Tell me a book where you said, "wow, that was blankety blank awful!"

[MrsMuddle]

Following on from the other thread, which books did you hate with a passion? I'll start with The Accidental by Ali Smith, and also Mr Golightly's Holiday by Sally Vickers. Both appallingly awful books, IMO. Next...

Hooray some one got it!!! Thought no one noticed my ironic stance.

Actually not ironic, just happened to be trying to work my way through that book when I needed a new name. I did finish it but couln't tell you the plot beyond...spies...Russia...struggling now...

I'm not surprised you found it a bit hardgoing, as it's 3rd in a trilogy (the Karla trilogy), so if you've not read the other two, in particularly the first one, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy then it would be confusing.

I must be really dull, even more slaggings of The Island, which i have just finished and absolutely loved

maybe i'm just not a very educated reader, I hated the lovely bones and that was a cult book!!!!!

I thought Lovely Bones was way overrated too.

Mosschops - it's fascinating that things I loved people loathed and vice versa, always happens on these sort of threads.

Oh what was it called? The sign of four (or is that the Sherlock Holmes one?) the something of four anyway. Think I've blocked the title as a way of preserving my sanity.
And definitely Jonathan Norell / Strange and Mr. Vice versa one!

mts ...yes but lots of people have slagged off the Island, its not just the odd one ....oops oh well I thought it was good.

glad I'm not the only one who hated lovely bones, and that love letter one from thingy Aherne was dire

That was my problem then. That's why I didn't know who Karla was, and what that was all about. I feel less stupid for not understanding...and then...more stupid for not realising. Only other John Le carre I've read was the constantr Gardner, I could follow this but got bored 3/4 way through.

Lovely Bones I had forgetten and that WAs the worst book ever.

Please tell me what happens in the Island. PLease.

I completely utterly love and adore Martin Amis. My favourite writer by miles. I even read his memoir when I was in hospital for 5 days with first baby. He is a genius. Feel my life would have been less of a life if I hadn't read his books.

So there.

I read his memoirs. Some one bought it for me. By far his best book, he was less up his own arse, and moving and thoughful about his abucted cousin.

creeps in & whispers (I don't like Lord of The Rings very much either)
and does a quick runner, hoping that my theory that it's men who love this book so much proves to be correct & i'm not about to receive a lifetime ban.

smileyspeople how far have you got?

Eleni (Great grandmother) and small boy just arrived on Spinalonga. I'm interested in the story, but the writing is so bad I can hardly read it so would appreciate you filling me in.

Oh god you're right at the beginning do you want me to ruin the whole book for you?

I won't finish it. Give me a very qucik summary.
Look away now if you don't wish to know the end.

AWWWW come on, don't tease me....

sorry smiley was watching ugly betty and forgot all about you

ok SPOILER

Eleni dies of leprosy. Her horrible daughter marries into a rich family but is shagging the cousin. The nice daughter eventually gets leprosy and ends up on spinalonga, dr falls in love with her, finds a cure and they all leave spinalonga.
Nasty daughters hubby finds out and shoots her on the night of welcome home party. Nice daughter marries dr and brings up nasty daughters child.

there hope that eases it for you

twoisenoughmum - I like Martin Amis too. Mostly the earlier stuff (the Rachel Papers was a complete revelation when I first read it). Haven't read much of anything past London Fields, which I remember as being a bit hard going, but with good bits. Certainly not as bad as everyone here seems to think.

'Snobs' by Julian Fellowes.

I kept thinking, 'Why am I reading this?'

It was in the vain hope that it would improve.

It didn't.

He should stop trying to be Henry James, b/c he sucks, too.

"The Lovely Bones" was absolute tripe and I've twice tried and failed to make any headway with Conrad's "Nostromo". Similarly, I've started Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" twice and put it aside (though I think I might like that one if I persevered a bit longer). Don't get much time to read these days, sadly.

Agree about Nostromo 80smum and while we're at it Moby Dick too.
Expat, I started Snobs and decided it was a waste of my life after about 10 pages - glad to know I wasn't wrong.

Thanks Mosschops, that saves me some excrucaiting reading time.
As I asked earlier, is Victoria Hislop married to ian hislop??
Suely not?

white teeth
and All She Ever Wanted, anita shreve

Bleugh!

smileys - yes i think they are married.

I had a feeling they were. He would be SO derisory about that book if written by anyone else. I can't imagine the discussions they had about it, apart from maybe 'go on then, we both know it's crap, but it'll sell and make us loads of money.'

Surely he didn't tell her it was good?