Beth F
bermudaonion (Kathy)
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Michelle
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BTT: That’s Just TERRIBLE!
What’s the worst ‘best’ book you’ve ever read — the one everyone says is so great, but you can’t figure out why?
I have given up on a few book here and there, usually more because I can’t get into them than because they are actually bad. Generally I do a pretty good job guessing what I would like to read, even with ARCs (which can be more challenging).
My confidence in my ability to separate the wheat from the chaff broke down a bit last year with one of my picks from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program. The book, “Two Brothers: One North, One South” sounded so promising: Civil War historical fiction with two brothers on opposite sides of the battle, their story narrated by Walt Whitman. The only problem is that the book – at least the first 45 page, because that was as long as I could manage to submit myself to the dreck, was horrid. The dialog was completely boring and stilted, and I really couldn’t understand the audience. The concepts of the Civil War seemed on about a 4th grader’s level, but the author was using million dollar words (seemingly just to show off, because they did not flow with the writing). For the passage that made me give up the book in disgust, see my review.
What surprises me is that, while “Two Brothers” does have a very low rating overall (under 3 stars, most books on LibraryThing are above 3 stars, for a variety of reasons), there are actually people who rated it highly. Three people even gave it 5 stars! Granted, one of them in the author (he also owns the company that published the book…HMMM), but another is someone whose opinion on books I respect. Evidently from some of the other 2-3 star reviewers who managed to make it through the book it did get better when you got further into the story and he used less dialog. However, I’d much rather go read Michael Shaara’s “Killer Angels” or something.
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Oh — that sounds awful.
http://barneysbookblog.blogspot.com/
Jess’s last blog post..Booking Through Thursday
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That book does sound good — at least in a blurb! Narrated by Walt Whitman? Points for originality there. But clearly it failed miserably! I hate when that happens.
My books through Early Reviewers have been a bit hit or miss! Mostly hit, but definitely some misses. I hate to say it, but sometimes it’s fun to write negative reviews, though! I feel a bit like Miss Merry Sunshine when I have to give everything four or five stars… even though I often want to
Megan’s last blog post..Booking Through Thursday: Worst best book
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Oy. I’ve been disappointed by a lot of books. Now I tend to avoid a book if Oprah’s picked it–I’ve had too many negative experiences with those, though I know she does occasionally pick a gem. Not crazy about Three Cups of Tea; haven’t finished it yet. It’s on my indecision pile. Wasn’t as nuts about Guernica as a lot of people were (though the attack scenes made it all worthwhile–those scenes have stuck with me).
Jena’s last blog post..The Engine’s Child by Holly Phillips
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I can’t believe the author rated his own book! That’s so disingenuous!
Through the Early Reviewer program, I’ve only received two books, but neither were to my liking. It made me quite wary of ARCs, and I’ve become a lot pickier about what I request. Free books are nice, but free doesn’t make up for a book being bad.
Steph’s last blog post..ToB Round 2: “2666″ vs. “A Partisan’s Daughter”
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Da Vinci Code for me. It doesn’t have any competitor.
Matthew’s last blog post..The Worst Best Book?
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Yeah, that two brothers book did sound good in a blurb and there was that other book with Walt Whitman Letters, Now the Drum of War. I tried reading that for weeks, it was a pretty good antidote to insomnia, I do have to give it credit for that.
Kaye’s last blog post..
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Oh no, Kaye! I have Now the Drum of War and am extremely tardy reviewing it. I’m sorry it hear that it is a snoozer.
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Ooh, I remember when that was an ER book. I rejected it based on that horrible title!
I’ve mostly stopped asking for ER books — I’ve been burnt too many times. I’d rather take my recommendations from other bloggers than from publishers, I think.
Christine’s last blog post..Can I Graduate Now?
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Worst book that other people like? Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Why was that such a sensation?
Jeanne’s last blog post..The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
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Ok, I’m really glad I said no to “Two Brothers” now, I had a chance to review it not too long ago.
S. Krishna’s last blog post..Sisterhood Award
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