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Original poster

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

521 replies

MrsGrindah · 20/12/2020 15:37

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.

OP posts:
PleasantVille · 20/12/2020 19:43

@CrispySeaweedIsReallyCabbage

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.
Oh dear, I bought that recently but haven't started it yet, I enjoyed his other books

I did see it in The Works this week which isn't always s great recommendation Smile

SantasBritchesSpelleas · 20/12/2020 19:45

I enjoyed The Catch.

Zeetah · 20/12/2020 19:46

On ChesilBeach
50 Shades

Just finished So Lucky by Dawn OPorter which was poor

Interested in this thread?

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Books
CrazyFoxLady · 20/12/2020 19:46

Oh dear I am definitely that reader. I love most of these books, especially Eleanor Oliphant, Girl on the Train and the BA Paris one Blush

CrispySeaweedIsReallyCabbage · 20/12/2020 19:46

Oh no! Sorry @PleasantVille! Maybe it isn't that bad and I'm a grumpy old arse. My issue was with how he wrote women in particular. Haven't read anything else of his, so can't comment. But I do love a thriller normally, so it isn't an intellectual snobbery thing.

If you like thrillers, I really recommend The Silent Patient. Loved it. Read it shortly after The Catch.

user1471565182 · 20/12/2020 19:47

I really dont like this new thing of really middle brow people doing novels. I didnt give a shit when it was lowbrow people like Katie Price, it was easily serving an obvious market but when its Simon Mayo? who the fucks going to waste hours on that?

CrispySeaweedIsReallyCabbage · 20/12/2020 19:47

Eleanor Oliphant was awful too. Truly terrible and actually a bit offensive in how poorly researched it was in terms of trauma and mental health, imo.

Told you I'm a grumpy old arse Blush.

CrazyFoxLady · 20/12/2020 19:47

And Sophie Hannah's latest book is fab!! Smile

What’s your “ How did this crap get published?!” book?
BalaamsAss · 20/12/2020 19:48

This is possibly very outing because my particular hatred of this book is well known among my friends, but the worst book EVER WRITTEN is, without doubt, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.

Aside from the fact that there is nothing in the book to “place” the story - it literally could have been set anywhere at all - it is the biggest pile of crap I have ever read. It begins with a possible hint of a good premise, but it quickly becomes clear that the author has stretched things far beyond the realms of even the most imaginative reader. It ends with a character WHO TURNS INTO A CHAIR!!! No word of a lie - I sat there open mouthed at what utter tosh I was reading.

After I had finished it, and shared my disgust with my book group (who all agreed with my conclusion on the merits (or lack thereof) of the book), it went straight in the bin - I couldn’t even bring myself to donate it - I wouldn’t inflict it on my worst enemy

PleasantVille · 20/12/2020 19:51

@CrispySeaweedIsReallyCabbage

Oh no! Sorry *@PleasantVille*! Maybe it isn't that bad and I'm a grumpy old arse. My issue was with how he wrote women in particular. Haven't read anything else of his, so can't comment. But I do love a thriller normally, so it isn't an intellectual snobbery thing.

If you like thrillers, I really recommend The Silent Patient. Loved it. Read it shortly after The Catch.

I do like thrillers @CrispySeaweedIsReallyCabbage and I've read the Silent Patient

Unlike the poster above I didn't guess the ending in the first chapter so I enjoyed it, I like to be surprised Smile

CrispySeaweedIsReallyCabbage · 20/12/2020 19:54

I didn't guess it either @PleasantVille! I knew there would be a twist, but I didn't guess it exactly and even if I had, I think I would have enjoyed the writing. Should have known it would get a mention here though, as it did get some hype...

Another one I've just remembered, is David Eggers - A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. I didn't like it at all and couldn't even give it away.

Also Wolf Hall. And I normally love Tudor based historical fiction. I did like Bring Up the Bodies though.

Original poster
MrsGrindah · 20/12/2020 19:55

So many on here that I agree with. The monkey sister one actually made me so angry.

I have The Five on my shelf waiting to be read over Xmas.

Just read The Windsor Knot. A lighthearted murder mystery where the Queen plays detective. I’m sharing that so you don’t need to bother....

OP posts:
firstimemamma · 20/12/2020 19:56

I loved my lovely wife but the author wrote a second book - I think it's called he started it - and I hated it. Couldn't finish it.

DioneTheDiabolist · 20/12/2020 19:57

A Kitten Called Moonlight.
Badly written. Poor plot. No likeable characters. No editing. Dependence on the word "said*.🤢🥶🤢 No quality control whatsoever. It is a failure of humankind on so many levels.Xmas Sad

It is the only book I have rewritten (in biro). I don't understand its existence beyond my hatred of it.🤯 Why publishing people? Why?

WTF were you thinking?Xmas Confused

Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 20/12/2020 19:58

[quote Thelnebriati]The Power by Naomi Alderman.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_(Alderman_novel)[/quote]
Yes! She teaches creative writing as well!

Maigue · 20/12/2020 19:59

@PussyMalanga

The sequel to Call Me By Your Name. The innermost thoughts of a nonce put to paper.
Yeah, casual homophobia really endears you as a literary critic. Hmm
Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 20/12/2020 20:03

The lovely bones -total shite
The Midnight Library- could have been written for a child. So effing trite.
My Brilliant Friend, wtf?

LightDrizzle · 20/12/2020 20:04

The Alchemist
A Jeffrey Archer I picked up in a B&B on a very rainy day near Ullapool. I could believe how facile and clunking it was. Dreadful and they used to be so popular with men.

Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 20/12/2020 20:06

Normal people - could have been written by any self absorbed teenager.
And, I may get flamed for this, but Girl, Woman, Other was shitty Mcvitty.

SantasBritchesSpelleas · 20/12/2020 20:06

@firstimemamma

I loved my lovely wife but the author wrote a second book - I think it's called he started it - and I hated it. Couldn't finish it.
I nearly gave up on He Started It but then it got better about halfway through and I quite enjoyed it in the end.
Survivor12345 · 20/12/2020 20:08

'H is for Hawk' by Helen Macdonald.

Kill me now.

Rubinia · 20/12/2020 20:11

The davinci code - hands down. I couldn't believe they made a film. Awful book and the story is beyond lame.

Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 20/12/2020 20:12

@HelloDulling

The Hunting Party. Utter tosh.
Yes! Read this after my mum recommended it. It was so bad, the characterisation was appalling. It made me think that I could write as anything would be better.
PoorMansPaulaRadcliffe · 20/12/2020 20:13

@FuckOffBorisYouTwat

Anything by Martin Amis. What a pile of misogynistic drivel.
I quite like 'The Rachel Papers'.
MarshaBradyo · 20/12/2020 20:14

A Little Life

Oh my word what misery and bad writing combined