Reading Buddy Style discussion

What is the worst book you've ever read and why? Did you expect to enjoy it?

I really disliked Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I had to read this freshman year of high school and I think it was the only assigned book I did not read entirely. I haven't read anything else by Dickens. I don't remember if I had "great expectations" of liking this book, but in general, I did like the majority of the books I had to read for school. In a close 2nd place is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I know this book is beloved by many, but I thought it was terrible once I got past the "eat" part, and would not have finished it except that it was the only book I had brought with me on a field assignment for work. However, this was one of those rare exceptions where the movie was better than the book, I do recommend the movie!

Megan wrote: "I really disliked Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I had to read this freshman year of high school and I think it was the only assigned book I did not read entirely. I haven't read anything ..."

I was totally going to say Great Expectations! I've read A Tale of Two Cities and A Christmas Carol, The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth by Dickens as well, and - aside from A Christmas Carol (which I think I only liked because I knew it by heart from movie versions) - I disliked them all. I read A Tale of Two Cities in highschool (with some Cliffs Notes help, I will admit), but read Great Expectations only a few months ago. I'm sorry, but I just really dislike Dickens.

Aside from Mr. Dickens, there have been very few books that I have really hated. Great Expectations is the only book in recent memory that I really had to push myself to finish.

I could not get through Anna Karenina. Strongly disliked the style and characters. It has kept me from trying any other Russian lit. I hated The Song of Achilles. I thought I would love Pilgrim's Progress but was too bored out of my gourd to complete it.
It's funny you both hate Dickens - I really like him! David Copperfield made me laugh out loud.
Meg - don't get me started on Shadow of Night or Memoirs of Cleopatra!!

Thirteen Reasons Why really disliked the whole plot and the characters as well how it was told.