The worst books you read in 2017

[BestIsWest]

Inspired by @SouthEastDweller’s best books of 2017 thread, what’s your worst read of 2017?

Mine is unquestionably The End OfThe World Running Club. Just dire. Misogynistic macho drivel. And there wasn’t even much running.

lizardlegs I have steered clear of Manhattan Beach precisely because I didn’t think Goon Squad was good enough to read another of hers. It was ok whilst reading it, but didn’t leave a big impression. Can’t even remember the characters or anything about it now.

I tried to read Gone Girl, but did not get very far as it was rubbish.

I read about half of Why Mummy Drinks. It's awful. I will need to be very bored and have nothing else to read to finish it off.

I read the first Discworld book and it wasn't terrible but it did not inspire me to read any more of them. I have friends who find this slightly blasphemous.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Absolute bollocks.

I couldn’t read more than a page or two of Gone Girl. I watched the film though, that was enough.

If you go back to Pratchett, start slightly later, from Mort, say. The first three have a slightly different feel until he hit his stride (though I did enjoy the first two, but wasn’t even a teenager when I read them I don’t think)

Sophie Hannah, A game for all the Family

More thumbs down for the power from me-I was quite angry at the end of it by how much I disliked it-also ruined the narrator for me as couldn't listen to another audiobook by her & had to return.

A street cat named bob was awful. So awful. I didn't even like bob's owner 😬

Or the couple next door, bleurgh.

Another that I didn't like but like better after having finished it was the buried giant by Ishiguro. Loved his other 2 books that I've read but this was tedious & wish washy whilst making me wonder what the deeper meaning was. Still none the wiser!

I gave up on The Power v quickly. Dull.

I found the first Discworld book I read pretty dreadful - is The Colour of Magic the first one? But then I read and loved The Hogfather next. I'd recommend starting with Reaper Man or the first Sam Vimes - is it Guards, Guards?

Oh my gosh yes, The Power was so dire it was painful. Horribly written and also maddening that such a brilliant premise was pointlessly squandered into the breeze.

The worst book I read this year was Elizabeth is Missing; the (seriously bad) quality of the writing, the way the narrative kept jumping around in time, I was raging at it by the end but refused to give up. In hindsight I should have just returned it to the charity shop once I started hating it and moved on with my life.

I also really really hated Philip Pullman's new book, which was a shock as the trilogy it was a prequel of sorts to remain my favourite books on the planet. I felt so disappointed by The Book of Dust, it was like he had lost all his knack for writing fiction and there was no magic, just brutal plodding struggle with no depth, character or wit. Gutted. There was a scene towards the end which I strongly objected to his including, it felt cruel and gratuitous. (No spoilers though...)

Yes Colour of Magic Light Fantastic Equal Rites. Reaper Man is good. I haven’t read any Pratchett in years.

The Power struck me as such a silly idea from the description that I wasn’t tempted by it - it would have to be really well written to pull it off I should think.

That’s disappointing about The Book of Dust rhubarb

The Image of You: I thought I knew you. But you're a liar.
by Adele Parks

Just don't bother.

Another vote for Hot Milk. Was persuaded to buy it by the bookseller in Waterstones Leicester Square who said they’d all read it and loved it. I found it so boring, it just never got going and all the characters were annoying.

Also The Other Mrs Walker by Mary Paulson Ellis. Dull and depressing.

Oh I loved the Book of Dust!

I also loved the book of dust but love PP so much that I'd forgive him anything. It felt a bit like what the hobbit is to Lord of the rings but I loved the characters & the audio narrator was fab (Michael Sheen)

I had a go at Anything You Do Say as I was looking for something easily digestible and I thought it was dire. Completely unbelievable characters and situation. I rapidly discarded it.

A street cat named Bob - James Bowen - feel so guilty about it and I know it was supposed to be a 'heart warming tale' but honestly nothing happened!

I thought this was shite! And everybody else was going on about how wonderful it was. Sentimental drivel!

Girl on a train was utter shit!!!

Yep-terrible crap.

love this list, so useful

I have crossed the Streetcat one off my list.

I tend to read one star reviews on Amazon now because sometimes you get stuff that won all the prizes etc and people don't want to speak against it.

Oh God, Vinegar Girl, it was so bad

Ditto girl on a train but was compelled to keep reading

I have Vinegar Girl out of the library. I don't think I'm eve going to open it now.

The Goldfinch. Started well but then lost any vestige of direction or structure, and full of cliches. V disappointing.

“but then lost any vestige of direction or structure”

I agree but I think that feeling fit with the whole premise - it was almost a metaphor for his life. He just lost direction.

You're probably right, CurlyHaired, but there were an awful lot of directionless words to plough through (and I gave up about two-thirds in).