Books you Hate

I would have to say Catch-22, but only because it's the only book that bored me so much I never got past the first few chapters. Which I guess means posting it is unfair as if I'd finished, it could have been life-changing. Oh well...

 

your missing out. that is one of the greatest books ever.

 

I'm sorry but I couldn't do Dune (and the movies were even worse)

That or Death comes to the Archbishop by Willa Cather. And I loved My Antonia.

 

The worst books by far are those pathetic romance/mystery paperbacks that you buy from the supermarket for 3 dollars. I have, yes, stooped that low when i had absolutely nothing else to read and no other resources, and i have bitterly regretted it. I would rather read the back of a cereal box than to subject myself to such mediocre literature ever again.

 

The Pearl, by John Steinbeck.
It was a short book, but man was it boring.

 

"The Catcher in the Rye," by J.D. Salinger. What an outdated load of precious codwallop. I hated it in high school and I hate it now. Every character should have been spanked and sent to bed without dinner. In fact, I've read most of Salinger's work (which isn't much) and I can't think of one sympathetic character-- pathetic, yes. And the truly horrifying thing is, if the old recluse fraud ever decides to publish, "The New Yorker" magazine will no doubt devote an entire issue to his juvenile, "sensitive" poppycock. Ye Gods!

 

Thats a big call, I plan to read it soon. Just curious to know why you dislike the author's attitude? It sounds like one of those misunderstood 'anti-people' works.

 

Had to read "An Economic Interpretation of the Constuitution of the United States", for a poly sci class. Interesting, but powerful sedative. Couldn't read more than a chapter at a time without falling asleep for several hours.

 

Well, LyingInAField, he's the darling of the hotsy-totsy literary intelligensia-- in other words, a goddamn fraud. He wrote a few good short stories about the upper-middle class 1950-era suburbanites, then went into seclusion and hasn't published (Thank God!) since the 60's. John Updike, John Cheever and John O'Hara mined the same vein, but with more talent and insight. What irritates me is, Salinger is still being deified but true geniuses like Cormac McCarthy are largely ignored.


What the fuck else do you expect from the literary hierarchy that rejected John Kennedy Toole's great, Pulitizer-winning novel, "A Confederacy of Dunces" more than 20 times, driving the author to suicide? Then, when it was finally published after his death, all the critics jumped on the bandwagon and praised it fulsomely.

 

This guy sounds like a bitch...what is it about his writing thats so bad?

 

Did you read the above? What more do you want--a 20 page sentence by sentence critique? Jesus.

 

And i am supposed to gather about his WRITING, what from the above post?

Bitching about the man and his status in the literary world is hardly objective...what about the way he WRITES. As if I could give a crap what people think of the author, I'm planning to read the goddamn book and i would like some very basic information on what is wrong with the CONTENT

Jesus.

 

I hate the self help books or advice books from "professionals" that are filled with info we all know is obvious, they just are the first to cash in on it. People can fill a book with anything these days.

 

I advise you NOT to waste your time,LIF. His technique is fine-- it's what he has to say, which is not much. He is strictly a period- piece and his period is done gone. His heroes are all precocious adolescents who are all-so-sensitive--so precocious and sensitive that they are unrealistic. If you must read him, read his collection of short-stories (which is a damn slim book).


Does that suit you?

 

1984. Worst book ever.

 

Well sadly I've seen 2 of my favorites listed here. The Catcher in the Rye and 1984. But then again, what are opinions for, right?

The worst books I've read would be the ones that were overhyped and then a giant let-down. The Bell Jar, Prozac Nation, As I Lay Dying, The Scarlett Letter. All quite disappointing.

 

when it comes to books it's like movies ..the movies panned by the critics are some of the movies you will like the best and the ones that are the critics' darling are sometimes the worse you've ever seen .........i like all books ..some less than others and some probably i could have even wrote better ,but the thing is ...I DIDN'T .to each his own ..

 

It does, thankyou

 

I loved it, it had its faults but it will still be one of my most memorable books. Brave New World was better though.

 

the diary of anne frank

annoyed the crap out of me....