Books you feel were overrated

[ClearSky456]

Just finished Lessons in Chemistry and kind of wondering what all the fuss was about?! Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it but given so many people had told me I HAD to read it, I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed.

Anyone else felt the same, or anyone felt like this about another book recently? I had the same feeling with Daisy Jones and the Six too.

Couldn't manage Wolf Hall until after I'd watched the tv series then it made for sense. Even though I have a pretty good handle on Tudor history and all the Thomas characters it was a confusing book.

Came on here to say Lessons in Chemistry. It was a book club book so I finished it, but honestly, what a load of old tosh and cardboard screenplay tropes wedged in to hit marketing talking points.

I'd also say Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but I decided life was too short and stopped.

Another one who gave up The Slap after a chapter.

The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway. Absolutely turgid pile of rubbish.

totally agree about t he thursday murder club, awful
but, please don't be put off Hamnet, its great
does anyone remember 'the 5 people you meet in heaven'- I think that was the title, that was bollocks but very popular at the time

A pp nominated anything by Anne Tyler. Oh yes, dreadful dull nothingness, all of them.

But the most overrated book of the last 50 years is easily…The Goldfinch. What a terrible, terrible book.

For bad endings, The Essex Serpent.

@171513mum
Fifty shades of Crap 💩 book,

I am genuinely puzzled baffled why it became one summer a hit book craze that some people were talking about...🤔

Agree completely.

Agreed on both Jane Austin and Crawdads!

Me too! I cant say I didn't enjoy it but she was so grating!

Oh wow I loved all of these! Haha
Except Crawdads, have picked it up several times and never got into it.
Lessons in Chemistry I have a copy but never started - I just know it's over hyped.
A Little Life I haven't read but I have a copy on the pile and I think it'll like it.

Anything by Charles sodding Dickens. What a load of overly sentimental, mawkish pap. It's got all the depth of Neighbours.

@newtlover yeah 5 People You Meet was an early example of this faux homespun wisdom bollocks that's everywhere now. Hallmark cards are cheaper, take less of your time and are more emotionally resonant.

Agree with you that Hamnet is a great book. It was very well imagined and beautifully put together.

I was underwhelmed by the film and was thinking hmmn maybe the book is better. Maybe not!

I gave up with Lessons in Chemistry as it wasn't very well written. I now just ignore all marketing hype tbh

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - such hard work

The Boy/Mole/Fox/Horse whatever - just a collection of Instagram inspirational quotes, such drivel. Time I will never get back.

I was also very disappointed by The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

@HowardTJMoon lol Dickens is a soap opera writer for sure but come on, the man knows how to set a scene. A lone boat nodding along the misty, oily, night time Thames, helmed by a silent figure seen only in silhouette against the deserted shoreline. Long inured to the mystery of the depths around him, he feels a faint dark nudge against his oar ...

I liked Lessons in Chemistry and loved both Wolf Hall and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.

But I’m currently reading The Salt Path and really disliking it. She’s so passive, and dull, and judgmental about everyone she meets. The writing is pretty poor too. I’ve no idea how it was such a big seller

…what happens next?

Another one for whom A Little Life immediately sprang to mind. Bag 'o' shite!

@CluelessPadme yes! She talks about "homeless people" in such disparaging terms. Like, you are homeless, you utter wazzock. Yes yes your story is complicated, but so is everyone else's. As you would know if you ever took the fucking time to engage with them and find out instead of eating fucking fudge and making excuses for yourself.

So glad you posted this. I am utterly mystified by its popularity.

The Godfather
By Mario Puzo

I would love to know what Copolla saw in that book to make the most amazing 2 films ever made. It's beyond me because the book is shite. And a lot of the book is about Johnny Fontaine, the singer.

Also Luca Brasi is a so much more evil in the book. It gives more background in him.
Anyway, dreadful book.

Little Fires Everywhere
The Dutch House
Crawdads

Loved the Secret History but dnf Goldfinch. Liked the Buried Giant too (more than Never Let Me Go, which is probably a terrible thing to say).

Oh, The Lovely Bones. Can't believe so many people found it 'moving' - it was.boring and ridiculous.

And I've been disappointed by too many horror or supernatural books that were supposed to be the scariest or most disturbing ever. Maybe I'm too desensitised thiugh.

😂 This makes me glad I didn't buy it!