What’s your “ How did this crap get published?!” book?

[MrsGrindah]

Just finished The Pretenders by Agatha Zaza. Gosh it was dreadful.Cannot understand how drivel like that gets a publishing deal. There was a scene where, in the middle of a “ dramatic” moment, one of the side characters crosses the room to his wife and “ took hold of the corner of her blouse” . What?! Who does that?! I can’t even picture it.

Oh I'm so glad I'm not alone in Donna Tartt Secret History

One of the few books I've stopped reading part way through
Just impossible to read

The Da Vinci Code and most of Jane Green's later efforts.

dan brown in general.
his mansplaining is

It’s been a while since I read Nine Perfect Strangers, but iirc Masha was very egocentric and the kind of person who would tinker with her face, so maybe for once Kidman’s rigid features might work for her.

Oh, but I loved The 100 Year Old out th’ window.
Read it in scandinavian though, where the writing was funny and sharp-witted. Maybe the translation wasnt very good?

@QueenOfLabradors

Wolf Hall. I cannot be doing with first person present tense narratives. Gave in around page 24. It was annoying as clearly the research had been done, which is the reason I normally give up on historicals. If it's a period I know a good amount about, I will normally chuck it the moment the first potato appears pre-1580's ish, and so on! As a TV series it was brilliant.

I agree totally with your dislike of the first person present.

I never got into Wolf Hall, because we were given the huge hardback just as I broke my wrist. I could not hold it comfortably with my plastered arm.

The few pages I did read did not inspire me to get it for my manageable Kindle.

I actually quite enjoyed the Da Vinci code

But then I read Angels and Demons and oh my what a pile of crap

I might give Wolf Hall a go on audio book.

The Trumpet Major-Thomas Hardy. I'm 52 and a voracious reader but this nearly put me off reading at 15. Even great authors write a pile of rubbish sometimes.

Iactually quite enjoyed the Da Vinci code blush

As did I! But generally I don’t read books like that looking for holes, or even realism. I just kind of sit back and say, sure, take me on a whirlwind tour of your imagination and I agree to suspend my disbelief. Much more enjoyable that way, less throwing of books!

I did the Trumpet Major for O Level - I enjoyed it!

As for my A Level books... awful. Apart from Brighton Rock everything Graham Green wrote was yawntastic. The Mill on the fLoss... snore.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this thread, I did post earlier on but remembered another stinker - Three Things About Elsie. Bloody awful.

Anyway, having though about the original question the OP posted - how does this crap get published, I have realised the following:

Trends that irritate me:

1. romance books about coffee shops/bakeries by the sea. Curly font title, pastel coloured cover.
2. books about people’s relations. The Clockmakers Daughter’s husband’s cousin twice removed.
3. thrillers with three word titles such as He Came Back or There You Go. Dark covers, yellow font title. Extra irritation if there is a sticker on the front from a publishers marketing dept telling me I MUST read it. 4) no punctuation-Sally Rooney I’m looking at you.
4. impossible to get away from but being a Times Bestseller is not even slightly impressive, because EVERY book claims to be one.

I’m becoming such a grumpy old woman 🤣

The Slap was horrible
Bridges of Madison County was dire (film wasn't bad though)
Never Let Me Go by Kazou Ishiguro was beyond awful. I think he is generally a terribly overrated writer.

I don't think her books are really awful but I also don't understand the Sally Rooney hype.

[quote Thelnebriati]The Power by Naomi Alderman.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_(Alderman_novel)[/quote]
That is pretty good!

@pinkbalconyrailing

the english patient - and why they made a movie out of it is beyond me

It's a boring film.

I like The Slap, both the book and the Australian TV series. There's an American one too, which I wouldn't mind watching one day.

@Gwenhwyfar I quite enjoyed The Power as well, although it did bang on a bit. I listened to it on Audible though, which might have increased my enjoyment.

@SantasBritchesSpelleas

The one where she goes to bed for a year

Do you mean the Sue Townsend one? I found that disappointing too - I usually enjoy Sue Townsend. I couldn't get past the idea that the woman was lucky to be able to go to bed for a year - most of us, you know, have to go to work and stuff. No sympathy from me. And v. unconvincing that some handsome chap should rock up to her bedside and fancy her.

I enjoyed it. Very funny.

After reading about Shaun Huston’s book, it reminded me of a book I read by Richard Laymon, one of the Beast House stories. It had a scene in it of child rape, and was written in a way that made me think the author enjoyed writing it. It made me feel sick and I remember reflexively throwing the book across the room.

@HerMammy

The Other Mrs Wilson, supposedly a Waterstones best seller; man at till, you lied!! Could have been great; was atrocious.

I LOVED the TV series. Not just the story, but also all the period detail.

"I think some books are not marketed to the right age group. If you are not young, you won’t enjoy Normal People, you’ll find it tiresome"

I'm middle aged and I loved Normal People on TV. I've been young so I don't know what would be so difficult to relate to.

Queen Bee by Jane Fallon. The author kept changing characteristics and their physical descriptions throughout.

Whoever edited it must have fallen asleep and pretended they had read it. And obviously the author didn't care too much.

"Whilst Elinor Oliphant had a rather unlikely ending, there are passages that I'll remember forever which is rare for me."

I think it struck a nerve with me because it was a bit too much like reading about myself. She has the same meal deal for lunch every day....

I enjoyed the TV series of Normal People although the characters were a massively irritating with their lack of communication which was what the plot hinged on. It was well acted and directed and the attention to detail was amazing.
I read the book after and it was interesting to see which bits were left in and which weren't but I didn't realise I was too old to be watching/reading.

@Sparklingbrook

I enjoyed the TV series of Normal People although the characters were a massively irritating with their lack of communication which was what the plot hinged on. It was well acted and directed and the attention to detail was amazing. I read the book after and it was interesting to see which bits were left in and which weren't but I didn't realise I was too old to be watching/reading.

Never too old for a love story!

Anything by Dorothy Koomson, read a couple years ago, so dire I was moved to write a review on Amazon (why can one not give zero stars??).

Anything by Nora Roberts - to say her books are drivel would be a kindness.