DISAPPOINTING BOOKS

[rapa]

Have you ever looked forward to a book and found it personally disappointing?  For months I'd looked forward to George Saunder's collection of short stories TENTH OF DECEMBER.  Unfortunately I didn't realize that he was a satirist.  I tried all ten of the stories and couldn't understand any of them!!!  Guess I'm too much a realist.  Am hoping that some of our members, especially Mandy Muffin, who enjoys short stories, read the book and explain to me what I missed.

Anyone else been disappointed in a long awaited book?

[officerripley]

I don't care for either Jeff Long's or Justin Cronin's writing; I was really disappointed in Cronin's The Passage, the only reason I plowed all the way through it to the finish was because I had heard they're going to be making a movie of it and kept hoping it'd get better; think I'll pass on the movie. Same thing happened to me with that vampire book by Anne Rice (can't even remember the name of it, it was so dull); I struggled all the way thru it becuz I heard they were making a movie of it--which they did starring Tom Cruise--but nope, the book was a disappointment all the way through.

[grammyk]

I had the same reaction to TENTH OF DECEMBER.  I didn't understand any of them either, rapa.

[rapa]

Whew, grammyk, I was beginning to think my noggin wasn't working!  Guess I don't compute the abstract  Good to know I'm not alone!  I appreciate your reaction.

[rapa]

Am very disappointed with Harlan Coben's SIX YEARS.   Have been wading through it and plan to read the last chapter and call it quits.  It's one of those books that I keep saying to myself "Get on with it!!!"

[officerripley]

I've only read one of Harlan Coben's books (don't remember which one, sorry) for my bookclub and I didn't care for it at all, it was a real slog to get thru; so I've never tried another.

[Carci]

Yikes! I just started Six Years last nite and I like the premise... sounds so promising.  Maybe i should just skip to the last chapter... 

[rapa]

Actually I did finish it last night by skipping to about page 300.  In the last few pages I found out all I needed to know.  You're right, Barb, the writing seemed quite elementary and not up to Coben's quality.  Not sure why the book remains on the Best Seller list.

[Carci]

I finished it tonight.  I agree with both of you...  80% padding, 20% story.  Too much fluff... in 2 days I will have forgotten the story completely. 

Unfortunately too many prolific, popular authors seem to run out of ideas and just pump out pages and sell books based on past success.

 

 

[Serenity]

Piers Anthony's Fantasy series on Xanth sort of turned into that - he keeps trying because readers keep wanting more.  It must be really frustrating for the author.  OTOH I adored his Incarnation series (self-limiting) event though the one on Time made me strange in the head.  I found some of his series work fascinating and others didn't suit, but the ones which had a discreet beginning, middle and end were the best.  However, writers must eat, so they turn out what sells. 

[Eaglewoman]

Our book club is reading Casual Vacancy this month, many were excited because ot the author, will be interesting to see what they think.Too many characters to keep up with, went on line and found a list of who was who and who they belonged to.

If you have a NOOK, this week-end B&N is having a sale 101 books under $2.99