Overrated Books?

[Fiesta Red]

Books that are “classics” or “groundbreaking” that just didn’t do it for you...

I’ll start...

The Catcher in the Rye
A boring, vulgar non-story about a spoiled brat who didn’t learn anything. The guy who shot John Lennon was inspired by this story (somehow). After reading it, I was inspired to shoot JD Salinger for putting out such drivel.

 

[DonM]

50 Shades of Gray. Read about 30 pages and couldn’t stand to read another word. Just horrible.

 

[Steve 78]

Moby Dick, couldn't get through it.

 

[tele_pathic]

The Catcher in the Rye: That’s the point.

I’m trying to think of any really overrated books.

 

[tele_pathic]

Moby Dick is one of the greatest novels of all time. Try reading it again, but skip all the cytology parts, just read the plot parts.

 

[smoothrecluse]

Scarlet Letter. Even more so when you’re trying to teach it to a class of teenagers, some of whom are pregnant.

 

[blowtorch]

The Stand

Couldn't wait to begin reading it
Couldn't wait to get over the giant chore of reading it, after slogging a good part of the way through and wanting something decent to develop but seeing it was hopeless.
I felt abused by SK after that. I think he ruined reading for me

Pretty sure the guy who wrote The Shining died in an auto accident and was replaced by some giant windbag of a wannabe writer

 

[Greggorios]

As I Lay Dying...I really tried but just could never warm up to Faulkner.

 

[Steve 78]

Moby Dick is one of the greatest novels of all time. Try reading it again, but skip all the cytology parts, just read the plot parts.

Ok perhaps I'll have another crack when I get through my current reading list.

 

[Rev Rhythm]

The Stand

Couldn't wait to begin reading it
Couldn't wait to get over the giant chore of reading it, after slogging a good part of the way through and wanting something decent to develop but seeing it was hopeless.
I felt abused by SK after that. I think he ruined reading for me

Pretty sure the guy who wrote The Shining died in an auto accident and was replaced by some giant windbag of a wannabe writer

I tried it a second time and found it easier but I cannot argue that it's pretty bloated.

 

[blowtorch]

I tried it a second time

you are either a braver man than I, or a glutton for punishment

 

[jamesepowell]

Ender's Game
Atlas Shrugged
The Alchemist
On the Road

 

[smoothrecluse]

Pretty sure the guy who wrote The Shining died in an auto accident and was replaced by some giant windbag of a wannabe writer

I’ve never been a huge fan of his novels, but his short stories and novellas are amazing. He had a collection called Bazaar of Bad Dreams a few years ago with a short story titled “The Dune” that I loved. My favorite book ever may be “Different Seasons.” The man (or his replacement, if the hypothesis is true) just needs to be kept to a word limit.

 

[S00NERMAN]

War & Peace. Made myself finish that boring piece of work against all my better judgement.

 

[fenderchamp]

don't blame the object on the subject

 

[Cesspit]

I've read the Stand loads of times but I am a huge fan of SK so a little biased. What is interesting is that I love the Charles Dickens stories and watched all I can find. BBC does some excellent period dramas and Dickens stories are there in plenty.
So I brought a Dickens collection to read. Well, I struggled seriously and I'm a reader. I found them, the style really hard work.
Probably says more about me than the books mind.

 

[Boubou]

War & Peace. Made myself finish that boring piece of work against all my better judgement.

That and most of the classics that get mentioned here.

 

[AlbertoMilanese]

Can't stand Bukowski's work. Reads for the most part like ramblings from a lunatic drunk a**hole - don't get what so many find appealing about that.

 

[Colo Springs E]

I’ve never been a huge fan of his novels, but his short stories and novellas are amazing. He had a collection called Bazaar of Bad Dreams a few years ago with a short story titled “The Dune” that I loved. My favorite book ever may be “Different Seasons.” The man (or his replacement, if the hypothesis is true) just needs to be kept to a word limit.

He's definitely my favorite author. He's an amazing storyteller.

As far as overrated, I'll likely be shot by some here, but "Catch 22." Just can't get into it. I don't find Yossarian's speaking style funny or engaging... it's just very irritating to me. I have a friend who's a huge Heller fan. It doesn't help that when he's had a few too many drinks, he tries to emulate that style of speaking.

 

[Cysquatch]

Moby Dick is one of the greatest novels of all time. Try reading it again, but skip all the cytology parts, just read the plot parts.

Moby Dick is an excellent novel with horrible editing. Melville wrote a wonderful story and bolted on his biology thesis paper, which somebody should have very quickly lopped off for the good of the narrative.