about t he thursday murder club, awful
but, please don't be put off Hamnet, its great
does anyone remember 'the 5 people you meet in heaven'- I think that was the title, that was bollocks but very popular at the time

NoisyDachshunddd · 27/03/2024 18:46

The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway. Absolutely turgid pile of rubbish.

PermanentTemporary · 27/03/2024 18:45

Came on here to say Lessons in Chemistry. It was a book club book so I finished it, but honestly, what a load of old tosh and cardboard screenplay tropes wedged in to hit marketing talking points.

I'd also say Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but I decided life was too short and stopped.

Another one who gave up The Slap after a chapter.

Ilovemyshed · 27/03/2024 18:44

Couldn't manage Wolf Hall until after I'd watched the tv series then it made for sense. Even though I have a pretty good handle on Tudor history and all the Thomas characters it was a confusing book.

TeaAndStrumpets · 27/03/2024 18:42

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 27/03/2024 18:31

The Thursday Murder Club. Only book I've ever asked Audible for a refund for!

Respect!

Pixit · 27/03/2024 18:41

The Salt Path. It felt like talking to one of those people so hell bent on refusing to take any responsibility for what happens to them that you just switch off any engagement beyond wondering what the real story is, because you know the version you're getting is so skewed and self serving that you're not learning anything.

newtlover · 27/03/2024 18:40

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 27/03/2024 16:19

The Buried Giant. Most of my book group loved it. I've read other Ishiguru books and enjoyed them (especially the one about the robot, Klara And The Sun) but The Buried Giant was truly awful in so many ways (e.g the woman calling her DH "Husband" in every bloody paragraph was really grating).
I enjoyed most of Lessons in Chemistry but I found the SA scene really hard to read and jarring amid all the light-hearted stuff, although I realise It's part of the character's story. (It's just my own SA experience colouring this. I wish this kind of thing had a TW like it would in a TV programme.)

OMG yes the Buried Giant, SUCH a disappointment

Twotooto · 27/03/2024 18:39

I couldn’t get beyond the first chapter of lessons in chemistry- I was going to give it another go on an upcoming holiday but maybe I won’t bother.

I recently finished the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo and it felt like such a let down - it read like a tumblr fanfic (and yes I am ashamed that I recognised the genre 😳)