Popular book that you didn’t enjoy

[Wanttocry]

Not really a TAAT but inspired by the Crawdads thread.

What’s a book that has been raved about, but that you didn’t really enjoy? For me it would have to be The Goldfinch, I just didn’t really get it.

I wish I understood the hype about Sally Rooney. I suspect I’m just old.

Thursday Murder Club shocked me with how bad it was. I mainly hated the patronising stereotypes of old people. Found the writing offensively bad. Couldn’t finish it.

@Faevern

Wuthering Heights urgh I disliked Cathy and Heathcliff so much they should have just got together, shame to spoil two houses.

Wuthering Heights is one of my all time favourite novels.

I didn't much like the keeper of lost things. It got great reviews. But it was really twee, boring and pointless.

@PopcornKettleBlack

Apple Tree Yard. I didn't hate it but I expected more. It was rather boring and I didn't get the fuss.

Jane Eyre. I've heard that you're either a fan of Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. I'm definitely a Wuthering Heights person. It was ok, just but it really dragged for me and it took me about 3 or 4 attempts to get through it.

No, I love both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights! Admittedly, they are very different. I enjoy all of the Bronte works including the less well known novels.

It's rare I don't get into a book but if I don't, I know almost straight away. I tried The Time Traveller's Wife years ago, didn't feel it. I have recently attempted Richard Osman but a few pages in I wasn't getting it and started another book instead. I have The Midnight Library in my stack of books to read. I absolutely loved Gone Girl, thought it was a brilliant read. Just shows everyone has different tastes.

Life of Pi, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Time Traveller's Wife, A Spool of Blue Thread - all popular books which I didn't enjoy.

Alias Grace, The Handmaid's Tale - both of those I did enjoy and also The Catcher in the Rye - even though it's a teenage boy's carping about his life...! Earlier popular books like Emma, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility (more classic types) I also enjoy. I have never been able to read (I'd love to be able to) past the first chapter of Hermann Hesse's The Glass Bead Game (have read the short stories at the back though) and I love The Prodigy by him.

Hated American Dirt. Unrealistic, depressing and just left a nasty taste in the mouth.

Conversations with friends - found ok, but massively overhyped.

Couldn't get into Elena ferrante or Richard Osmans books either..

Captain Corelli's Mandolin - I was so disappointed with this as I loved Birds without wings.

Station eleven - no matter how many times I have tried with this book I inevitably give up!

The Night Circus - another one that left me totally underwhelmed.

crawdads just awful, sentimental, predictable but also highly improbable rubbish, one of the few ‘real’ books I took on holiday as a treat recently ( kindle reading a v different experience) , so very disappointed ..