What is the worst book you have read recently and why was it so bad?

[Miaou]

I've been reading light stuff atm and just grabbed this off the "chick lit" stand at the library just before having ds2 - I struggled valiantly through to the end but was really disappointed in it. The story was turgid and predictable, the characters one-dimensional, and I felt that what could have been an interesting story with the potential for some really sinister turns, was in fact incredibly dull. The final "showdown" between the mother and son was jaw-droppingly badly written and really let the whole book down.

However I have had lots of fun picking it to pieces so maybe it was worth it

that Lionel Shriver tennis book
irritating beyond belief
and dull

All that Shopaholic shitey shite.

andrew collins 'that me in the corner'

I read a "novel" by Andy McNab a couple of weeks ago. What a steaming pile of khaki underpants.

Mind you, that India Knight sucks and blows pretty hard, and MN are promoting her - what's that all about?

Not exactly highbrow but I do (usually) love a bit of Jlly Cooper - but that last one, Wicked, was just a pile of poo - I gave up after a few chapters. Endless whittering on and on - I didn't care about any of the characters, who were all one-dimensional and cliched.
Have just finished "One Good Turn" by Kate Atkinson and it is the best thing I've read in years - I can't recommend it highly enough.

Agree re IK.

Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell - worst book I have ever read. But just to be even handed, Anthony Powell's Dance to the Music of Time is pretty unreadable too.

Not sure about recently, but the worst book I've ever read was the Celestine Prophecy. It was so toe-plaitingly awful I had to stop reading it pretty quickly!

Ditto, Hassled! 'One Good Turn' is an absolute corker of a read! Brilliant writing, brilliant story, terrific from end to end.

ahem, here

Why was it so bad?

shoddy writing
unbelievable characters
matching tattoos (ugh)
and not even particularly funny

The winner of the Crotte d'Or award for highbrow shite has to be The Name of the Rose.

The worst recently was Lisey's Story by Stephen King. The title is misleading - there is no story, or none that I came across. I got about a third of the way through and nothing had happened except the constant replaying of a flashback over and over and over. I decided life was too short to waste on such a crap book.

I liked Dance to the Music of Time, though

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Jodi Picoult something or other. Absolute drivel.

Oh, not bloody Alexander McCall Smith! "Ohhh Mma you are so wise and so clever!" "Oh Rrrra indeeed I am, have another cup of bush tea."

Agree with Hassled re Wicked. Thought it would be a bit of light summer reading but gave up on it after a few chapters. I think Jilly Cooper is best sticking to what she knows about (ponies and rich people etc) - she obviously knows bugger all about state schools!

And that frightful pile of sentimental old drivel Chocolat - mind you, her other books are no better.

louise welch's latest book, the bullet trick. shitey shitola. almost nothing worked. shame, that, cos i quite liked the cutting room.

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oooh yes, what's the big stink about mccall smith? i found the detective agency completely unreadable and gave up.