Disappointment with over-hyped books

[Bezalelle]

I have a feeling that this post is going to come across as bitchy and churlish, but here goes.

Is anyone else frequently disappointed with over-hyped novels, especially debuts? I can think of three recent ones off the top of my head.

"The Girls" by Emma Cline. Million-dollar advance, huge hype. I bought it eagerly and read it, and felt massively let down. Poor characterisation, overwrought writing, unconvincing plotting (even though it was based on the true story of the Manson cult).

"Tangerine" by Christine Mangan. I started a whole thread on this, such was my irritation. Again, a brilliant premise, blighted by flimsy characters, turgid prose, and almost grotesquely-cliched (and racist/orientalist) depictions of Morocco and Moroccan people. A nice "psycho lesbian" element thrown in too...

"The Confessions of Frannie Langton" by Sara Collins. I followed the progress of this writer and book from its nomination for the Lucy Cavendish prize, and have to say that Sara was sold a pup by her agent/publisher/editor. Her original opening chapter and plot were brilliant, but the resulting novel smacks of over-editing in terms of plot, and under-editing for cogency/readability. There's a simile every other line, at least.

Really disappointing. For all we're told about how competitive and cut-throat the writing world is (I'm a writer myself), why are we constantly sold these over-hyped debuts that never meet up to expectations?

Not sure it's a debut - but I finished The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt) last week. Oh my God - what a trial it was. I liked the story, but it was a slog and half to finish it. Far, far, far too long. When you read it, all you keep thinking is "this could be brilliant if she clearly wasn't trying to write an epic masterpiece".

Loads of books like this! Especially if they've got rave reviews stuffed all over the cover. Many books feel like they have a good premise but the premise doesn't go anywhere, characters speak in cliches etc.

I read one debut which said in the author blurb that they'd gone to some creative writing workshop. It read as if they just chucked in everything they'd learnt.

Plenty also feel like they had 200 pages written and were told to stick in another 100 pages in the middle.

I'm very wary of hyped books these days and find reading something later more enjoyable as I've forgotten about the original push.

But it's all so subjective - personally i really loved The Girls and have reread the Goldfinch! But as for that awful Sally Rooney one....gah. Most recently i read the Silent Companions. Won some award for tub thumping read and 5 star reviews. A week of my life i will never get back

I recently read Eleanor Ophiphant is Completely Fine and right it started really strongly but then withered away into convenient stereotypes and was pretty disappointed by the route it took.

Not read any of the ones on your list though.

I tend to find any debut novel I've read in the past year with 5 or 6 reviews saying something along the lines of "stunning story" or "brilliant debut" tend to be a chore to read.
Basically the last 6 books I've read for my bookclub have been that and of the 8 of us that go only 1 person has enjoyed the book each time.

It is super subjective but there's so many books I just think meh about after they've been really hyped.
I almost think without the hoo haa I might have enjoyed them more as my expectations were not built up.
I could never ever get into and rave about Eat, Pray Love for example, but so very many people I knew thought it was amazing.
I also could never read "Bridges of Madison Cunty" without weeping but my best friend says it's soppy shite! I suppose we all like what we like ultimately.

I find this with films and TV too. Lowest expectations often equal good enjoyment.

I find this with films and TV too. Lowest expectations often equal good enjoyment.

Bridges of Madison Cunty

Everything can be over hyped. That's how marketing works unfortunately. I've read both good and bad books.
My favourite book recently was a Psychological Thriller written by a real Psychologist :
The Mind Reader: The Countdown Has Begun
Personally I found that pretty gripping from start to finish.
Good luck!

One person's over hyped book is another person's idea of a masterpiece personally I loved The Goldfinch, but hated these ones much loved on MN, Lincoln in the Bardo, Autumn, A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Lovely Bones, Gentleman in Moscow, somewhat dull but not as bad as the rest, it seemed to me every man and his dog raved about the others, just me then

Meanwhile I thought these were quite nice, but not awe inspiring, Eleanor Oliphant, (really overhyped) The Essex Serpent, The Lido.

Just proves we are all different.

Films well none more so than La La Land, had really bigged that up in my mind and it was so well................meh!

I felt this way about The Girl On The Train. I was so excited to read it because everyone was raving about it but when I did I was just WTF.

Boring predictable overrated twaddle imo.

Yes! Eleanor Oliphant - it was ok but completely ordinary. I really don't get the massive hype about this one!

I've started reading properly again after a few years, so I'm lucky to be able to look back into the archives rather than rely so much on new releases.

Loved The Goldfinch, liked The Girls, loathed every second of Elena Ferrante.

I was bored by Where'd you go Bernadette, which everyone else seemed to like. I just cannot see what people liked about it. Boring writing.

I haven't read Eleanor Oliphant, specifically because of the stupid Bernadette book, as it seemed like the same amount of people banging on and on about it being so great.

I love George Saunders though.

I’d say they’re not disappointing on the whole, but Eleanor Oliphant is the first one where I’m wondering what the fuss has been about.

I was bitterly disappointed by The Essex Serpent - was so excited to read it!

That bloody Sally Rooney book that was so hyped at Christmas.

Agree re The Goldfinch.

All Matt Haig trite bollocks

What about The Miniaturist? I wanted to love it but it missed the mark for me.

Gone Girl - just so underwhelming and disappointing.

I hate hype. I try to stay away from it, or wait until it's over. I get so fed up because often the books are good... But they're not the best of their genre. Hype is good as mane it gets non-readers or occasional readers to try different genres or read a book. And then it probably will seem really good. But i think if you read a lot then often these hyped books will disappoint.

Take The Miniaturist. I did enjoy that book, despite criticisms (felt the whole miniaturist but could have been cut completely with no ill effect...) But it was hardly anything special.

Couldn’t even get into the Goldfinch - I read about 100 pages and gave up. Very unlike me.

Weeping a bit about "Bridges of Madison Cunty". :o

I literally just read Eleanor Oliphant, as someone had left their copy on a very long train ride I was on last Thursday. It’s not the kind of thing I read at all, but I was open-minded, or as much as you can be after flicking through all the glowing reviews before you get to chapter one.

It just doesn’t ‘work’ at all as a basic premise. Eleanor behaves like a time traveller from the 1850s or someone who’s beamed in from Mars, or like a fairly un-nuanced light fiction depiction of autism from someone who’s only read about it online — the hilariously formal language, complete failure to understand other people, dependence on routine etc — but she spent seven years in normal enough foster families, then went to university where, even if she only went to classes, she would have been around other people, and she then worked in an open-plan office for her entire twenties. I can understand her loneliness and the effects of trauma, and her lack of experience of friendships, I just didn’t buy Eleanor being so entirely disconnected from society.

Vox was a massive let down. Such a waste of a fantastic premise.

Don't get me started on One Day. I am still cross about how disappointing that was years later!