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.

@Spidey66

Oh and I've just remembered The Goldfinch (trying to forget it. ) God only knows how it got such rave reviews, it was crap. The only reason I finished it was because I was I off sick after a hysterectomy and was bored shitless.

Nooooo not The Goldfinch!! I read this at the start of lockdown and absolutely loved it.

The Cows by Dawn O’Porter. I like her in general but it just seemed like such an odd shock factor (spoiler: it’s about a woman caught masturbating on a train ). I didn’t finish it, so maybe there was some ‘point’ or massive social commentary but I got part way through, thought ‘WTAF am I doing with my life’ and never finished it.

P.s I love you by Cecilia Ahern. It’s not that I hated the book (and I’ve learnt from this thread that she was really young when she wrote it so I don’t want to piss on her parade as such) but it’s probably the only book where I prefer the film.

@pinkbalconyrailing

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

Oh I love the film, it is top ten for me...but the book, let's just say I'm glad they missed 'that' bit out of the film

One day has to be one of the worst books I've read (and terrible film). So boring, but everyone loved it!

To add to the above: would a book be thought of as light entertainment if it was about a man wanking himself off on train?

The Da Vinci Code. Just awful

@SuperbGorgonzola I had the binding on audible and I returned it for a refund. I actually feel guilty returning audible books they allow you to for pretty much any reason though and it was just too bad to continue. Did it go anywhere.

Station Eleven was underdeveloped, and a pile of rubbish. I was much more interested in the side characters than the wet main ones. It gets recommended on Mumsnet all the time, and I always wonder why.

The Great Gadsby is great. But it wasnt the first time I read it!
Wilbur Smith - shudder!

I both love and hate John Irving’s books.

I quite liked Alderman’s The Power, though it did Get a bit weird towards the end.

I loved JK Rowling’s The Vacancy. And I really did not expect to!

@SuddenArborealStop I really liked the premise of it but it was slow and confusing. About a third of the way in, there was a flashback section which was alright, but then when it came back to the present it went downhill again, and became very repetitive. I think it could have done with a good edit.

@Twobrews On Chesil Beach is my favourite book ever. You are wrong. So there.

@RadGlags

To add to the above: would a book be thought of as light entertainment if it was about a man wanking himself off on train?

I really liked The Cows. I found it funny.

Eve of Man by Tom and Giovanna Fletcher - I got to about half way and had to give up, it was sooooo bad! It was a shame as well because the premise was quite interesting.

Also, obviously 50 Shades of Grey - I am literally not exaggerating when I say I have taught Year 4 children who were better writers (obviously not the same content!)

@turbonerd

The Great Gadsby is great. But it wasnt the first time I read it! Wilbur Smith - shudder!

I both love and hate John Irving’s books.

I quite liked Alderman’s The Power, though it did Get a bit weird towards the end.

I loved JK Rowling’s The Vacancy. And I really did not expect to!

I was pleasantly surprised by The Casual Vacancy and I'm currently working my way through the Strike novels.

Sense of an Ending.

I wanted an ending.

Anything by Julieanne Lynch.

What utter codswallop.

Oh god, the Sue Townsend one. I was so looking forward to reading it, and soooo utterly disappointed.
She alluded to the twins being autistic, and that was supposedly why they were such shit kids.
Two of my kids are autistic and I was really affronted by such lazy stereotyping. And then throughly bored by the book.

Another massive vote for The Five as book of the year from me. Best thing I have read in years. So well researched and so refreshing to hear those overlooked voices.

The Hunting Party. Utter tosh.

@MaelyssQ

Mill Point Road by JK Ellem. A completely ridiculous book about a serial killer written by someone who has no idea of police procedure, with some ghastly gratuitous sex scenes thrown in for the hell of it.

I just finished that yesterday, I only read it because it was free on amazon Prime, I agree about the weird sex scemes but what about the sub plot that goes absolutely nowhere. I thought a few chapters had been missed out at the end

The woman who went to bed for a year by Sue Townsend.

I only made it to the end because I was in hospital and had nothing else to read. Absolute shite.

@GlitterBiscuits

Sense of an Ending.

I wanted an ending.

Oh, yes. Nothing happened!

"Does my bum look big in this" Arabella Wier. Absolute drivel!

A thriller called "The Catch". It was so bad. It was the characters. It was as if it had been written by a not terribly bright or worldly 10 year old.

Yeah Stephen Fry just gets stuff published because he has a contrived intellectual act going.