Anonymous wrote:The Midnight Library. The protagonist was one of the most unlikeable characters I’ve ever read. So many other books with the same theme have done it so much better.

Ditto, The Midnight Library

I finally decided to give up and DNF. What are some of the other books you enjoyed w/ the same theme?

The Midnight Library. The protagonist was one of the most unlikeable characters I’ve ever read. So many other books with the same theme have done it so much better.

Anonymous wrote:I didn't care for A Confederacy of Dunces. Spent my teen years living in New Orleans, just couldn't get into the book.

This seems to be a very polarizing book, which I 100% loved. I understand maybe not be into it (barely can concede this) and not finishing, but I don’t think there is anything to actually criticize about character formation, originality, dialogue, etc. It is one of those rare books that manages to be accessible and entertaining while still retaining enough layers of nuance and irony to be intellectually stimulating. It deserved the Pulitzer it won many times over. I can’t think of another book that is smart and funny. Maybe early Kingsley Amis.

Normal People. I hate Sally Rooney. So whiny and navel gazing are her characters.

I didn't care for A Confederacy of Dunces. Spent my teen years living in New Orleans, just couldn't get into the book.

The Black Swan. Terrible.

I had back-to-back bosses who suggested it as an interesting and perhaps even useful book in our work.
I tried to finish it once, then twice and then, on a final, painful attempt finished it.

Later I had an opportunity to, separately mention to each boss I had finished it. They both said they had never finished it. One quit quite early on!

It’s an dreadful slog to get through, Talib is a complete narcissist, and I wasted a good deal of my life on this useless book.

Anonymous wrote:I used to love magic realism but I don't love it now.

I really, really hated Zen And The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. If I had to spend ten minutes with that sanctimonious know-it-all I would poke knitting needles through my eardrums.

I hadn't thought about that book for years, but not cropped up in my WaPo feed today.

I worked at a large company that required every new employee to read it. Anyone else?

I just finished "Verity". People raved about this book, but I found it boring. I figured out the ending by page 50, and the sex scenes were a huge yawn. The characters were one-dimensional and unpleasant, with the exception of Crew, the son. Disappointing.

The Giver

I just had a long conversation about this book and how well regarded it is. Oh my goodness i hated this book.

1. They have no pain? So what, are people on drugs? Involuntarily? Did they remove the pain sensors in the brain?

2. It focuses on one dude who comes to a major realization. Nobody else has come to this chino l conclusion? I believe that many before can't to this game conclusion but have to live with it for a number of reasons. So from the getgo, I'm reading the book and it's creepy. But nobody else's voice is given, only Jonas. He's "special".

I hated that book

Anonymous wrote:White Teeth - I thought it was clumsy and badly written

Oh, I really liked this book. Never finished her later books.

Popular book I disliked: Amsterdam

White Teeth - I thought it was clumsy and badly written

BearTown - sooo boring

Anonymous wrote:Beach Read. Recommended by like 10 different friends, and I read it when I was in a big romance kick. I didn't even finish it, I got so bored. I think it was trying to be too clever.

The writing was so terrible. Idk why so many people love it.

Beach Read. Recommended by like 10 different friends, and I read it when I was in a big romance kick. I didn't even finish it, I got so bored. I think it was trying to be too clever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Confederacy of Dunces.
Never saw the appeal.

Most of Dostoyevsky and Zola. Realism is so bleak.

Okay, be honest. Did you finish the book or just get turned off by the hot dog flatulence? I think this book the funniest dialogue and the characters were just so incredibly unique and unforgettable.

Confederacy of Dunces really captures New Orleans. Or at least what it used to be. I used to live there and just felt the spirit of the residents in that book.