July 12, 2009

I Hate Wasting Time Reading Bad Books

I just went through my "to read" bookshelf (right by my bed) and realized that I keep pushing back books I've been dying to read as I get new ones. You see my book shelf has two layers, and the ones in the back never get looked at as I replaced the ones in the front with new books. I'm one of those people that once I start a book I have to finish it no matter how bad it is. I would much rather just not start the book so that's where you come in. Have you read any of these books? Are there any on this list that you would say I shouldn't waste my time with? I'd much rather just not even start the book (because like I said, I'll spend the time finishing it even if it's bad). So help please.
  • Baby Proof by Emily Giffin
  • Saturday by Ian McEwan
  • The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler
  • Lovely Bones and Lucky by Alice Sebold
  • The Last TIme They Met by Anita Shreve
  • Remember Me and the Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella
  • Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
  • The Firstborn Series by Karen Kingsbury
  • When the Bough Breaks by Kay Lynn Magnum
  • Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser
  • Enchantment and Magic Street by Orson Scott Card
  • Chocolat by Joanne Harris
  • Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson
  • Nanny Diaries by Emma MacLaughlan
  • One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
  • A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
  • Summer by Edith Wharton
  • The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
  • Ever After by Johnathan Swift

13 comments:

  1. I've read A Thousand Splendid Suns, Chocolat, and Nanny Diaries. And I would recommend them in that order. Definitely read ATSS (it's a hard - just with subject matter...but really good and a little better than the Kite Runner, I thought), Chocolat is pretty good, and I don't remember much of Nanny Diaries so clearly it didn't leave much of an impact on me (although I think it was interesting). At any rate, I wouldn't consider any of those three books bad.

    I know several people who have read Saturday and found it a strange book - I don't think any of them consider it favorites. I imagine being Ian McEwan it is really well written though.

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  2. Enchantment by Orson Scott Card was interesting (a modern fairy-tale retelling...if that sounds good to you, the story itself was somewhat light and fun). Magic Street I'd put far lower on your list (not a favorite of mine, and I'm totally in love with OSC).

    Lucky by Alice Sebold was a difficult and raw book to read, but ultimately I'm glad I read it. It's certainly not light fun reading, so just know what you're getting yourself into. The subject matter is difficult, and some of her actions/reactions are difficult to process. I'd still recommend it, though.

    One For the Money...I'd definitely read. I don't like mysteries, I don't like boiler-plate novels, but for some reason, the Stephanie Plum novels are the exception to the rule...I really enjoy them and find them incredibly funny! You're not getting fine literature, but I've been pleasantly surprised by these books!

    Nanny Diaries: I'd skip it unless you're looking for a "beach read". I found it shallow and depressing, and poorly written. The main character is a nanny working for an awful family. That in and of itself wouldn't have ruined the book, but there was little character development for the nanny and no real story arc.

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  3. From your list I've read The Lovely Bones, The Last Time They Met, Nanny Diaries, and A Thousand Splendid Suns. The only ones I'd recommend are A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Nanny Diaries. A Thousand Splendid Suns was beautiful. The Nanny Diaries was an interesting snapshot of urban mommy culture. The writing may not have been great, but I thought it served well as a muckraker.

    The Lovely Bones I thought was terrible. Badly written, depressing, stupid, and pointless. I really don't understand why so many people rave about it.

    I normally love Anita Shreve, but The Last Time They Met I think is her absolute worst and never should have been published. It has a sort of trick ending, but that's all it has going for it. It's like The English Patient collides with The Sixth Sense and leaves the reader with a big confused mess. If you want to read Shreve at her best, read Fortune's Rocks. Sea Glass was good too.

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  4. I agree with the others, A Thousand Splendid Suns is definitely worth the read. It's the only one on this list I've read.

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  5. * Baby Proof by Emily Giffin - Don't bother
    * Lovely Bones and Lucky by Alice Sebold - The beginning was okay, but the ending was disappointing.
    * Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella - Don't bother
    * Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson - It was okay, but dragged a bit at times
    * A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - READ

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  6. I read Remember Me and One for the Money. Both are quick, fun reads.

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  7. A Thousand Splendid Suns - An absolute MUST read! Can be tough at times due to the violence portrayed against women, but a real eye-opener.

    Lovely Bones - Take it or leave it. It was certainly "raw," as a previous poster mentioned, but I'm glad I read it. It's not particularly advanced prose by any means, but it's a quick read.

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  8. I started to reply to the Mattie - Gil book, but saw this and couldn't resist! Loved "Lovely Bones." "baby Proof," I THINK I read and don't bother.

    I am one of the only people in the world to not like "SPlendid Suns," apparently. I'm iffy on "The Last Time They Met." (Shreve's books run together and I've only actually liked two of them. I think this was one of them, but I'm pretty lukewarm on it.)

    I don't know enough about the others. But I really did love "The Lovely Bones."

    As for a book about a vet and animals, don't bother with "Dead Summer," by Iris Johansen. Just too weird... Started it (and failed to finish it) while on vacation. I did enjoy "Shooting an Albatross" by Steven Lundin. It's fast paced and based on the only year in the history of professional golf that an entire season was cancelled. (1943 -- and I never knew that.) If you like good, and exciting reads, whether romance, suspense or even a great round of golf, you'll enjoy this.

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  9. Baby Proof by Emily Giffin - This was OK - not great - but worth trying.

    Saturday by Ian McEwan - I don't usually give up on a book - but I just couldn't finish this one. I thought it was awful.

    Lovely Bones and Lucky by Alice Sebold - I really loved Lovely Bones but really hated Lucky.

    The Last TIme They Met by Anita Shreve - this one was OK but I like some of her other books better,

    Remember Me and the Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella - these are on my TBR pile too..

    Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser - Haven't gotten to this one yet either.

    Nanny Diaries by Emma MacLaughlan - lukewarm on this one. I didn't hate it - but I didn't love it either...

    One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - this whole series is pretty good. I read 1-7 then skpped to 12... they tend to get a little redundant.

    A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - LOVED this one!!!!

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  10. I loved A thousand Splendid Suns and Chocolat. Each one of them is worth every minute.

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  11. I would defintely read The History of Love By Nicole Krauss. I read it and loved it. It is lyrical and poetical all with a sense of mystery. She is a wonderful writer and I really enjoyed this book.

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  12. Remember Me is quite a fun chick-lit novel. It is not a must read, but still good for those days when you don't want to think too much.

    You will definitely finish it. It's easy reading

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