The Next Best Book Club discussion

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - I read this when it first came out years ago and still have a visceral reaction when I think about how much I hated this book. I still don't read anything by Dave Eggers including short articles, webs posts.

Twilight - I finished it until the last series - Breaking Dawn. I passed by a poll, asking what's best about Twilight, or maybe something like that. Is it the romance, the adjectives or the characters? I know there's a fourth choice but I can't really remember. And with that I realized something.

Twilight is okay. New Moon and Eclipse became worse. I heard a spoiler, saying Bella's going to be a vampire so I continued reading Breaking Dawn. At the middle of the story, I said, 'the best book of the twilight series'. Then at the end of the story, 'didn't exceed expectations'. It's DEFICIENT.

The flow of the story through out the whole four books can already fit in just one book of Harry Potter.

Joanne, I enjoyed the first one, thought "New Moon" was ok, really enjoyed "Eclipse" and was greatly disappointed by "Breaking Dawn". They weren't the best written books but it was interesting enough to me to keep me reading (and I'm NOT a young girl LOL). I had to find out what happened to Bella. Could be because I haven't read a lot of this type of book, meaning vampire love stories, but it did pique my curiosity. I'm glad I read them but I'm also glad I didn't spend the money to buy them. : )

Jamie wrote: "She's Come Undone - How many awful things can happen to one person before it stops being interesting or believable? Find out by reading this book."


I really liked this book. Being a therapist, I come into contact everyday that have worse stuff happen to them. Maybe not the etcha sketch thing...sorry for the spoiler.

5peasinapod wrote: "Jamie wrote: "She's Come Undone - How many awful things can happen to one person before it stops being interesting or believable? Find out by reading this book."


I really liked th..."

I'm not saying these types of things can't happen to people, but it seemed to me that Lamb just randomly threw any sort of difficulty he could think of at Delores. The way it was written just didn't seem believable. In addition, I never warmed to the character of Delores for some reason. It's been years since I read this book, though, so it's difficult to remember everything.

It has been some years since I read it, but I go agree that the events weren't connected too smoothly.

The Thomas Berryman Number has to be the worst book I ever read. I would rather read a high school algebra book than to go through that again.

Bryan, I agree 100% with you! I'm a huge James Patterson fan, but that book was atrocious! What a waste of money. So glad his writing has improved!

Jamie wrote: "I'm not saying these types of things can't happen to people, .... The way it was written just didn't seem believable. In addition, I never warmed to the character of Delores for some reason..."

I completely agree with you, Jamie. I felt bad for not caring about the character, but I just didn't. I felt like she was a little whiny and pathetic. Again, I felt bad for feeling that way given the events, but I just couldn't help it.

In college I had a class that asked me to read Beloved by Toni Morrison. I finished it, but didn't really enjoy it. Then I was supposed to read Neuromancer (I think that is the title) and The Crying of Lot 49. I gave up on both of them. Ick.
Recently, I borrowed a book from my sister. It is called Swimming by Joanna Hershon. I could barely make it out of the first chapter.

I thought my head was going to explode after I read The Golden Compass. I clearly remember thinking that if I had to read about one more talking animal, I was going to die. It almost turned me off the fantasy genre forever. Oddly though, I liked the second book and did end up finishing the series.

But man that first book was terrible to me. It wasn't just boring, it was excruciatingly annoying.

C wrote: "I thought my head was going to explode after I read The Golden Compass. I clearly remember thinking that if I had to read about one more talking animal, I was going to die. It almost turned me off ..."

I actually got through that one really quickly!

I just got done reading Mirror, Mirror by D.E. Athkins. It's a version of The Picture of Dorian Gray for teens and it sucked so bad.

i HATE HATE HATED Tree of Smoke by Dennis Johnson. The fact that it won so many awards drove me crazy.

I also can't stand the latest Patricia Cornwell books or any book by Laurell Hamilton in the Anita Blake series after Obsidian Butterfly.

Also on the list:

World Without End - Ken Follett
The Road - Cormac McCarthy
The Witching Hour - Ann Rice
Gunslinger - Stephen King

But they all like you!! ; )

*ducks, as 15 books get thrown*

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "TKAM - To Kill a Mockingbird? Why are we abbreviating?"
Sorry Elizabeth, I got lazy. *hangs head in shame*

Just thought of another... The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster... couldn't get past the 2nd story.

Hayes wrote: "Just thought of another... The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster... couldn't get past the 2nd story."

I haven't read that one yet, though I enjoyed Auster's The Book of Illusions A Novel. I actually just picked up Timbuktu A Novel this weekend at the library. I have sort of lukewarm feelings for Auster - one minute good, the next minute a real drag.

What was it that you found unappealing about Trilogy?

talk talk talk talk.... the first was supposed to be a sort of a mystery or something, but it never got anywhere and I got tired of reading about how he turned left on 8th avenue and waited for 3 hours on a park bench... get to the point, or be like Nabokov and write about pointless things in language that is so beautiful that it doesn't really matter. The second was so improbable and ridiculous that I couldn't bring myself to read the third.

I HATED Suite Française, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, The Abstinence Teacher.

There was not a redeeming character in any of these books. I couldn't even finish Suite Fracaise.

Oh I'm so glad someone else hated Suite Francaise!!! Every other review I've seen on here raves about that book, and I just thought it was awful!

Christy: I kinda liked Dog in the night time... what didn't you like about it?

I know most people really liked Dog in the night....I just couldn't relate to a single character. I though his mother was just horrible and his father wasn't much better. I couldn't relate to the boy at all. I din't find him interesting. I read to be entertained or to feel something and connect with the characters. That book just didn't do it for me.

Suzie, I know! I read so many rave reviews about Suite Francaise that I was shocked at how much I disliked it. I like the story behind the book, but coudln't get through the book itself.

The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy is the only book that comes to mind right now. I finished the book, surprisingly, but felt that part of my brain died from the stupidity of it! I know a lot of people love that book (and its sequels) but oh my gosh did I hate it!

The Da Vinci Code I could not stand this book! It bored me to death and I swore I would finish it because I wanted to see the movie. Then I was even more disgusted because the book was actually better than the movie. Both of which I wish I could just forget about.

A New Earth Awakening to Your Life's Purpose This book is right up my alley but I could not stand Tolle and his matter of fact attitude and constant quotes throughout the book. I have read so many better books on the topic. I thought it might just be the book so I picked up The Power of Now A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment and I couldn't get through it because it's his attitude I don't like.

The Pilot's Wife Alright so this wasn't the worst book ever but I did not see what all the hype was. I didn't care for her writing at all.

I'm sure there are more but these are the three that stand out the most.

Oh, and anything by Ann Rice. I just cannot get through anything by her, though I've tried several times!

Christy: I'm about halfway through Dog in the night-time and have liked it thus far. I was curious if you know any autistic children? Perhaps the reason that Dog in the night speaks so much to me is because I have watched several of my neighbors and friends battle the same battles. I can definitely relate to the parents and how the smallest things over time can just tear you apart. Not to say that you're not allowed to dislike the book :)

I know a few kids with Aspergers (I'm a school social worker) and I do know what a struggle it is for the families and the kids. I just didn't find the book entertaining or had felt any kind of connection with any of the characters and I seem to be drawn to very character driven books.

Stacey wrote: "The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy is the only book that comes to mind right now. I finished the book, surprisingly, but felt that part of my brain died from the stupidity of it! I know a lot of..."

Stacey,
I wouldn't even give the book a try. My husband, daughter and I went to see the movie. My daughter and I just sat there amazed at how engrossed everyone seemed. We didn't get it at all! Worst movie I've ever seen. I just don't get the popularity of it!

Christy wrote: "I know most people really liked Dog in the night....I just couldn't relate to a single character. I though his mother was just horrible and his father wasn't much better. I couldn't relate to the..."

I thought the boy's character was very much a non-autistic asberger's syndrome person pretending to have asbergers and the dialogue did not work for me at all. I also hated both of the dysfunctional parents, as well as all of the other adult characters.

Adam wrote: "Christy: I'm about halfway through Dog in the night-time and have liked it thus far. I was curious if you know any autistic children? Perhaps the reason that Dog in the night speaks so much to me i..."

It is my knowledge of autistic/asberger's syndrome kids that made me dislike the book.

Wendy, I'm relieved to hear I wasn't alone in this! I honestly feel some people just felt they SHOULD like it because the kid was autistic. But for whatever reason, we are definitely in the minority on this one!

Christy wrote: "Wendy, I'm relieved to hear I wasn't alone in this! I honestly feel some people just felt they SHOULD like it because the kid was autistic. But for whatever reason, we are definitely in the minor..."

I'm with you and Wendy on this one too. I am not convinced that the character's syndrome actually lent anything to the story other than perhaps some version of "shock value". I feel so much more could have been done with a story about autism and this one fell considerably short.

I just finished a book that I could safely add to the list. Angelica A Novel. I thought it sucked big time and everyone in it was too annoying for me to really like.

I totally agree. After all the postive things I had heard about Wally Lamb I wanted to throw the book against the wall when I was finished. I have heard that people who read it in their 20's enjoyed it more than those of us reading it later in life. I just thought it was a waste of time and felt no more pity for the main character

I definitly hated Shopgirl A Novella by Steve Martin there was nothing funny in it. Boring, Boring, Boring!

I read the Twilight series to see what all the hype was about; glad I read them, but would I recommend them - NO! And I did like Jacob too Sara :)

As for disappointments - the one I am reading right now: The Last Juror. Wanted an engrossing page-turner, YAWN!!!! I'm halfway through, will finish, but I'm VERY disappointed so far anyway.