Books I Loathed discussion

I'm almost afraid to ask: Did anyone loathe Water for Elephants as much as I did? I rolled my eyes in annoyance/impatience SO many times before page 150 that I finally had to put down the book. Is there any reason to revisit it, other than its pretty cover?

I wouldn't say I loathed it, but I don't understand why it is considered to be such a good book. It was a quick an easy read, and entertaining read, but the characters were highly stereotypical and the plot was predictable. Someone in my bookclub compared it to the movie Titanic - an inspid, predictable romance: if you took out all of the exotic scenery (the circus background), there wouldn't be much left.

I pretty much agree with you Skylar. I liked the book well enough while I was reading it, it entertained me at least. But it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. It's only been maybe three or four months since I've read it and already I forget most of what happened. I remember circus and old folks home...that's about it!

Ooh, it's totally Titanic. I thought it was interesting and funny, but award winner, no. Anyone remember Geek Love? It was another circus freak book, much more intense, much more passionate, very dark. No awards. Water for Elephants was an 'insipid, predictable romance' in a slightly unpredictable skin. Is that all it takes to win awards? Ugh.

What did you all think of the "surprise ending?" I was confused at first, since it felt like a misprint as the words were exactly the same as those in the beginning of the book . . . then it slowly dawned on me what had happened.

I wasn't very impressed with the book in general as the characters seemed a bit 2-dimensional. I don't appreciate books that contain villains who are completely despicable as to not be nuanced in any way.

That Titanic comment is totally funny - that's exactly how I felt while reading the book. It was such a knock-off of the film, only set in the circus instead! Even the "surprise ending" was too similar to Rose's diamond necklace cast-off (which I still can't believe she did. That thing...omigod. I STILL can't believe she threw it into the water.)

But I haven't loathed a book in a while. Water for Elephants has officially now changed that for me. Bleh.

I love a well done surprise. This one wasn't. Instead of going "AH!" I felt deliberately misled. I would have liked the book much better if it hadn't resorted to a gimmick.

It totally felt gimmicky. Exactly!

I think this is one of those books that exemplifies my little theory that average books get a lot of attention if they are set in a non-avergage setting or time period. If Gruen hadn't done some homework about early 20th century circuses, she never would have gotten the attention she got for Water for Elephants. That is what impresses me so much about books like The Echo Maker (Powers), or Evening (Minot), where the author makes a brilliant story and writes beautifully about something fairly ordinary. Sure, there is great writing that also has a pretty amazing setting, but a great setting does not a good novel make.

I haven't read "Water for Elephants" yet (there's a copy on my "to read" shelf), but I really liked your comments on setting vs great writing. I also enjoyed the novel, "Evening," (though many in my book group hated it) because of the truth in the writing. I agree that great writers show us the extraordinary in the ordinary.

I quite enjoyed it, but you'll have to remind me, because I don't remember a surprise ending at all. So either I wasn't surprised and didn't realise it was supposed to be a surprise ending, or it just went completely over my head.

Ohmygoodness. Water For Elephants. That book irritated the heck out of me. The characters were... so flat and boring. I *did* like the nifty pictures at the beginning of each chapter, though!

Good word, irritated. Me too. Predictable. I gave away to a friend. She loved it.

The ending is the lamest. The pictures were a small redemption.

:( I just picked up a copy. :(

I finally found people who hated this book as much as I do. Hallejah!! lol....It was so slow and I hated that guy who whipped the elephants and he was like glorified in the book. Ugh!!! I didn't even finish the book...so I know nothing about the surpise at the end. Sounds like I didn't miss much. :)

I liked it.

It wasn't great literature, but it was good entertainment. I liked it.

I found it pretty funny, but not one of my favorites. I wouldn't read it again. The only really great part was the elephant. Best character in the whole book. ;)

I liked the scenes in the rest home the best.

Jodie - I hear ya! It was a ral struggle for me to get through the book; only did it for the book club. let me just say that August (the guy that whipped Rosie :( got his at the end. You must have read the very beginning pages - that's a hint to you.