Top Ten Picks: Worst Books You've Ever Read

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Note: First of all, this post is completely subjective, and I'm already apologizing for the lack of explanation for some of these books. I did this on purpose and have only written a sentence or two, as I am trying not to go overboard with my complains here -- though I might have ended up doing that anyway ;)
Second, I'm not here to disrespect or offend anyone. Seeing as this as a bit of a 'touchy' subject for some, I hope you know these are simply me being very honest about my opinions. After all, we are entitled to our own, right? If I offend anyone, sorry, but that is not at all my intention. Whether you agree or disagree, I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Top Ten Picks is a feature here in this blog where I would be posting just about that -- my top 10 picks! Every week, there will be a different and specific topic given. I will then choose 10 of my picks from that given category, create the list, and post them up here!
For this week, I will be listing the worst books I've ever read. So without further adieu, here are my picks, in no particular order:

Top Ten Worst Books I've Ever Read


1. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
- Hmmm.. If you have the time, please read my "review/rant" here.

2. Citizen Girl
by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
- This piece is _________ <-- insert bad adjective/word here. Seriously, there is nothing good about this book, at least to me. I would never ever recommend this to anyone. I'd hate for them to suffer with such a terrible story with terrible characters and mediocre writing.
3. The Madison County by Robert James Waller
- Oh gosh, this is quite funny. I remember a time when my friends and I would pass this book to each other, saying, "You have got to read it! It's horrible!"

4. The Soddit: Or Cashing In Again by A.R.R.R. Roberts
- Let's see what we have here.. a supposedly humorous book making fun of the LOTR series... Now I'm all up for parodies, but when it fails to capture the essence of what it's making fun of, and ends up ridiculous instead, well.. yeah.. I guess this is self-explanatory.

5. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
- This is an odd pick for me. I believe Ayn Rand is a great writer, and I believe people should try to read this at least once. I guess this is just one of those books that you either like or you don't. Unfortunately, I'm the latter. I thought it was boring and the characters were not interesting/redeeming/intriguing/well-developed in any whatsoever.

6. Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
- This is the epitome of a long and boring book. I think it put me to sleep a couple of times in the past.

7. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
-
*bring out the pitchforks! jillian's a twilight hater!*
Okay, first of all, I don't hate Twilight. I do however, hate the undeserved hype that it's getting. I think that is what truly irks me the most! Second, I'm not simply "hating" on it. I read all of them, and while I still don't see anything special about them, I have to admit they were tolerable enough. They were very painful to read, especially with the cliche and corny writing, but I guess it wasn't that painful. However, Breaking Dawn, to me, was just terrible! Actually, terrible is kind of an understatement. The ending of the book was shoved towards the readers -- without explanations or reasons or anything. The writing is mediocre as I have already mentioned, and I see no redeeming qualities whatsoever about Bella. In fact, in my opinion, she is one of the most -- if not the most -- dependent, annoying, needy, self-centered, narcissistic character ever made. Am I supposed to like her? And also..
Warning: Complains may contain SPOILERS
  • What is with the whole Jacob-Renesmee thing? Seriously!
  • So Bella's a vampire and all of a sudden, she's what, superwoman?
  • The ending: No battles, no fights, no deaths? All that preparation for just a boring conversation?! Talk about anti-climactic!
  • Who names their kid "Renesmee?!" Please tell me.
8. Coma by Robin Cook
- First thing I said when I finished reading this? "You've got to be kidding me..."
This is a book that started off with a lot of promise. It was 'kinda good.' Unfortunately, the ending made everything all go downhill. Sure, Robin Cook can write. Also, the premise is very intriguing. The main character is likable enough. But come on.. what is with that ending?!

9. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
- Maybe it's just me. I really don't like self-help books. This one, especially, was just too much. This is one of those books that preach to no end, and tell you what do or what not do with your life. This is one of those books that say stuff like, "When you're sad, you're not really sad. You just think you're sad.. blah blah blah.." or stuff that don't even make sense like "You look at the burger and you want it, but the truth is, you don't really want it." Oh goodness.

10. Anything written by Ann Coulter
-
Seriously, have you ever read her non-fiction books? If you have, I think you know exactly why she is here.

**
There you have it for my picks for this week!
Again, if you would like to join in, all you have to do is:
1. Do a post similar to this, listing all your answers. You do not have to include pictures or descriptions, but if you would like to do so, feel free!
2. Please sign the Mr. Linky box below with the specific URL of your post.



Can't wait to hear what you all have to say!

21 comments:

  1. +JMJ+

    Jillian, I had thought this was another Top Ten Picks I wouldn't be able to join, but your post has reminded me of so many awful books I've read that I think it may actually be possible! =P

    So I'm definitely in this week!

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  2. *giggles* good to know which books I really shouldn't read at all!
    The Lost Symbol was definitely not as good as the others.

    Breaking Dawn... well *sigh* I'm one of those Twilight lovers and for that reason I also loved Breaking Dawn although I agree with the points you made. But I'm such a devoted fan that I look over it.

    Now, I definitely have to think about my own list...

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  3. Breaking dawn is going to be on my list - it was a close thing between that and new moon.

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  4. Thank you for putting Anne Coulter on your list! I can't put her on my list because I know better than to ever try to read one of her rants...I mean books. She is snide and superior and mean and awful!

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  5. I hated Breaking Dawn so much it made me resentful of the entire series and the author. It ruined the whole Twilight experience for me and I'll never read another word she writes and I plan on holding a grudge FOREVER.

    Great list. I wish there was a "bad books" section in the bookstore so that I don't even have to bother.

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  6. I definitely agree with you about The Lost Symbol and Breaking Dawn. At least I won my copy of Breaking Dawn but I purchased the Lost Symbol because I was an idiot (I didn't like The Da Vinci Code either so I should have known better)

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  7. ohhh Jillian, that's so sad! I love Ann Coulter :((( But yeah, I know that most people can't stand her. And I liked ATLAS SHRUGGED!

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  8. I'd definitely agree with your Breaking Dawn rant. I actually liked the first three books well enough (though like you said, I also had problems with the main character). They weren't awesome, but they weren't awful either. Breaking Dawn kind of turned me into a hater (Well, as much as I'm actually capable of hating a book).

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  9. Now don't hate me, but I did not like A Time Travelers Wife -- I even threw it in the trash. Horrors -- I know I am in a very small minority, here.

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  10. @E: Off to read your 'tenner' after posting this comment! ;)

    @Mrs. Vanquish: I'd love to see your list if you make one -- as well as all the other girls in Bewitched Bookworms!

    @aloysius: Haha thanks.

    @Chris and Jess: New Moon was bad, but it was tolerable enough. I loved your list by the way! Definitely agree with most of them!

    @Heather: I can't even believe I actually read her stuff. It's just that people have so many different opinions about her, and like the dork that I am, I just had to find out for myself! I completely agree -- she is quite an elitist, imo.

    @Life After Jane: Yes, I might never actually try another Stephenie Meyer book unfortunately. Breaking Dawn was just an awful book to read. It did not do anything for the series as a whole at all.
    And what a great idea to include 'bad books' in the bookstore, except I don't think others -- aka the authors -- would like that very much. haha.

    @Christina T: I also purchased The Lost Symbol -- total regret afterward! You know, I might actually have to reread The Da Vinci Code. I liked that book a lot, but maybe because I was like 13 or something when I first read it and I was much easier to please.

    @Amelia: Aww sorry! I really can't stand Ann Coulter though. And I think like I said with Atlas Shrugged, it's a 'either you like it or hate it' kind of book. I know a lot of people -- bloggers, friends, and family -- that love it to bits. Maybe it's just me...

    @Natalie: "I liked the three books well enough" is the perfect way to sum it up. Breaking Dawn turned me against the series as well.

    @Kris: Aww, sorry! I really didn't like it though. I know some that loved it. Maybe that was just me..

    @Kim: I love The Time Traveler's Wife :) I do know several people though -- like, ahem, my own mother&cousin haha -- who hated the novel. They said it bored them to death. Ahh.. :/

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  11. I love your idea for top ten things....Im finally going to do one!! I hated Atlas....it was so boring everytime I picked it up- it zonked me out!!

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  12. @Tina: Thank you! And can't wait to read your list :)

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  13. I haven't read most of those... except for Breaking Dawn, and I totally agree with you on that one!

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  14. I have considered reading Coma, I will pass now.

    And Kim i'm another that didn't enjoy Time Travelers Wife, (rolling eyes)

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  15. Citizen Girl was SO utterly full of awful that I wanted to throw it. I loathed it so completely and I'm glad to see another blogger disliked it as much as I did.

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  16. woo-hoo..1st time ever i heard someone think breaking is one of the worst.haha..but i love IT! *LOL*

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  17. @La Coccinelle: Yes! I saw your list, thanks for participating this week! :)

    @MarceJ: I think it's the ending that really made it all horrible for me.

    @Stephanie: Thank you! Someone who hates Citizen Girl as much as I did. Haha. It was definitely awful. Have you ever read The Nanny Diaries? Same authors. It was a lot better, wasn't it? How could a writer that has created a good story create such a bad one in Citizen Girl?

    @dArLyN: I'm actually quite surprised myself to discover that there are a lot of bloggers and other readers who agree with me on that one. Check out the other lists of some bloggers -- Breaking Dawn is included ;)

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  18. hated breaking dawn. didnt even bother finishing the secret. boo.

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  19. I think that it's just as hard to choose favourite books than it is to choose the ones that you hated the most.

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