What books were you 'supposed' to enjoy but thought were a pile of crap? And why?

[MrsMerryHenry]

A Suitable Boy

Writing style far too poncey and utterly incapable of moving me.

Midnight's Children.

Same reason as above.

I have got A Suitable Boy here, unread, and I was looking forward to taking it on holiday this year.

If anyone has read both of them, I'd be interested to know if, indeed, ASB is as turgid written in a similar style to Midnight's Children.

Night Watch by Sarah Waters. Loved her other books. This one was unconvincing, and i really didn't give a toss what happened to ANY of the characters by the end (not a good sign!)

I ought, i suppose, admit to having enjoyed the first half of Midnight's Children, but I was young and pretentious myself. I never finished it though so something must have gone wrong...!

MrsMuddle - I forced myself to read MC and it was like swimming through treacle. Seem to remember quite liking ASB, though. A Fine Balance by R Mistry also good if you like that genre.

'Confederacy of Dunces'. A bf of mine thought it was the comic classic of the century and said I'd love it.

I hated it and couldn't get further than the first few pages (and I rarely abandon a book unread). Deeply unfunny in my opinion; over-written and with a very unsympathetic hero I couldn't warm to, which is a bit of a stumbling-block, let's face it. I can't see what the fuss is about, yet you see it constantly cited as the funniest book ever

Netherland by Joseph O'Neill

Just didn't get into it. Kept waiting to be grabbed but it just continued to plod. Others seem to be raving about it.

Lovely Bones. Yeesh.

That Ladie's Detective Agency series. Baaaad.

Catch 22. I just can't finish it.

To Kill A Movking Bird. I am going to try this again though.

Poisonwood Bible. Yawn .

anything by Dickens.

Until we came to the end
Netherland
Kite Runner
We need to talk about Kevin
Time Traveller's Wife

I find I have a pretty low patience level with books these days.

Actually I answered the question wrong. I don't think those are "a pile of crap". I just really didn't get on with them.

The Island, V Hislop. Very very very dull.

I resent it; it would have been a fantastic story if someone good had written it. She's a waste of space as an author.

Birdsong - the most yawnworthy pile of crap I have ever encountered. I gave up with it in the end, it was making me so cross.

A Quiet Belief In Angels - I HATED it.

Many, many others but I've ranted about those before so will be quiet now!

Stay Frosty - I so agree with you. Bloomin' hate Ian McEwan.

lovely bones here too. it was rubbish. i think they are making it into a film which i wont be seeing

Was lovely bones the one where the girl was abused and killed?

secret history Joanna Trollope, slow, densly unconvincing, failed to engage me, and had no grasping/pull you in/GOT to know what happens next aspect to it at all.

I chose my books very carefully so i am always acutely disapointed when i dont get along with a book. I aim to finish every book that i pick up, this took grit and determination!!
Robbed me of precious time that i could have been spending reading a good book.

yes the girl was kidnapped and killed

That ridiculous book about a boy who gets stranded in a boat with a tiger.

Utter tosh.

Friend at work lent it to me. Apparently it was the best thing she's ever read, really inspiring and I would love it

Totally agree with a couple above -
Confederacy of Dunces, Midnights Children and Catch 22.

Who made them classics?

That Ladie's Detective Agency series.

Yep, me too. So boring. And short. I know I should be glad it was short so I wqsn't bored for longer, but maybe if it had been longer something might have happened!

the life of pi or something was that bigbella? i hated that aswell

and all the da vinci code ones, utter shite

I also couldnt finish we need to talk about kevin

the english patient aswell, i couldn't finish that!

Lovely Bones - really bad

And more recently - Twilight. I know this is a book for teens but my friend said I must read it - what a load of tripe! I cant wait for it to be over. If this is what teens are reading, Lord help us!

ThaNKS HEATHER- YES i REMEBER THAT ONE.

ONLY BOOKS i HAVN'T FINISHED WERE cATCH 22
and (sorry caps) Something Mountain that was made into a film.

I am a prolific reader mind, remember Birdsong- what was it that annoyed you IrratibleGrizzly?

I tend to think books weren't a pile of crap, rather it was ME that just didn't get them

Ian Mcthingy is an acquired taste, I grant you