Chaos Reading discussion

Meg suggested having an anti-recommendation poll and/or bookshelf, for things the group really doesn't like.

What sort of things might people anti-recommend? Depending on what people have in mind, we could surely set something up..

Okay, so we could do a general one: "Books We Anti-Recommend". With books like:Twilight.

Any others?

Can we put Twilight on the list twice?

Mackenzie wrote: "Can we put Twilight on the list twice?"

Bahaha! *like*

How about Left Behind (well the whole series starting with this one)?

Anything by Nicholas Sparks.

My mother-in-law loves him.

Nuff said.

I'm new and haven't browsed the groups until today. I HAVE FOUND MY HOME!

I'll second all of the above. Nicolas Sparks... *shudder*

Hello all I new here.
Could I say every book from the Dirk Pitt's Series wrote by Clive Cussler ? Clive Cussler
The action it's so fake, forced (even for fanboys) and looks like the planet is in slow-motion while Dirk Pitt its the only that can do 5 moves in 1sec. I hope that my first post had not been so polemic.

I'll second Twilight as well. I have not read anything by Nicholas Sparks and Left Behind.

Book what I really hate is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

Maybe we could list anti-rec for truly badly written stuff like The boy in the striped pajamas and second list for Twilight and its clones like Fallen

I keep meaning to actually read Twilight one of these days just to satisfy my morbid curiosity. And maybe write a hilarious review.

Alright. I've thought about it. I detested Love in the Time of Cholera. I expected this book to invoke a certain amount of emotion. I found it boring and anti-climactic. I've read drier books that still left me feeling like I hadn't wasted my time in reading them. I'm sure there are people here that loved it, but I can't subscribe to that.

I'll also add that there are so many Twilight clones out there that a whole list could be filled, which I don't think is necessary. I'm cool with a general "Twilight or any book like it" addition to our anti-rec area.

Riona wrote: "I keep meaning to actually read Twilight one of these days just to satisfy my morbid curiosity. And maybe write a hilarious review."

I'm the exact same way. Morbid curiosity. I'm usually kicking myself afterwards though.

I recommend a chaser. Reading anything you have on hand straight after may help salvage some of your brain cells. Even if it's the nutrition facts label on your cereal box.

Riona wrote: "I keep meaning to actually read Twilight one of these days just to satisfy my morbid curiosity. And maybe write a hilarious review."

Don't do it. I picked it up without knowing anything about it, and didn't make it all the way through. Bella made me stabby. I just wanted zombies to come and slaughter them all.

Love this thread. You guys have me laughing. You've also saved me the trouble and expense of forcing myself to check out Twilight. Thanks!

Off the top of my head I nominate anything by Jacqueline Suzanne - it's been a long time but if I remember right, in one of her books, five chapters in a row began, "Looking back on it . . . " Now that's literature - not.

LOL. I had to look her up - Jacqueline Susann. She wrote Valley Of The Dolls. I think Riona read that recently - what did you think?

I personally absolutely despise The Great Gatsby. I think it's due to it being so hyped as the great American novel and having a story with plenty of potential yet being written, in my opinion, awfully. I have honestly considered re-writing it and doing a better job under the title "The Greater Gatsby".

Hi everyone, I'm new here! Great group you have here, btw. I hope its okay that I just jump right in and comment - I have read the rules thread, and promise to abide by them (although it makes me sad not being allowed to punch and throw things around) :O eheh. Nice to meet you all!

Offtopic being finished, I'd like to anti-recomend anything by Danielle Steel.

I agree the anti-rec on Twilight, but I don't share the same profound hatred towards it - I read it before the films came out, a friend refered them to me, and I found it an easy breezy read, with bidimensional chars sure, but not entirely unsavory. Its like literary fast food: it was ok, but it didnt leave an impression on me, positive or negative. I would have forgotten all about it if it wasnt for the hype.

Nicholas Sparks: anti-rec subscribed as well! =/

I have to agree with Frozenwaffle on Twilight. I read some of the first book before the films came out and didn't finish because it was bad. But I think the fact so many people consider it to be the worst thing ever written is silly, there is so much worse out there. I think it could more accurately be described as the most over rated book ever written.

Frozenwaffle wrote: "I have read the rules thread, and promise to abide by them (although it makes me sad not being allowed to punch and throw things around) "

I don't have a problem with punching OR throwing things. Where does it say that?

Oh. I guess it does say "no physical attacks", huh. How about "no physical attacks unless you post photos"?

Twilight. Absolutely. UGH. I shudder just remembering that I forced myself to read it. That should count in your no attacking people rule.

Book I absolutely, absolutely hated: Brisignr. I could not finish it to save my life and I've been forcing myself to try for the last two years. Sorry to anyone who enjoyed the series but ICK.

Ruby wrote: "Oh. I guess it does say "no physical attacks", huh. How about "no physical attacks unless you post photos"?"

Make that car and/or dog photos and we have a deal! ;D

Ruby wrote: "LOL. I had to look her up - Jacqueline Susann. She wrote Valley Of The Dolls. I think Riona read that recently - what did you think?"

I loved Valley of the Dolls. Sure, it's a bit trashy, but not meant to be high literature. It's about a bunch of celebrities and drugs, after all.

Melki wrote: "Anything by Nicholas Sparks.

My mother-in-law loves him.

Nuff said."

Hmm. I take my mother-in-law's recommendations seriously. She has excellent taste.

I like The Great Gatsby and especially how its written.
On other hand Valley of the Dolls is *shudder*

Ditto on the Twilight crap. Sparkling vampires? Come on!

Can we also add Eat, Pray, Love? I read half of the first paragraph and literally threw the book across the room. I'm pretty sure it became kindling after that.

Also, anything and everything by Dan Brown.

I believe we would need poll for each book before adding it to the anti-rec list.

I suspected I would be heavily disagreed with on Gatsby, it seems to be a bit of a polarizing work, to each their own I guess.

Pam wrote: "Can we also add Eat, Pray, Love?"

I always think that's meant to be taken two ways, like Eats, Shoots & Leaves: so Eat prey; Love (and should be a guide to living off and with the land).

Personally could not stand either Wolf Hall or Saturday. Pretty much the only times I haven't been able to finish a book.

How about She's Come Undone? Ugh... I don't even remember why I read that book in the first place but it was a huge mistake. Comparatively, I'm even okay with all the time I wasted on the "glowering" and "chagrin" in the Twilight series, as painful as it was. Really, I'd just love to get my Wally Lamb time back.

i dont necessarily hate Twilight (it was ok really) but u are right about Fallen and just to make this easier why dont we just call the Twilight and its clones by the general heading Books with Unlikable Main Characters and Silly Stupid Boy Issues or as i otherwise like to call it BUM BOOKS

Aresa wrote: "Book I absolutely, absolutely hated: Brisignr. I coul..."

I swear that damn book is haunting me. I ordered a copy of Prince of Thorns, and Brisingr appeared in its place. I complained. They sent me another copy of Brisingr. I finally got the book I ordered and took my two unwanted copies of Brisingr to the book exchange. They wouldn't accept them. According to the senile old lady who was minding the counter that day, the only books that sell anymore are Mills&Boon. Likewise, she refused to accept my brand new spare copy of Necronomicon: The Best Weird Tales, First Printing, Commemorative Edition - also sent to me twice by BookDepository.

Brrriiiiissssssiiinnnnggggggrrrrrrrrrr!

All your posts had me laughing; I had to join the club. I would definitely anti recommend Twilight and it's ilk, though I was a huge fan of Anne Rice when I went through my vampire phase in the 90's. Also anti anything by Nora Jones, Sidney Sheldon, Jessica Steele, etc. etc. etc.

I read everything Sheldon wrote.....when I was in primary school. I have to wonder what my primary school teachers thought of those book reviews. (Probably more than they appreciated my reviews of all of Jackie Collins' books).

Ruby wrote: "I read everything Sheldon wrote.....when I was in primary school. I have to wonder what my primary school teachers thought of those book reviews. (Probably more than they appreciated my reviews of ..."

Me too, oh and I forgot about VC Andrews. Ate them up in my preteen years (they were my Twilight) and they are pure crap.

Pam whips out a long, sharp darning needle and calmly sticks it into an enormous balloon named DAN BROWN. Sssst. Buh-bye, Dan. Thanks, Pam, and I second the motion.

Ditto for Linda and her nominee, Sydney Sheldon.

I'm seriously lovin' this thread. Yee hah.

Theo wrote: "How about Left Behind (well the whole series starting with this one)?"

HA HA HA!!!!!

Riona wrote: "Ruby wrote: "LOL. I had to look her up - Jacqueline Susann. She wrote Valley Of The Dolls. I think Riona read that recently - what did you think?"

I loved Valley of the Dolls. Sure, it's a bit tra..."
I read Valley of the Dolls in high school a LOOONG time ago and loved it as well.

PEOPLE Twilight isnt THAT bad...there are worse books in the universe ya know

Books that I forced myself though and really didn't like:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower...I have a feeling this is going to make me unpopular.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

The Lovely Bones

Water for Elephants

And the WORST (makes me shudder remembering it!)

Little Bee

Two that I attempted but couldn't even finish:


The Alchemist


Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives

I vote for the "Twilight" books. Absolutely.

I second Twilight and Eat, Pray and Love. I also nominate for the list:

50 Shades of Grey
Beautiful Disaster

At the risk of starting a riot, may I just say lesMis is absolutely, without a doubt the most tedious pile of bunk I have ever attempted to read. I am still attempting to read it!! And by all that is holy, I vow I will finish it!!! It may be a month from now (very doubtful) or it may be this time next year (uuummm, maybe), but I refuse to be defeated by this cursed tome.

As a zombie fan, I have to say I would highly anti-recommend both of Max Brooks' books-
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead
These are coffee table books - not novels.

One that really makes my blood boil is: The Hunger Games. If I could, I would institute a rule that nobody is allowed to comment on THR unless they have read Battle Royale - the book Collins ripped it off from and then Americanised.

Ruby wrote: One that really makes my blood boil is: The Hunger Games. If I could, I would institute a rule that nobody is allowed to comment on THR unless they have read Battle Royale - the book Collins ripped it off from and then Americanised.

You'd say so? I haven't read either The Hunger Games,or Battle Royale, although I own the movie for the BR. I was utterly disapointed by the movie, I was expecting a diferent focus on that kind of hellish cenario, teen love really wasnt what I was in for xD The book is better?

About Hunger Games, I've been told it as a bit of

The Long Walk in it, and I liked that one alot.

Battle Royale is a Japanese book that came out a few years before The Hunger Games. What makes me tear my hair out are the vast numbers of US readers who read THG, heard that Battle Royale was similar, then gave it nasty reviews because it wasn't what they were expecting (ie no teen romance, more gritty gore).

Ruby wrote: One that really makes my blood boil is: The Hunger Games. If I could, I would institute a rule that nobody is allowed to comment on THR unless they have read Battle Royale - the book Collins ripped it off from and then Americanised.

Oh, definitely. I enjoyed The Hunger Games, but when I was reading I caught a lot of similarities to Battle Royale (I have the film, novel and manga series, so it was unavoidable really). The Hunger Games is a 'friendlier' version of Battle Royale - even if Collins claims to have never had any inspiration from Battle Royale, there's a lot of plot points that are very similar.

That said, I did enjoy The Hunger Games. I felt it was a good comment on what reality television could become.

cool, Battle Royale is going to my to-read listt :)

Ashely wrote: "cool, Battle Royale is going to my to-read listt :)"

Ditto, gritty gore is all I was waiting to hear :D