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The worst books you read in 2017

139 replies

BestIsWest · 17/12/2017 12:02

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.

OP posts:
SatsukiKusakabe · 24/12/2017 00:34

Yes The Goldfinch - all over the place in terms of writing quality too. Cliched, far fetched finish (from the middle on) to interesting premise, and the weird summing up at the end - if you haven’t got the message across in the 600 odd pages before it’s too late. You definitely could have given the impression of him being directionless without the pages and pages of that stuff in Vegas.

Oywotchadoin · 24/12/2017 00:39

The Companions. Beautiful cover but it was downhill from there

elkiedee · 24/12/2017 16:58

I enjoyed Vinegar Girl, not as much as some of her other books but it was a good read. Not the only book mentioned here that I liked better so I'm hoping it works that way for The Power.

aroomwithaperfectview · 24/12/2017 17:20

I don't remember much about The Couple Next Door except for being very disapointed. I really enjoyed Good me Bad me.

TeachesOfPeaches · 25/12/2017 19:08

I also read The Goldfinch and really struggled to get on with it at first as I found it extremely turgid. However, persevered and began to enjoy it and then read The Secret History straight after which I enjoyed.

Londoner11 · 26/12/2017 14:07

The accident by CL Taylor. Plot wasn't very realistic.

CoteDAzur · 26/12/2017 14:25

I very much enjoyed TheGoldfinch. It was a beautiful journey.

Surely it can't be the worst book of the year for anyone, unless you've read just 1 book in 2017 Wink

EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/12/2017 14:28

I had to read a dreadful book called "Penguin Lessons" for my book group. Young man backpacking around South America adopts an injured penguin and has lots of jolly japes.
Dreadful book.

Tessliketrees · 27/12/2017 11:39

Oh wow how did I not find this board sooner.

At first I only thought of The Girls but then reading through the tread reminded me of Nocturnal Animals, The Trouble with Goats and Sheep, A game for all the Family and The Goldfinch.

I avoided The Power and Essex Serpent as I thought they both looked pants.

Tessliketrees · 27/12/2017 11:41

Honourable mention for The Luminaries which started off okay but suffered for it's silly rules. Not one of the worst I have read but a shocking waste of potential.

Beltane18 · 27/12/2017 13:17

oh this is helpful

I agree re the Goldfinch, luckily it was doing the rounds at work, I got to p60 I think and then decided to hand it on.

I will cross Goats and Sheep off the list.

I swear, fiction needs to be divvied up by "stuff happens" and "nothing happens".

IrenetheQuaint · 27/12/2017 14:42

Cote is right that I did read worse books in 2017 than The Goldfinch, including a weak early Mary Renault and a ridiculous time-travelling romance I downloaded on my library app for a long journey. However, The Goldfinch was my greatest disappointment of 2017, as I loved The Secret History and found The Little Friend unforgettable - weird, but mostly in a good way.

Beltane18 · 27/12/2017 14:54

I loved The Secret History as well, really loved it. Not sure whether to bother with The Little Friend or not - though it would have to be in the library anyway.

traceyturnblatt · 27/12/2017 15:20

Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw.

It had the potential to be brilliant; a doctor who helps ill otherworldly creatures but the amount of italics to emphasis everything was so annoying!

I'm not exaggerating when I say that there was italics on every page and it seemed like the author didn't trust her writing enough to get the emotion across so she italicised everything.

I hated it.

lastqueenofscotland · 27/12/2017 16:30

4 3 2 1 by Paul auster. He'd not written anything since the 80s I don't think... should have stayed that way.

Big brother by lionel shriver. If she hadn't already written we need to talk about Kevin and had the laurels of that to rest on I don't think this would have been published. Utter shite.

Overthehillsandfaraway8 · 27/12/2017 16:32

Zoe Ferraris' new novel which was just awful. Not nearly as good as the previous two.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 30/12/2017 23:37

The Black Eyed Susan
I gave up pretty early on this book, first chapter was written in god awful dreamlike style, I didn't realise it would continue through out the whole book. Like reading book whilst drunk.

irrationallyworried · 30/12/2017 23:45

"The Tidal Zone" by Sarah Moss. Good opening few pages but dreadful after that.

I also gave up on the John O'Farrell very quickly - agree it was unreadable.

minsmum · 31/12/2017 00:01

The Maestro, the Magistrate and the Mathematician I think it was called no idea who wrote it. A book club pick which was so awful that no one finished it.

VanderlyleGeek · 31/12/2017 00:02

I said up thread that The Bookshop was the worst book I've read this year, but I was wrong. The absolute worst book I read this year Mitzi Bytes by Kerry Clare. F Aoo

VanderlyleGeek · 31/12/2017 00:03

Oops. Blush. But, Mitzi Bytes is really terrible.

Anniethinggose · 31/12/2017 00:27

Sleep, Pale Sister by Joanne Harris

bettyblueeyes83 · 31/12/2017 00:44

Loved Essex Serpent and the Power, bored by Serious Sweet (took me weeks to finish in dribs and drabs), hated Eleanor Oliphant!

Kitsharrington · 31/12/2017 17:09

My worst is Yanagihara’s A Little Life. And maybe not just in 2017 - possibly ever! I wish I could have those hours back.

Dire!!!

Glowerglass · 31/12/2017 19:54

Eileen. - I did finish it. There were plenty I abandoned..

But really, it got such good reviews.....