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Original poster

Anyone else convinced they’ll hate a particular author, only to finally read them, and find they’re brilliant?

27 replies

BuenaVistaAntisocialClub · 25/06/2022 22:06

Iain Banks for me. For years and years I’ve been vaguely aware of his books, maybe read the blurb of one or two, but always though - no, not for me. I had the impression it was overly dry, pretentious, and it just never grabbed me.

But, I’ve just read The Crow Road. And it’s one of the best books I’ve read in ages! Well-written, great story, really nice sense of place, and very funny.

So it got me thinking - has anyone else ever been completely convinced they’ll hate a particular author, or just had the feeling that an author is not for them? And then been completely converted?

As for Iain Banks, my plans are to read the Wasp Factory and Espedair Street next.

OP posts:
PermanentTemporary · 25/06/2022 22:09

Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie books. For some reason I just never sought them out despite liking her others. Blew me away.

lugeforlife · 26/06/2022 09:37

but you have started with the best Iain Banks be fair. Amazing book (I struggle with the wasp factory btw, I find it viscerally disturbing).

Maggie Farrell for me. For some reason the title of her books made me think they would be fluff but I read Hamnett and it was incredible then read the others.

Original poster
BuenaVistaAntisocialClub · 26/06/2022 12:08

Oh no, maybe I’ve peaked then, and will be disappointed with other Iain Banks books. The blurb on the Wasp Factory did look pretty unsettling / disturbing.

OP posts:
Saucery · 26/06/2022 18:42

I love The Wasp Factory because of its disturbing nature. I first read it when I was 14 but rereading it recently it had a much bigger impact on me, even though I knew what was coming.
Espedair Street and Whit are good, Complicit my least favourite.

I thought I wouldn’t like Lissa Evans for a long time, the covers just looked so generic and dull. Then I read Old Baggage and I was hooked!

Pinklimey · 06/07/2022 21:45

Terry Pratchett. I grew up seeing the picture of Conan's daughter on one of the covers and the feminist in me hated them. It seemed so ridiculous for a character to wear so little. Then one day I opened a book and the rest is history.

Autienotnaughtie · 06/07/2022 22:11

I love it when I find a new author and the have written a lot of books!! Mark Edwards was a recent one

PinkBuffalo · 06/07/2022 22:15

Dan brown for me
only picked up a copy of the da Vinci code in the charity shop years after it was really popular and you could pick a copy up for pennies. Thought oh I give it a go after all this time
i literally could not put it down! Read it in 2 days then went on to read his others
it really surprised me!

Inchail · 11/07/2022 17:19

Terry Pratchett for me too!

The horrible, stupid, sexist covers; the obsessive geeky fans; being in the 'fantasy' or sci fi section of the bookshop - none of it was appealing to me.

Footle · 14/07/2022 07:29

Charles Dickens. Started to read David Copperfield when I was 7 and was so horrified by David's mother's death that I have hated CD's power over my emotions ever since. But I get why people think he's wonderful.

AppleHa · 14/07/2022 07:32

Despite really liking every Dickens book I have ever read I always start from a place of reluctance and thinking it’s going to be really boring….

bailarbailar · 14/07/2022 07:44

The business is my favourite Ian banks but whenever i mention it no one else seems to have read it

Carriemac · 14/07/2022 08:05

Espedair street is one of my favourite books.
I was surprised to like Iain banks Sci Fi books, the bridge is a great one or start with .

dormouses · 26/08/2022 00:09

BuenaVistaAntisocialClub · 25/06/2022 22:06

Iain Banks for me. For years and years I’ve been vaguely aware of his books, maybe read the blurb of one or two, but always though - no, not for me. I had the impression it was overly dry, pretentious, and it just never grabbed me.

But, I’ve just read The Crow Road. And it’s one of the best books I’ve read in ages! Well-written, great story, really nice sense of place, and very funny.

So it got me thinking - has anyone else ever been completely convinced they’ll hate a particular author, or just had the feeling that an author is not for them? And then been completely converted?

As for Iain Banks, my plans are to read the Wasp Factory and Espedair Street next.

Try Whit next. Absolutely loved both that and the Crow Road but couldn't get on with any other of Ian Banks' books.

There was a great TV adaptation of The Crow Road many years ago starring Joe McFadden and Peter Capaldi.

Watchthesunrise · 26/08/2022 00:19

Jordan Peterson actually.

VerinMathwin · 26/08/2022 00:32

BuenaVistaAntisocialClub · 25/06/2022 22:06

Iain Banks for me. For years and years I’ve been vaguely aware of his books, maybe read the blurb of one or two, but always though - no, not for me. I had the impression it was overly dry, pretentious, and it just never grabbed me.

But, I’ve just read The Crow Road. And it’s one of the best books I’ve read in ages! Well-written, great story, really nice sense of place, and very funny.

So it got me thinking - has anyone else ever been completely convinced they’ll hate a particular author, or just had the feeling that an author is not for them? And then been completely converted?

As for Iain Banks, my plans are to read the Wasp Factory and Espedair Street next.

Iain M Banks is better

FlyingMasticatedParticles · 26/08/2022 00:37

dormouses · 26/08/2022 00:09

Try Whit next. Absolutely loved both that and the Crow Road but couldn't get on with any other of Ian Banks' books.

There was a great TV adaptation of The Crow Road many years ago starring Joe McFadden and Peter Capaldi.

Show quote history

I love Whit, Espedair Sreet and the Crow Road. I've got the adaptation on DVD. I auditioned for it as a child but never got a part 🤣🤣🤣 the book is set very close to where I grew up so it holds a special place in my heart.

spongedog · 26/08/2022 00:38

Jo Nesbo - ignored them on the shelves then bought a Harry Hole in the charity shop. Loving it so far. Whereas my normal crime reads I am so bored by!

I get another pp about the classics - I just dont read them, until I do. I love Jane Austen and even one or two Bronte novels. But I do have to be in the mood and have time.

Talipesmum · 26/08/2022 00:49

Haha mine is a precise opposite to yours, OP - everyone was talking about Iain banks books, how amazing etc. Read the crow road and quite enjoyed it but didn’t really gel with it. Then a bit later I spotted a travel book he’d written called Raw Spirit about driving around Scotland and visiting whisky distilleries. I love Scotland and I love whisky, so I bought it. God. It was the most self indulgent, narcissistic, blokey car show off twaddle. Nail in coffin time for me! It still makes me cross 15 years later 😁

eurochick · 26/08/2022 01:10

Lee Child. I thought Reacher would be Not My Thing. I eventually tried one and was hooked. I've read them all 2 or 3 times now.

BarryBantam · 26/08/2022 01:13

I agree with you @Talipesmum - sorry again OP! I thought I was going to love Iain Banks but can't stand him!

My unexpected love was Lisa St Aubin de Teran. Thought it would be self indulgent twaddle. But it is not! She has an amazing knack of just taking you entirely into a situation with very few words. Reminds me of Graham Green, maybe? Anyway she is brilliant and not what I expected at all.

Deathraystare · 18/10/2022 12:27

Georgette Heyer.

I was very anti romance as my mum read them along with some dreadful Mills & Boon. My Brother would chase her around the garden, reading excerts from some awful twaddle!

I later tried one on my mums talking books - The Unknown Ajax and loved it! It was funny and loved the language!

beguilingeyes · 18/10/2022 15:18

Reacher is amazing. Just watched the new TV series and loved it.

Agatha Christie for me. Read a couple years ago and didn't get on with them. Just read Sparkling Cyanide and loved it.

Talipesmum · 18/10/2022 23:35

Deathraystare · 18/10/2022 12:27

Georgette Heyer.

I was very anti romance as my mum read them along with some dreadful Mills & Boon. My Brother would chase her around the garden, reading excerts from some awful twaddle!

I later tried one on my mums talking books - The Unknown Ajax and loved it! It was funny and loved the language!

Ooh you’re so right. They look excruciatingly frilly and sappy-historical-brainless-pulp-romance, but they’re so sharp, funny and perfectly written! I had a massive audiobook binge of about 20 of them a year ago, it was brilliant!

PenCreed · 22/10/2022 20:03

The Crow Road is one of my all time favourite books! I also love Whit - when I went to Luskentyre a couple of years ago my sister asked me if I met any Luskentyrians, so that's stuck in her memory too...

I already love so many of the authors referenced here (Heyer, Pratchett) that I can't think of any example of what the thread is actually about!

Peppaspetfish · 28/10/2022 20:40

I kept seeing Rivers of London recommended on here but didn't feel I would enjoy them for some reason. Bought the first one in charity shop and and am now whizzing through them!

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