Annoyed Book Reviews

[Bob]

#1 - Life of Pi, by Yann Martel

In case any of you are wondering whether you should read Life Of Pi, go to any freshman dorm on a college campus around late September at about 3 o'clock AM.

Wander around until you find two people engaged in conversation, one of whom pensively tucks a lock of hair behind their ear, then earnestly explains to the other that "I'm like, not really religious? But like, I would definitely consider myself spiritual?"

There you go, I just saved you the trouble of reading Life Of Pi.

[Fancy]

#1 - Life of Pi, by Yann Martel

In case any of you are wondering whether you should read Life Of Pi, go to any freshman dorm on a college campus around late September at about 3 o'clock AM.

Wander around until you find two people engaged in conversation, one of whom pensively tucks a lock of hair behind their ear, then earnestly explains to the other that "I'm like, not really religious? But like, I would definitely consider myself spiritual?"

There you go, I just saved you the trouble of reading Life Of Pi.

Ha. Thanks for the chuckle... that was spot on.

[homoe]

In case any of you are wondering whether you should read Go Set A Watchman may I suggest any other book than that:glasses:

[C0LLETTE]

You don't have to be a chicken to be a judge of omelettes but I do prefer meaty relevant criticism.

[homoe]

Orange Is The New Black sounds like a terrific show, BUT believe me the book is a real snooze-fest! LARRY LARRY LARRY I got so sick hearing about LARRY!

Sidebar: The real Alex (Cleary Wolters) however has released her own book. And although I have not read it as of yet, I'm thinking it's got to be better!!!

[*Anya*]

Orange Is The New Black sounds like a terrific show, BUT believe me the book is a real snooze-fest! LARRY LARRY LARRY I got so sick hearing about LARRY!

Sidebar: The real Alex (Cleary Wolters) however has released her own book. And although I have not read it as of yet, I'm thinking it's got to be better!!!

I agree re: the book being a snooze. I have had it on my Kindle for about a year and am only half-way through it. I keep putting other books on it and finish them and there it still sits.

The writers of the show do a much better job!

[homoe]

Crisis of Character: A White House Secret Service Officer Discloses His Firsthand Experience with Hillary, Bill, and How They Operate by Gary Byrne

This is one of the very few times I've requested permission from Amazon to return a book!

[femmeandstrong]

The book...Julia and Julia... is far better than the movie...
the book had me in stitches...the added benefit being that I heard it as an audiobook... the voice inflection is indeed the frosting on the cake .

[homoe]

In case any of you are wondering whether you should read Go Set A Watchman may I suggest any other book than that:glasses:

Yup, sorry to say I still stand by this post!

[aishah]

I loved Life of Pi (mostly because I've struggled with feeling polyamorously religious/spiritual throughout my life) - but Go Set a Watchman was awful. It was basically "well, it's okay to think black people are lesser as long as you're okay with allowing them to vote." Scout, you're just as racist as Atticus. Stop patting yourself on the back, and Harper Lee, stop making Scout out to be the wonderful not-racist one. She's just as racist and ignorant as everyone else. I literally ranted and raved for ten straight minutes and threw the book down at the end. Thankfully I borrowed it instead of paying for it.

Currently I'm trying to read Wheat Belly and the science was interesting but it goes on foreeeeeeeever. How hard can it be to explain 'don't eat wheat, it's wrecking your health?'. I mean, it's a book I needed to read and I really hope there's something worthwhile in the last 40% of the book (I've been stuck at 60%, bored as hell, for a couple weeks now), but it doesn't need to go on for so many pages. Also, the author's 'witty' comments come across as smarmy and ick.

[Kätzchen]

I loved Life of Pi (mostly because I've struggled with feeling polyamorously religious/spiritual throughout my life) - but Go Set a Watchman was awful. It was basically "well, it's okay to think black people are lesser as long as you're okay with allowing them to vote." Scout, you're just as racist as Atticus. Stop patting yourself on the back, and Harper Lee, stop making Scout out to be the wonderful not-racist one. She's just as racist and ignorant as everyone else. I literally ranted and raved for ten straight minutes and threw the book down at the end. Thankfully I borrowed it instead of paying for it.

Currently I'm trying to read Wheat Belly and the science was interesting but it goes on foreeeeeeeever. How hard can it be to explain 'don't eat wheat, it's wrecking your health?'. I mean, it's a book I needed to read and I really hope there's something worthwhile in the last 40% of the book (I've been stuck at 60%, bored as hell, for a couple weeks now), but it doesn't need to go on for so many pages. Also, the author's 'witty' comments come across as smarmy and ick.


I forget where I read about it, but the op-ed I read spoke about how it took nearly 100 years for social and political attitude to change somewhat radically (I say that mildly) to foster or adopt policy to set right, the way people of color have been traditionally treated like chattel, not worthy of the right to vote or even live with an reasonable opportunity to coexist without fear of reprisal. I think I read it in an Bill Moyer op-ed, where he incorporated these particular truths in a synthesized essay on current political attitude and policy, still found acceptable in American society ---- when it's anything but acceptable, the mistreatment of people of color from any indigenous or ethnic background.

But I liked reading your post, this morning and share similar an sentiment. Btw, welcome back to the community. :rrose:

[Kätzchen]

I have been so lucky to have been gifted books to read over the past 5 months. Books that I've read have become dear to my heart: Little Big Lies, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Anna Karenina, Girl with the Pearl Earring, the lesbian romance novel -- Don't Forget -- was simply awesome, and of all of the books I've read, the one that will stay with me forever is The Help :stillheart:

Aibileen, she takes care of Baby Girl Mosley and she dotes on her daily because the baby's mother can't be bothered with nurturing her little girl. In fact, her mother is entirely wrapped up in keeping up appearances with her friends and people who espouse Jim Crow laws of the south. Aibileen would tell baby girl Mosley ..... "You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

I am still trying to finish White Palace, and I've got Philomena and The Jane Austen Book Club, yet to read....which I'm looking forward to reading those books!

I also received the book by Sedaris -- Squirrel Meets Chipmunk, but I dunno. There's all kinds of props for the book, inside the cover of the book, but I wasn't impressed with the 'fables' featured in Sedaris' book. I definitely do not recommend reading this book. Some people might like it, but I didn't.

All the other books are fantastic stories to read! :balloon:

❤❤❤❤❤

[Martina]

I just finished reading If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B movie Actor by Bruce Campbell. Good until the end. Then it got a tad dull. I am still gonna read the next installment called Hail to the Chin. I love Bruce Campbell. He makes me laugh.

[Kätzchen]

The whole point of this thread is to post about books you DID NOT like or or am I mistaken.....

Books you did not like.....

(which I covered that in my post. I just like to include a full report, I suppose)

[homoe]

Sweet Bitter..............Stephanie Danler



It moved at a snail's pace, and I couldn't care less about of the book's many characters! I am so thankful I never got it in hardcover when it first came out........

[homoe]

I am so sorry I wasted money on the Michael Wolff Fire and Fury book! Luckily I have two other books coming this week that will no doubt be better!

[homoe]

Right now I'm reading The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick.

It took me awhile to track down a copy and I was really looking forward to reading it! However, I have been greatly disappointed! Usually books are so much better than the movie! I am sorry to report that this is NOT true in this case...

[ardentfemme]

Y'all, I'm reading the most Male Author book I've ever read. The Unbearable Lightness of Being. It's critically acclaimed, which makes me livid.
The protagonist is a habitual cheater and womanizer who has absolutely no understanding of female desire. (To say nothing of the female orgasm.)

There's a great passage in which one of his lovers reflects that she wants to feel weak and violated during intercourse.

Then there's another in which the dude doesn't want to give their dog a masculine name because she'll develop "homosexual tendencies."

My favorite part is when he leaves Switzerland to return to his wife in Prague because he loves her and can't live without her. Only to discover immediately upon reuniting with her that he wants to bang other women ASAP.

This book's only redeeming quality is that I'm finding myself aroused thinking about all the ways in which I want to have sex that are the complete antithesis of what this dude is continually fantasizing and describing in nauseating detail.

[homoe]

Get Out Of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior

Mark Goulston, M.D., & Philip Goldberg

This is the one of the worst self-help books I've ever read! It almost seems as if it's based entirely on the author's own experiences more than anything else!

One example is the chapter on procrastination. I don't know about you, but I've seldom procrastinated because I was lonely or had a fear of being!

[imperfect_cupcake]

Y'all, I'm reading the most Male Author book I've ever read. The Unbearable Lightness of Being. It's critically acclaimed, which makes me livid.
The protagonist is a habitual cheater and womanizer who has absolutely no understanding of female desire. (To say nothing of the female orgasm.)

There's a great passage in which one of his lovers reflects that she wants to feel weak and violated during intercourse.

Then there's another in which the dude doesn't want to give their dog a masculine name because she'll develop "homosexual tendencies."

My favorite part is when he leaves Switzerland to return to his wife in Prague because he loves her and can't live without her. Only to discover immediately upon reuniting with her that he wants to bang other women ASAP.

This book's only redeeming quality is that I'm finding myself aroused thinking about all the ways in which I want to have sex that are the complete antithesis of what this dude is continually fantasizing and describing in nauseating detail.

You made it further than me. I got so fucking annoyed and bored by the book about 1/3 of the way in - and I concur, it's the most male author book I've ever read in my life - I just put it down and didn't bother finishing it.

But I do that. I don't finish books I don't like. Which might make it hard for me to give a book review of a book I didn't like as I've likely buggered off. If I haven't liked it 30% of the way in, I'm not going to like it any more of the way in, I learned that in my 20s. So I stopped forcing myself to read books that bore the fuck out of me or annoy me when I was 33.

So I can give the review of the first 1/3rd of books that annoyed or bored me. Would that be passable?

"at page 112 I sent it on to the free book place because I lost all hope that anything would interest me."

[homoe]

I'm sort of conflicted about posting this here instead of the What Are You Reading thread because I didn't hate this book, its just not being a techy person maybe I just didn't appreciate it as much as I would have had I been one!

[homoe]

Shining Through by Susan Isaacs

A review stated that Shining Through is a novel of honor, sacrifice, passion, and humor. I'd have to say more than 90% of it is work place gossip, romance, and just dull storytelling in general! And yet this was made into a most enjoyable movie IMHO of the same name starring Melanie Griffith, Michael Douglas, and Liam Neeson..go figure

[homoe]

Shining Through by Susan Isaacs

A review stated that Shining Through is a novel of honor, sacrifice, passion, and humor. I'd have to say more than 90% of it is work place gossip, romance, and just dull storytelling in general! And yet this was made into a most enjoyable movie IMHO of the same name starring Melanie Griffith, Michael Douglas, and Liam Neeson..go figure

After reading this disappointing book I just had to watch the movie...:movieguy:

[homoe]

I should of listened to my gut!

There are enough sick and twisted people in this world, I really didn't need to read about fictitious ones as well.

[homoe]

Tell it to the Bees by Fiona Shaw..


IMHO.. this book moved slower than molasses in January! It was not an up lifting read, & it focused on the ex-husband Robert WAY to much! I liked the 10 year old child, but we're only privy to one or two things he confides to the bees.

I know I posted about this being turned into a movie in one of the other threads and perhaps even suggested reading the book in the meantime!

My deepest apologizes!

[homoe]

Tell it to the Bees by Fiona Shaw..


IMHO.. this book moved slower than molasses in January! It was not an up lifting read, & it focused on the ex-husband Robert WAY to much! I liked the 10 year old child, but we're only privy to one or two things he confides to the bees.

I know I posted about this being turned into a movie in one of the other threads and perhaps even suggested reading the book in the meantime!

My deepest apologizes!

I hope this will be one of those rare incidents where the movie is actually better than the book....:movieguy:

[homoe]

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly


I read the first three chapters but for some reason it just didn't grab me! Maybe I gave up to soon????



Personally I think I was in the mood for a book comparable to The Alice Network and this wasn't it unfortunately.

[homoe]

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll


SPOILER ALERT.........


There is no way I would of even considered this book had rape or Columbine been mentioned!!!!!

[homoe]

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll


SPOILER ALERT.........


There is no way I would of even considered this book had rape or Columbine been mentioned!!!!!

I considered myself the unluckiest girl alive for selecting this......:|

[homoe]

Those Who Knew by Idra Novey



I had seen fairly good reviews of this so thought I'd pick it up to read on the plane. It starts out good with a intriguing mystery, but it was pretty much all downhill from there for me!

One of the things I found most irritating was Freddy's pages and pages of scenes/dialogue relating to plays that may or may not come to light! I realize it helped to shed light on his brother, family dynastic, etc etc but still irritating none the less~

[homoe]

Light At The End Of The Tunnel by Sallyanne Monti


I was so taken in by the first few pages and all the excellent reviews this got on Amazon! I wished I'd take more time scanning other pages.

It's not a horrible book by any means but it just wasn't what I was expecting I guess!

[homoe]

The Woman in the Window A.J. Finn

I am so sick of reading about twisted fucked up people! I want to read something upbeat..:glasses:

[homoe]

The Woman in the Window A.J. Finn

I am so sick of reading about twisted fucked up people! I want to read something upbeat..:glasses:


I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is one of those very rare times when the movie is better than the book...:movieguy:

[homoe]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is one of those very rare times when the movie is better than the book...:movieguy:

XXWZrvCITB4

[homoe]

You Should Have Known: Jean Hanff Korelitz




While I didn't care for this book, the HBO limited series The Undoing is off to a good start IMHO..