Authors who are very popular but you just don't get....

[Corneliawildthing]

I read the first Harry Potter book when my kids were little and was rather underwhelmed by it (maybe I wasn't the target audience). I started The Cuckoo's Calling and seemed to have been reading for about 2 hours and had only reached page 25.

My in-laws raved about the Stieg Larsson books but I think I lasted about 20 pages.

I enjoyed all of those series but I don’t get Joanna Trollope.

We're just moving this thread over to what we're reading for the OP.

David Walliams. My son never liked them and never managed to read more than one. Can't say I blame him - we read the first one with him and I thought it was a pile of incoherent crap.

Terry Pratchett. I just don't get it.

Ian McEwan - always love the premise of his books but can't bear his writing style. I realise this will be a minority opinion!

Dan Brown. I've tried but they're awful.

Stephanie Meyer

Ann Rice

E L James

I agree about Ian McEwan; I enjoyed his earlier books, but he now has assumed the mantle of 'A Great Writer.'

Another one for Terry Pratchett. Really don't get it.

I never got Terry Pratchett either but someone suggested reading his books in series and not in order. I started with the Witches and fell in love. Also love the city watch & Tiffany series too.

I find Jojo Moyes to be absolutely dreadful, words can’t express how much I hate her books and subject matter.

Steig Larsson. Don't know if it's the translation into English or what, but I really didn't like the books. Don't like Patricia Cornwell much either - couldn't get on with Scarpetta.

WALLIAMS

Lee Child. I honestly don't get the Jack Reacher hype!

David Walliams. He is devoid of talent, ideas, a decent editor, humanity, warmth etc. Nothing redeeming about his books at all.

Sophie Hannah
Paula Hawkins

• can’t see the pleasure in them, they seem so badly plotted and edited.

Davis Walliams - unoriginal and poorly plotted.

Lee Child - poorly written.

I don't get Terry Pratchett either.

Nor Neil Gaiman.

David Nicholls. He of One Day and whatever the other one was called.

Not quite the same level of popularity, but Ali Smith. Read one on a holiday with a friend who is very widely read. Offered it to her when I’d finished. “Ali Smith? No thanks”, she said!

In terms of recent hype, the first Sally Rooney book. I mean it was fine, but not quite the masterpiece it was billed to be.

YY to Ian McEwan and Sophie Hannah. I just don’t get the hype.

I'm a bit of a book whore and will read anything except Anne Rice. I just glaze over and dont take anything in. I managed 1 book in my very late teens but it was hard work. Tried another couple about 10 yers later but could not get into them at all. Realised life it too short and there are too many books out there to struggle with any I don't like.
For those that said Terry Pratchett, you need to find the right starter book, which certainly isnt the first 4 or 5! My first was Witches Abroad was sparked off my love for his works but it I had started with Colour of Magic, Equal Rites or even Wyrd Sisters I think I would have given up.

David Walliams
JoJo Moyes

Jk Rowling Harry Potter books. My dd said I should read them. I read the first 4 and I cannot remember anything about them except her paragraphs go on and on.
To me they're like a Chinese meal, one burp and it's gone.
Kudos to the woman though, she's done a brilliant job with children's reading.

I liked Sophie Hannah as a poet. Never read any of her novels.

Cecelia Ahearn. Blatantly only got a book deal because she's Bertie Ahearn's daughter...

I've read one Ali Smith Lido also widely read.

It was enough to put me off for life, although I have got one unread.

Relieved to see I am not alone as she is raved about critically.

I read one of the Harry Potter books twice by accident. It wasn’t until I got to the end that I was like, “hang on a minute, I know what happens!”. I think I quite enjoyed it both times though. It’s like the Enid Blyton I read as a child. I don’t remember any of it but I thoroughly enjoyed it.