Your Least Favorite Book

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You got it - what is the worst book (in any genre) that you have ever read (and why!)

 

In general, I don't like anything by Robert Heinlein or Michael Moorcock (excpet for Gloriana) - go ahead and flame away, it's MY opinion and it coats me in asbestos.

As for specific, individual books, for me little tops "The Traveling Vampire Show" by Richard Laymon or the three Flat Earth novels by Tanith Lee. The former is a drab piece of juvenile junk that puts the characters into some potentially-interesting situations, then cops out with lame actions that bring no real resolution. The latter detailed events by completely unlikeable, irredeemable characters with almost no connection between them. I got to the point that I simply didn't care about what happened here, and I threw it out - this crap wasn't even worth donating to a library.

Then there's "Moon Music" by Faye Kellerman. It was a fascinating detective novel with a great set of characters that was spoiled by a really silly ending.

 

Actually when I read a book I don't like I just put it aside and not read it.

Now which I read and don't like is: Baldur's Gate the novel

Blech that was a stinker

 

I've a mind to say the words "Robert Salvatore" in this post, but I'm considering trying his books again.

 

Krondor Series by Feist.

Writing a book based on a videogame is a bad idea.

 

No, I'm talking about these books:

Krondor: The Betrayal
Krondor: The Assasins
Krondor: The Tear of the Gods.

Wether he wrote them before or after the game, it sure reads like he ripped it straight from the game. He's written far better stuff (Referring to the Riftwar Series)

 

The worst book I've ever read so far was Pamela or virtue rewarded! oh my goodness never had to read such a stupid book in my entire live!! (I had to read it for school!)

The next in line would be WOT 6-8! Jordan finished up and don't stretch it any further because of the money you can make!!

 

The Silent Blade, what a snore. Also POR:ROMD the book, that was just pathetic. 'Oh no, we're nice drow, we'll let you pass'

 

Pawns & Symbols-deathly dull Star Trek
The Hobbit-the rest of his books were great, but this one really annoyed me.
Baldur's Gate-I put this one in my fireplace

 

The Old English verision of Lord of the Rings, I can understand one in ten words, Lord of the flies, and To kill a mockingbird.

 

For me it has to Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope. It's hailed as great social comedy and a classic of English Literature but I just found it utter rubbish. I read the whole thing solely so I'd be able to tell people how bad it was without being fobbed off with the 'ah yes but you didn't read it all' counter argument.

In an attempt to show how unfunny it was, I bookmarked all the pages that had something funny on them. There were three bookmarks in the whole novel. One of those was along the lines of a baby saying 'cooo ccaa gga gaaggaaa' or something, so not really that funny. For years afterwards I used to be able to quote the 3 page numbers of the funny sections.

What made it worse was the author seems to have a chip on his shoulder about Dickens. He keeps putting in snide comments to try and make fun about Dickens characatures (as opposed to characters) with lines something like 'As I'm sure the earnest Mr Dickens would say....' The problem being that Dickens can be funny when he wants to be, Trollope seems unable.

Still, there was one positive outcome, whenever I see anyhting unfunny pretending to be so, I can describe it as 'utter Trollope.'

Actually there was another...... 'Danny Yates Must Die' by Stephen Walker. I picked this up in an airpport as it looked quite promising. Again, sadly it was written by someone who thinks that being weird is the same as being funny. Utter rubbish that I read to the end as I had nothing else to do and kept hoping it must get better. I was intrigued to see how badley the plot would be concluded (I wasn't dissapointed). To find the Author's name I had to look it up on Amazon. Scarily it gets some good reviews there but I prefer the one that describes it as 'puerile nonsense with no semblance of a plot.' Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

Demon awakens by R.A Salvatore is horrible.

 

Mills and Boon...they're gross!

 

Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein

The first part of the book was pretty good, but when they left Jubal and joined the circus, I found the book extremely annoying. I tried to finish it, but finally gave up.

 

Who has seen the wind by W.O Mitchell.
A book about wheat, wind, and more wheat.

[ January 14, 2003, 16:43: Message edited by: Thorin ]

 

I think the worst book I've read would be the Sea of Swords by R.A. Salvatore. Even though th Dark Elf and Icewind Dale books were great, this one is just crap. I mean come on, five people attacking a stronghold full of Ogres, half-ogres and pirates, and they don't have any problems! And, even though there has been no mentioning of healing potions in any previous Drizzt book now they find one just in time to save Drizzt. The book is horrible!

 

Terry Brookes' "Sword of Shannara". It is not the worst book that I have read, but it is certainly the most annoying since it is a copy of Lord of the Rings.