Peggy_Butler wrote:Got to say the worst I ever read was The Bible King James Version.

Why the KJ? Or is it all bibles?

Ann Bishop definately was a disappointment, but the worst I can remember being disappointed by was Flowers for Evelyn. I found it on Amazon and it had great reviews...was supposed to be a great horror story. I couldn't finish it because it was so laughable.

I actually really liked both Twilight and White Oleander.. I'm weird I guess hehe.

I think the worst for me was All Quiet on the Western Front. But I have a personal reason... I actually got to the part where the horse runs around with it's inards hanging out and told my teacher I'd get a note from home, that I was not reading that book.

I passed the class with an A still

Like Gentlereader9 I simply don't finish books that aren't enjoyable. After a few chapters of boredom I can't bring myself to trudge through the rest as if on a personal quest just to get to the finish line. I set it down (or throw it across the room) and pick up something a little more enjoyable.

Chris OConnor wrote:Like Gentlereader9 I simply don't finish books that aren't enjoyable. After a few chapters of boredom I can't bring myself to trudge through the rest as if on a personal quest just to get to the finish line. I set it down (or throw it across the room) and pick up something a little more enjoyable.

I'm a "throw it across the room" person. The only time I finish a book I really don't like is if I have some obligation (like a class or something). Even then, I can't always make myself do it - or the book gets trashed from hitting the wall too often.

It sucks when we buy books only to learn they're quite boring.

Suzanne,

I actually like sad stories. Not only does it make me think about the seriousness of my own sadness but it brings me a deeper empathy to mankind. There was a time in my life where I hated everyone and reading sad stories helps to mediate that. It also helps to identify with characters in the story and so I love realism and character development. Which reminds me, one of my all time favorite authors is George R.R. Martin for his A Song of Fire and Ice series...talk about sadness and character development.

books that are shallow and not well thought out make me shuffle them to the bottom of my bedstand where they gather dust (unless they need to go back to the library)

Hello Poettess:

Poettess wrote:

I actually like sad stories. Not only does it make me think about the seriousness of my own sadness but it brings me a deeper empathy to mankind.

I agree with you, sad tales can put your own life, and sadness into perspective. But, I think sad stories need to be tempered by realism. I have recently recommended "Sophie's Choice" to my daughter. I still remember getting to "the choice" and crying, real tears for hours. I can still feel the pain, and I can still feel Sophie.

I am just against those cheap tear jerkers where the author just throws around unnessary pain for the shock value. I use "The Kite Runner" as an example, the ending was over the top and unnessary, it made the characters seem fake in a way. Maybe I'm just too sensitive.

Poettess wrote:

one of my all time favorite authors is George R.R. Martin for his A Song of Fire and Ice series...talk about sadness and character development.

This author is new to me, on your recommendation, I will check it out.

Suzanne

Definately check out George R. R. Martin. I won't discuss it too much since he doesn't belong in a discussion of bad books, but he mainly writes fantasy and science fiction type stories. If you aren't into that kind of thing then you may not find it worthwhile to read his books. He also wrote a great book called "Fevre Dream" which is about a riverboat captain and which I found to be an excellent example of character development.

Poetess said:

Not only does it make me think about the seriousness of my own sadness but it brings me a deeper empathy to mankind. There was a time in my life where I hated everyone and reading sad stories helps to mediate that.

I was reading a piece about Alan Bennett, one of my favourite playwrights (The History Boys)......whose birthday it is on Saturday (tomorrow) btw. He said, when you read a very truthful book which writes about a human feeling or emotion which you thought only you had experienced, then it is like the author reaching through time to take hold of your hand. Brilliant!!

I remember one writer explaining that she felt like a metaphysically displaced person, only here to 'observe' as though she didn't really belong, and I cried, because that was exactly how I felt at the time.

I have often felt (and still do) that I was born into the wrong time/space continuum.......not that I have ever discussed that feeling, but I did find it very reassuring that there were 'others'.