what book do you dislike That everyone else seems to love
#1
Posted 08 January 2014 - 10:47 AM
I hated Prince of Thorns. I can't for the life of me figure out why everyone loves it.
How about you?
How about you?
#3
Posted 08 January 2014 - 11:31 AM
Wheel of Time
Tehol said:
'Yet my heart breaks for a naked hen.'
#4
Posted 08 January 2014 - 11:47 AM
Lots of things. Especially things considered to be classic (though not always).
Laseen did nothing wrong.
I demand Telorast & Curdle plushies.
I demand Telorast & Curdle plushies.
#5
Posted 08 January 2014 - 12:02 PM
Dresden files //über-mega-class heathen barbarian pagan heretic
Name of the Wind & Sequel (although drawing Dragoncow was fun)
Narnia
Paolini's Inheritance
And anything with a Scottish vampire with a dragon tattoo in it.
Name of the Wind & Sequel (although drawing Dragoncow was fun)
Narnia
Paolini's Inheritance
And anything with a Scottish vampire with a dragon tattoo in it.
This post has been edited by Kaamos: 08 January 2014 - 01:26 PM
#6
Posted 08 January 2014 - 12:45 PM
GoT.
I don't dislike it so much as it leaves me cold.
Well. Aside from people banging on about how the medieval setting is supposed to be historically accurate (+dragons)
I don't dislike it so much as it leaves me cold.
Well. Aside from people banging on about how the medieval setting is supposed to be historically accurate (+dragons)
*Men's Frights Activist*
#7
Posted 08 January 2014 - 01:08 PM
The Yiddish Policeman's Union - not fantasy or sf just alternate history. I kept expect a sf/f twist and was disappointed at the end. The writing wasn't bad nor the story but it wasn't what I wanted or expected.
The Dervish House - great writing, great ideas, but I didn't connect with the characters, the story seemed tedious and the amount of Turkish words, phrases, names...etc was too much.
Republic of Thieves - Two decent stories that only have the characters in common thrown together doesn't (to me) make a good book.
Retribution Falls - characters seemed cliched cardboard cutouts and the writing was sub par.
the Warded(Painted) Man - really didn't like this one - at all. Probably my least favorite book of the past five years.
I'm fully aware that these are widely loved, just not by me.
The Dervish House - great writing, great ideas, but I didn't connect with the characters, the story seemed tedious and the amount of Turkish words, phrases, names...etc was too much.
Republic of Thieves - Two decent stories that only have the characters in common thrown together doesn't (to me) make a good book.
Retribution Falls - characters seemed cliched cardboard cutouts and the writing was sub par.
the Warded(Painted) Man - really didn't like this one - at all. Probably my least favorite book of the past five years.
I'm fully aware that these are widely loved, just not by me.
"Give a man a fire and he's warm for the day. But set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." - Terry Pratchett, Jingo"Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken." - Terry Pratchett, Eric
"Wisdom comes from experience. Experience is often a result of a lack of wisdom." - Terry Pratchett
"Wisdom comes from experience. Experience is often a result of a lack of wisdom." - Terry Pratchett
#8
Posted 08 January 2014 - 01:13 PM
Basically everything by Charlaine Harris, Lilith Saintcrow and the like.. Ugh. I tried. Never again.
Also, I harbour an intense and deep sitting dislike for Forrest Gump. I'm can't really remember if it was really the book I disliked so much, but I had to read it for school and got metaphorically bashed over the head with it so much I can't even hear the title without negative associations flaring up. The movie was on TV last weekend here, so I've been running around cursing it for a couple of days now.
Also, The Mists of Avalon. Blargh.
No recent ones come to mind, but I'm cherry-picking what I read these days.
Edit: When I think about it, I actually actively disliked Best Served Cold back when I read it. So much that I haven't read anything by Abercrombie since, even though I probably will at some point.
Can't say I disliked Prince of Thorns, but I wasn't as enamoured with it as everyone else seemed to be. It was just promising enough to buy the second book, but haven't read it yet.
Also, I harbour an intense and deep sitting dislike for Forrest Gump. I'm can't really remember if it was really the book I disliked so much, but I had to read it for school and got metaphorically bashed over the head with it so much I can't even hear the title without negative associations flaring up. The movie was on TV last weekend here, so I've been running around cursing it for a couple of days now.
Also, The Mists of Avalon. Blargh.
No recent ones come to mind, but I'm cherry-picking what I read these days.
Edit: When I think about it, I actually actively disliked Best Served Cold back when I read it. So much that I haven't read anything by Abercrombie since, even though I probably will at some point.
Stormcat, on 08 January 2014 - 10:47 AM, said:
I hated Prince of Thorns. I can't for the life of me figure out why everyone loves it.
How about you?
How about you?
Can't say I disliked Prince of Thorns, but I wasn't as enamoured with it as everyone else seemed to be. It was just promising enough to buy the second book, but haven't read it yet.
This post has been edited by Puck: 08 January 2014 - 01:33 PM
Puck was not birthed, she was cleaved from a lava flow and shaped by a fierce god's hands. - [worry]
Ninja Puck, Ninja Puck, really doesn't give a fuck..? - [King Lear]
Ninja Puck, Ninja Puck, really doesn't give a fuck..? - [King Lear]
#9
Posted 08 January 2014 - 01:21 PM
Baco Xtath, on 08 January 2014 - 01:08 PM, said:
The Yiddish Policeman's Union - not fantasy or sf just alternate history. I kept expect a sf/f twist and was disappointed at the end. The writing wasn't bad nor the story but it wasn't what I wanted or expected.
The Dervish House - great writing, great ideas, but I didn't connect with the characters, the story seemed tedious and the amount of Turkish words, phrases, names...etc was too much.
Republic of Thieves - Two decent stories that only have the characters in common thrown together doesn't (to me) make a good book.
Retribution Falls - characters seemed cliched cardboard cutouts and the writing was sub par.
the Warded(Painted) Man - really didn't like this one - at all. Probably my least favorite book of the past five years.
I'm fully aware that these are widely loved, just not by me.
The Dervish House - great writing, great ideas, but I didn't connect with the characters, the story seemed tedious and the amount of Turkish words, phrases, names...etc was too much.
Republic of Thieves - Two decent stories that only have the characters in common thrown together doesn't (to me) make a good book.
Retribution Falls - characters seemed cliched cardboard cutouts and the writing was sub par.
the Warded(Painted) Man - really didn't like this one - at all. Probably my least favorite book of the past five years.
I'm fully aware that these are widely loved, just not by me.
The Warded Man! I forgot about that. I liked the concept but the lead female infuriated me.
#10
Posted 08 January 2014 - 01:39 PM
CITY OF SAINTS AND MADMEN. So busy being weird it forgot to be interesting.
THE DARK TOWER. Book 1 was OK, I really liked Book 2, but Book 3 threw me right out of the series. Just as well, because likely at the point Stephen King introduced himself as a character I would've been out anyway.
Michael Moorcock's stuff. I read the six Elric books, they were OK. I tried reading other parts of his Eternal Champion stuff and...meh.
EDIT - oh and of course most pertinent to this board, MBOTF. TTH was the final nail in the coffin for me.
THE DARK TOWER. Book 1 was OK, I really liked Book 2, but Book 3 threw me right out of the series. Just as well, because likely at the point Stephen King introduced himself as a character I would've been out anyway.
Michael Moorcock's stuff. I read the six Elric books, they were OK. I tried reading other parts of his Eternal Champion stuff and...meh.
EDIT - oh and of course most pertinent to this board, MBOTF. TTH was the final nail in the coffin for me.
This post has been edited by McLovin: 08 January 2014 - 01:41 PM
OK, I think I got it, but just in case, can you say the whole thing over again? I wasn't really listening.
#11
Posted 08 January 2014 - 02:29 PM
DoD and TCG
just went on and on. Blegh
just went on and on. Blegh
2012
"Imperial Gothos, Imperial"
"Imperial Gothos, Imperial"
#12
Posted 08 January 2014 - 02:32 PM
Baco Xtath, on 08 January 2014 - 01:08 PM, said:
the Warded(Painted) Man - really didn't like this one - at all. Probably my least favorite book of the past five years.
The Warded Man helped me formulate how much I utterly detest the trend of using rape as a shortcut to character development.
Take good care to keep relations civil
It's decent in the first of gentlemen
To speak friendly, Even to the devil
It's decent in the first of gentlemen
To speak friendly, Even to the devil
#13
Posted 08 January 2014 - 02:49 PM
Anything by Gregory Benford. I was a huge sci-fi reader, but these literally put me to sleep.
Sphere by Michael Crichton. That book infuriated me (almost) beyond words. It felt like he got stuck halfway through and decided to hand it over to a ten year old, and went, "Finish that for me please, I've totally confused myself".
Sphere by Michael Crichton. That book infuriated me (almost) beyond words. It felt like he got stuck halfway through and decided to hand it over to a ten year old, and went, "Finish that for me please, I've totally confused myself".
It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt - Mark Twain
Never argue with an idiot!
They'll drag you down to their level, and then beat you with experience!- Anonymous
#14
Posted 08 January 2014 - 03:11 PM
I tend to be good at finding some redeeming in quality in whatever I read, so it's hard to say, most of the time.
One author I absolutely failed to "get" that is of some renown is K.J. Parker. The Engineer trilogy Books 1 and 2 bored me to tears. I honestly can't recall if I even finished Book 2 or not. I don't think I did.
In the same category I can also put Russel Kirkpatrick's "across the face of the world". Not the most popular thing ever, but enough people liked him to let him publish 3+ books. I can honestly say i could not get past the first 100 or so pages, because there was literally nothing of interest in the setup for the grand quest of runnning the hell away from the bad people because the protagonists was the chosen one. ugh.
One author I absolutely failed to "get" that is of some renown is K.J. Parker. The Engineer trilogy Books 1 and 2 bored me to tears. I honestly can't recall if I even finished Book 2 or not. I don't think I did.
In the same category I can also put Russel Kirkpatrick's "across the face of the world". Not the most popular thing ever, but enough people liked him to let him publish 3+ books. I can honestly say i could not get past the first 100 or so pages, because there was literally nothing of interest in the setup for the grand quest of runnning the hell away from the bad people because the protagonists was the chosen one. ugh.
#15
Posted 08 January 2014 - 03:27 PM
Absolutely everything about Farlander by Col Buchanan. From the horrible barbarian language that seemed like a mix of pseudo-russian and italian, to the horrible writing style, reminiscent of a community college creative writing student.
#16
Posted 08 January 2014 - 03:31 PM
THIS IS YOUR REMINDER THAT THERE IS A
'VIEW NEW CONTENT' BUTTON THAT
ALLOWS YOU TO VIEW NEW CONTENT
'VIEW NEW CONTENT' BUTTON THAT
ALLOWS YOU TO VIEW NEW CONTENT
#17
Posted 08 January 2014 - 03:37 PM
Modesitt's main series...any author who uses sound effect words in place of actually writing out the fight scenes, gets downvoted. It was already pretty standard WOT-style fare...but that made me curse the bloody things.
THE WARRIOR PROPHET - Considering how much I enjoyed the first book in Bakker's series, I was astonished at how fast I hated the second. Never bothered with the rest.
THE WARDED MAN - You all must have gotten further than me...I was annoyed in mere pages...before the female protag is introduced or rape is introduced.
COLDFIRE book 1 - Jeebus what a slog. Tried that book 4 times (one more try than my normal limit), and in the end threw it out for being by-the-numbers quest fantasy.
THE WARRIOR PROPHET - Considering how much I enjoyed the first book in Bakker's series, I was astonished at how fast I hated the second. Never bothered with the rest.
THE WARDED MAN - You all must have gotten further than me...I was annoyed in mere pages...before the female protag is introduced or rape is introduced.
COLDFIRE book 1 - Jeebus what a slog. Tried that book 4 times (one more try than my normal limit), and in the end threw it out for being by-the-numbers quest fantasy.
"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
#18
Posted 08 January 2014 - 05:48 PM
Abyss, on 08 January 2014 - 03:31 PM, said:
Thirded
The Farseer Trilogy by Hobb. I finished Apprentice and have tried the others but never finished them. I could never bring myself to read anything else by Hobb.
How many fucking people do I have to hammer in order to get that across.
Hinter - Vengy - DIE. I trusted you you bastard!!!!!!!
Steven Erikson made drowning in alien cum possible - Obdigore
Hinter - Vengy - DIE. I trusted you you bastard!!!!!!!
Steven Erikson made drowning in alien cum possible - Obdigore
#19
#20
Posted 08 January 2014 - 06:02 PM
Kaamos, on 08 January 2014 - 12:02 PM, said:
Dresden files //über-mega-class heathen barbarian pagan heretic
Name of the Wind & Sequel (although drawing Dragoncow was fun)
Narnia
Paolini's Inheritance
And anything with a Scottish vampire with a dragon tattoo in it.
Name of the Wind & Sequel (although drawing Dragoncow was fun)
Narnia
Paolini's Inheritance
And anything with a Scottish vampire with a dragon tattoo in it.
I am seriously considering going back and reading some of the first books in the series.
I look back at The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo with a kind of fondness now.