That moment when the book turns terrible

A friend gave me a book, Weyward by Emilia...Something. Three generations of women who all have vague, unspecified, witchy powers. It tries to be poetic and, to me, was just pretentious and plodding. They're all victims of male violence. I doubt I'd have finished it if it wasn't for aforesaid friend. The natural history they were all so in tune with was just wrong. Insects and plants out of season, in the wrong place, cows being turned out to pasture in the depths of winter. What did it for me was a fairly detailed description of using tansy (which grew year round in deep shade) to induce abortions. It seemed very irresponsible. I checked, it might work but also very dangerous. There was so much to dislike about this book, but that really annoyed me.

Oh Weyward was dire! A definite DNF for me.

I am currently trying to decide whether or not to finish an Ode To Orpheus by Natasha Pulley. I adored all her other books but this one has just had something happen that is so so so stupid and needed to be foreshadowed a bit more clearly. Also the protagonist is a bit thick.

Just come to this thread and IMO Cornwell went rather strange after The Last Precinct. Up to then she was very readable and the plots had an anchor in reality. After that they just went bizarre.

Oh, I'm glad it wasn't just me who had Weyward as a DNF. The basic idea of it appealed to me, but it was such hard going. The part which was set in the 1940s made it feel more like the Victorian period; lots of forelock tugging and strict father stuff, it didn't ring true. Mary Stewart's Thorneyhold is far superior for a story about generations of witchcraft, handing down female knowledge etc

I've only read a few Scarpetta books but my mum was quite into them at one point, we seemed to have loads lying around. She (Scarpetta, not my mum!) always came across as a massive author self-insertion/Mary Sue - she's beautiful! She's brilliant! She's rich! She cooks! Give me a break.

Yes, I've had this experience several times. With the following, there was a moment when I thought no, not reading this any more.

Iris Murdoch The Severed Head (I love Murdoch, but this is her one novel I couldn't finish)

Aldous Huxley The Genius and The Goddess (I love Huxley too, but gave up on this one too)

Virginia Woolf Orlando

Yes, I kept thinking it was WW1. That period's principle bad guy's family were killed in a coach accident when their horses were frightened!?

I might give Thorneyhold a go👍

“Behind Her Eyes, This book is so bad it made me think I could write a book and get published.”

I loved that book! It was such a different idea - and a proper beginning, middle and twist at the end. A very satisfying read I thought. I recommend it to others! 😳

(I probably won’t now though.)

I tried Orlando three times and just can't get far. It's awful.

I did the same. I was so furious with the ending!