I love the Citizen Reader's recent post about the worst books of 2008. Here it is; read it and laugh. I can't possibly match her, mostly because in most cases if I thought a book was awful I just didn't finish it and thus didn't write about it here. (Though she and I are united in our scorn for The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.) Maybe I ought to start reading some bad books just to up the humor quotient of this blog.
But seriously, I did read several books this year for which I had high hopes, but which were ultimately big disappointments. So to continue the Citizen Reader's approach of leaving the good reviews to someone else, here goes (links to my original posts included):
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Just a boring book about people obsessed with dogs. Hear me whine.
The Gathering by Anne Enright. A weird Irish family and their self-destructive habits. Get your angst here!
Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon. Messy and confusing. Just because you are a famous writer doesn't mean you don't need an editor.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards. Like an Oprah book, only less well written.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
7 comments:
I loved her list and thought it was a great idea so I am glad you did your own take on it. I was thinking of doing something similar and then my husband suggested I do the biggest and smallest books I read etc. so I am thinking I will do that for the end of the year.
Oh, god, The Memory Keeper's Daughter. Just reading the jacket copy on that one indicated that I should stay far, far away from it. Thanks for the reminder to avoid this one.
OMG! I didn't think I'd meet anyone who DIDN'T absolutely love The Memory Keeper's Daughter. I wanted to hurl it at my favorite spot on the wall when I finished it. Blech. It has been a while since I read it, so details for my dislike are more vague than they were immediately after I'd finished, but that sense of "ick" lingers on when I see that title.
Maddie, I hate LOTS of books that other people love! If you do too, you'll fit in well here. Thanks for your comment.
I'm preparing to be scorned, but here goes: I could not stand "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz. I finished it only because my book club was reading it. The reviews were universally glowing, non-readers are reading the book and falling in love with it, and here I stand on the other side... with one friend who also disliked it. I didn't like the characters, I didn't find the writing to be remarkable, and I was bored out of my head.
Unruly Reader: No scorn here! I have not tried that book, but I take your word for it that it was dull. Now it's my turn to be scorned (maybe): I feel like when a book is universally loved, especially by non-readers, that is a big red flag that I will NOT like it.
Gosh, I hated the Memory Keepers Daughter. Glad to know i'm not the only one. That book really just...bit. I was just checking out that Edward Sartelle (sp?) book because it's number 1 on the indie list, but it sounded incredibly dull. sounds like my instincts were right on that one.
BTW, I just found your blog and am looking forward to reading more!
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