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This topic was inspired by @Travone  reply in another threead:

 

This is off topic, but I thought I'd share.  We always talk about the books we reccommend.  Our library is hosting a group this month and the topic is what was the worst book you ever read.   I can't wait to see the differences of opinion and the discussions that come out of it.  I'm sure there are many books that some think are the worst ever and others loved.

 

I read that and immediately flashed on a book I had to read for a English class in college (English Major).  

 

Piers Plowman ... written (in MIddle English) by William Langland in the 14th century.

 

I'm sitting here laughing to myself!  I went to Amazon thinking that maybe I should revisit the book and read it again ... I might actually enjoy reading it now years later.  After "looking inside" ... nope.  Not going to do it!

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Too many to type so here's my did not finish books from my Goodreads shelf:

 

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/52277469-jane?shelf=did-not-finish

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I’m sure there are many, but these days with my kindle I can download a sample, and that gives me a good idea whether I will like it or not. 

" You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts."
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
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There is nothing by Faulkner I would ever touch again.

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@QVCkitty1 

 

Kindle's "sample" facility is so useful.  I delete about half of the samples I try.

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I never read a book I didn't like...why bother when there is so much good to read?

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The first books to spring to mind are the 50 Shades trilogy. Extremely amateurish writing that felt like the author googled everything. And I’m not even talking about the naughty subject matter (although that too.) I literally mean everything. The first book at least had the redeeming quality of having some unintentionally funny dialogue.

Why read all three then? Because I follow the trends. But every time I saw someone write it was the “best book they ever read”, I wanted to scream that they need to read more books!!
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@Justice4all wrote:

I never read a book I didn't like...why bother when there is so much good to read?


@Justice4all 

 

Totally agree ...  Left on my own, no problem  "Required reading" is a whole other story.

 

But - it's always useful to be exposed to other types of writing.  

 

Read "The Educated Imagination" by Northrop Frye.

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@Alter Ego wrote:
The first books to spring to mind are the 50 Shades trilogy. Extremely amateurish writing that felt like the author googled everything. And I’m not even talking about the naughty subject matter (although that too.) I literally mean everything. The first book at least had the redeeming quality of having some unintentionally funny dialogue.

Why read all three then? Because I follow the trends. But every time I saw someone write it was the “best book they ever read”, I wanted to scream that they need to read more books!!

This is exactly what I thoughtl of when reading the OP. I never got through the 3rd book and angry at myself for struggling through the 2nd.


'I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed man'.......Unknown
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@ALRATIBA 

Honestly, I never had required reading I didn't like!