Comments on: RW4: Novels I despise http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/ writing, reading, eating, drinking, sport Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:13:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dess http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-46483 Dess Fri, 01 Jun 2007 15:33:51 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-46483 erm... thats wierd. erm… thats wierd.

]]> By: Dess http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-46481 Dess Fri, 01 Jun 2007 15:33:15 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-46481 aw it probably will be deleted by blog overlard now because its awaiting moderation. :( aw it probably will be deleted by blog overlard now because its awaiting moderation. :(

]]> By: Dess http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-46480 Dess Fri, 01 Jun 2007 15:32:32 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-46480 i hate this one book that we have to read for english about people who drink. well *supposedly* about other stuff. but all they do is go from bar to bar and drink. this will be deleted by super blog overlord because its probably not vague enough, but the title has to do with a celestial body. i hate this one book that we have to read for english about people who drink. well *supposedly* about other stuff. but all they do is go from bar to bar and drink. this will be deleted by super blog overlord because its probably not vague enough, but the title has to do with a celestial body.

]]> By: Michelle http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-45091 Michelle Tue, 29 May 2007 00:29:41 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-45091 OMG! Despised novel number one just MUST be the book the Pretty in Pink screen play was written from only in Duckie's Point of view. It simply must be...because--because that is the first thing that popped into my head, and I know from the 'rules' that you will never tell me the title and really I'm okay with that but had this unresitable urge to leave a comment. Blame it on the four pots of coffee I've had today! I'm a first time commenter here but have to say that I've enjoyed your blog. I've gotten more than a few chuckles. Michelle Enjoyed your blog... Michelle OMG! Despised novel number one just MUST be the book the Pretty in Pink screen play was written from only in Duckie’s Point of view. It simply must be…because–because that is the first thing that popped into my head, and I know from the ‘rules’ that you will never tell me the title and really I’m okay with that but had this unresitable urge to leave a comment. Blame it on the four pots of coffee I’ve had today!

I’m a first time commenter here but have to say that I’ve enjoyed your blog. I’ve gotten more than a few chuckles.
Michelle

Enjoyed your blog…
Michelle

]]> By: Patrick Shepherd http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-39833 Patrick Shepherd Thu, 17 May 2007 16:34:02 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-39833 the items tagged here just prove that there is no book that someone doesn't hate. the little soldier boy book, imo, is one of the best in the field; ditto for the one with all the starving family travails. now i can see where someone might not like moby dick (especially if it was forced upon a poor unsuspecting reader as required reading), as some of those chapters on cetacean trivia can be quite a slog to get through. but as a portrait of true obsession, there may not be a better book out there. my pet peeve are books that a) try to cash in on the success of earlier works set in the same universe and b) are written without characters and with abysmally inaccurate or just flat wrong science. One in particular that i'm thinking of attempted to fill in an important period of history of an imagined universe, a period that set the stage for several important societies of the original (and great) book. truly horrid, with stuff that could have come right out of the worst of the pulps of the thirties. this came very close to being thrown against the wall (something i never do, as books are precious), but it has made me swear off reading anything more by this author. the items tagged here just prove that there is no book that someone doesn’t hate. the little soldier boy book, imo, is one of the best in the field; ditto for the one with all the starving family travails.

now i can see where someone might not like moby dick (especially if it was forced upon a poor unsuspecting reader as required reading), as some of those chapters on cetacean trivia can be quite a slog to get through. but as a portrait of true obsession, there may not be a better book out there.

my pet peeve are books that a) try to cash in on the success of earlier works set in the same universe and b) are written without characters and with abysmally inaccurate or just flat wrong science. One in particular that i’m thinking of attempted to fill in an important period of history of an imagined universe, a period that set the stage for several important societies of the original (and great) book. truly horrid, with stuff that could have come right out of the worst of the pulps of the thirties. this came very close to being thrown against the wall (something i never do, as books are precious), but it has made me swear off reading anything more by this author.

]]> By: Addie http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-33774 Addie Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:59:16 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-33774 I absoulutly hate all those trashy romance novels. Eery one is exactly the SAME! Even the ones by the same author. Why do people read those?? I absoulutly hate all those trashy romance novels. Eery one is exactly the SAME! Even the ones by the same author. Why do people read those??

]]> By: kalyn marie http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-25378 kalyn marie Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:45:54 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-25378 I'm not normally a harsh critic, and will pretty much read anything that has words on it with an optimistic patience, but there are a few books that managed irritate me. vague, got it. 1) One of my favorite authors actually wrote one. Not sure if it was one of her first trys at lit. or what. Stars a certain heroine in the real world. no magic or strange happenings as far as i can tell. stays with evil caretakers. tries to tell adults of said evil caretakers, but is waved off, told that they are nice people, blah blah blah, couldn't possibly have done such a thing, blah blah blah. Series goes on for three books with the same blah blah blah of oblivious adults. Because aparently adults cant do anything wrong. Then at the end everyone is dancing because the evil caretakers are gone and they finally believe her. And im left wondering how the h*** they managed to do the things they did in the book (ex. hypnotism, driving numerous teenagers to insanity...) 2) Then of course the murder mystery that was supposed to have a -gasp- shocking twist. Yet, somehow said twist has been used time and time again and I knew who the murderer was in the summary. Then im thinking why i even bothered. Probably hoping the twist i imagined would turn out to be somthing mind-bogling. Nope. I’m not normally a harsh critic, and will pretty much read anything that has words on it with an optimistic patience, but there are a few books that managed irritate me.

vague, got it.

1) One of my favorite authors actually wrote one. Not sure if it was one of her first trys at lit. or what. Stars a certain heroine in the real world. no magic or strange happenings as far as i can tell. stays with evil caretakers. tries to tell adults of said evil caretakers, but is waved off, told that they are nice people, blah blah blah, couldn’t possibly have done such a thing, blah blah blah. Series goes on for three books with the same blah blah blah of oblivious adults. Because aparently adults cant do anything wrong. Then at the end everyone is dancing because the evil caretakers are gone and they finally believe her. And im left wondering how the h*** they managed to do the things they did in the book (ex. hypnotism, driving numerous teenagers to insanity…)

2) Then of course the murder mystery that was supposed to have a -gasp- shocking twist. Yet, somehow said twist has been used time and time again and I knew who the murderer was in the summary. Then im thinking why i even bothered. Probably hoping the twist i imagined would turn out to be somthing mind-bogling. Nope.

]]> By: calliope http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-21539 calliope Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:53:23 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-21539 i despise the one about the girl whose parents die so she has to work in a factory and has to work 12 hours a day with no windows and is depressed and nothing gets better and it's just depressing. i hate super depressing books, especially whiny ones. dr. suess is one of the top 5 american writers. i despise the one about the girl whose parents die so she has to work in a factory and has to work 12 hours a day with no windows and is depressed and nothing gets better and it’s just depressing. i hate super depressing books, especially whiny ones.
dr. suess is one of the top 5 american writers.

]]> By: janet http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-14362 janet Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:30:30 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-14362 Yes, well, tastes differ. I have heroically refrained from mentioning, for example, how <strike>very wrong</strike> spot on Justine is about Moby-Dick. Yes, well, tastes differ. I have heroically refrained from mentioning, for example, how very wrong spot on Justine is about Moby-Dick.

]]> By: John H http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-14349 John H Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:01:35 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-14349 I'm pretty sure I know which books they're talking about, and I enjoyed them - especially the first book. Although the author is a bit of a wanker... I’m pretty sure I know which books they’re talking about, and I enjoyed them – especially the first book. Although the author is a bit of a wanker…

]]> By: Justine http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-13995 Justine Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:55:34 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13995 I haven't read those books, neither has the blog overlord. I suspect I know what they are though, and if the author comes here and yells at you lot then you deserve what you get. I haven’t read those books, neither has the blog overlord.

I suspect I know what they are though, and if the author comes here and yells at you lot then you deserve what you get.

]]> By: janet http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-13983 janet Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:07:27 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13983 I have a theory about reading the books that haley and diana and pixelfish are talking about. My theory is that most people can read two or three books by this author and enjoy them, but at some point something clicks (or snaps, or whatever metaphor you like) and you can't take any more. It's like taking Tylenol, where there is only a very small difference between a therapeutic dose and toxicity. Anyway, after you reach that threshhold, not only can you not read any more of the author's work, but it puts a retroactive bad taste in your mouth for the books that you have already read and genuinely liked. In my case, it was an almost physical sensation, a sudden feeling that if I read any more, I might throw up. Sorry for all the rampant metaphors. I could say more if we weren't so assiduously being vague to protect the feelings of the author. I have a theory about reading the books that haley and diana and pixelfish are talking about. My theory is that most people can read two or three books by this author and enjoy them, but at some point something clicks (or snaps, or whatever metaphor you like) and you can’t take any more. It’s like taking Tylenol, where there is only a very small difference between a therapeutic dose and toxicity. Anyway, after you reach that threshhold, not only can you not read any more of the author’s work, but it puts a retroactive bad taste in your mouth for the books that you have already read and genuinely liked. In my case, it was an almost physical sensation, a sudden feeling that if I read any more, I might throw up.

Sorry for all the rampant metaphors. I could say more if we weren’t so assiduously being vague to protect the feelings of the author.

]]> By: Diana http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-13982 Diana Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:41:55 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13982 pixelfish, I didn't read the companions, because of the off-the-rails nature of book 4. Still, though, I love the second book, and i always look to it as a stunning example of dealing with a large cast of characters. Also, it's possible that I would not have liked the first book so much if I hadn't read it *AFTER* having read the second book, and also, if I, like Haley, had realized the level of hype going in. For me, I had no idea the book was such a big deal, and so I was able to love it on a pure level. My only problem with it was on an environmental scale: I have enough biodiversity studies in my background to know that if I had been a person who found myself in an environment such as the one described in that story, I would have hightailed it out of there so fast... pixelfish, I didn’t read the companions, because of the off-the-rails nature of book 4. Still, though, I love the second book, and i always look to it as a stunning example of dealing with a large cast of characters.

Also, it’s possible that I would not have liked the first book so much if I hadn’t read it *AFTER* having read the second book, and also, if I, like Haley, had realized the level of hype going in. For me, I had no idea the book was such a big deal, and so I was able to love it on a pure level.

My only problem with it was on an environmental scale: I have enough biodiversity studies in my background to know that if I had been a person who found myself in an environment such as the one described in that story, I would have hightailed it out of there so fast…

]]> By: pixelfish http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-13971 pixelfish Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:44:14 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13971 wow, forgive my run-on sentences, o lord, I pray. wow, forgive my run-on sentences, o lord, I pray.

]]> By: pixelfish http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-13970 pixelfish Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:43:44 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13970 Anybody who has read haley's will instantly recognise it, I think. I did. I love books 1-3, but you are right, diana, book four jumped the shark. And that is to say nothing of the stories that show the timeline of events from a different character's pov, which in my opinion completely obviate the need for SB's personal sacrifices and struggles in the first place. So i pretend those don't exist at all. Anybody who has read haley’s will instantly recognise it, I think. I did. I love books 1-3, but you are right, diana, book four jumped the shark. And that is to say nothing of the stories that show the timeline of events from a different character’s pov, which in my opinion completely obviate the need for SB’s personal sacrifices and struggles in the first place. So i pretend those don’t exist at all.

]]> By: orangedragonfly http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-13965 orangedragonfly Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:08:43 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13965 rebecca and diana: i loved that book too! i also really liked the companion books, the ones about the other special boy. but i think you're right, diana, i think dr. blog overlord is going to have something to say about that! ;) rebecca and diana: i loved that book too! i also really liked the companion books, the ones about the other special boy. but i think you’re right, diana, i think dr. blog overlord is going to have something to say about that! ;)

]]> By: marrije http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-13960 marrije Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:32:22 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13960 Diana, I haven't a clue which book you and rebecca and haley are talking about, so you've been vague enough to keep me in the dark (and make me slightly frustrated!!). Diana, I haven’t a clue which book you and rebecca and haley are talking about, so you’ve been vague enough to keep me in the dark (and make me slightly frustrated!!).

]]> By: Diana http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-2/#comment-13959 Diana Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:19:38 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13959 I think we're nailed on this one, though. wait'll justine wakes up tomorrow and sees this. I think we’re nailed on this one, though. wait’ll justine wakes up tomorrow and sees this.

]]> By: Rebecca http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-1/#comment-13953 Rebecca Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:35:49 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13953 i loved that book too! but i never did finish the fourth one either. i loved that book too! but i never did finish the fourth one either.

]]> By: Diana http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-1/#comment-13945 Diana Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:22:20 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13945 HALEY!!!!!! HOW can you hate that book? I love that book! And then I love the sequel. The sequel is one of my favoritist books of all time. And then, well, I didn't entirely hate the one that came after the sequel, since it had that really cool character with that really cool disease, but by the fourth, it had gone right off the rails, and I hated it then. HALEY!!!!!! HOW can you hate that book? I love that book! And then I love the sequel. The sequel is one of my favoritist books of all time. And then, well, I didn’t entirely hate the one that came after the sequel, since it had that really cool character with that really cool disease, but by the fourth, it had gone right off the rails, and I hated it then.

]]> By: Haley http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-1/#comment-13922 Haley Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:17:57 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13922 The one I'm about to say is a good way to get myself KILLED. So hopefully I'm vague enough. There's a boy. A SPECIAL boy. So special, in fact, that said boy is teased mercessly by his classmates. One attacks him. The Special Boy fights back and kills him (but we don't know until later). Special Boy is then taken away to train to be a soldier. Because he's SPECIAL. His siblings are special...but *too* special. So, Special Boy (or SB from now on, because it amuses me) goes to school to be a soldier. The kids hate him, but then love him. Probably because they're scared of him (he kills ANOTHER kid). SB finally learns enough to kill the alien invaders. SB then feels bad, and...uh...goes on a journey for spiritual enlightenment or something. >> I'm probably gonna get burned alive for saying I didn't like that one. Part of it could be that my friend liked the book a lot, so I had too high of expectations? But yeah, I didn't like it. The one I’m about to say is a good way to get myself KILLED. So hopefully I’m vague enough.

There’s a boy. A SPECIAL boy. So special, in fact, that said boy is teased mercessly by his classmates. One attacks him. The Special Boy fights back and kills him (but we don’t know until later).
Special Boy is then taken away to train to be a soldier. Because he’s SPECIAL. His siblings are special…but *too* special.
So, Special Boy (or SB from now on, because it amuses me) goes to school to be a soldier. The kids hate him, but then love him. Probably because they’re scared of him (he kills ANOTHER kid).
SB finally learns enough to kill the alien invaders. SB then feels bad, and…uh…goes on a journey for spiritual enlightenment or something.

>> I’m probably gonna get burned alive for saying I didn’t like that one. Part of it could be that my friend liked the book a lot, so I had too high of expectations? But yeah, I didn’t like it.

]]> By: camille http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-1/#comment-13812 camille Sun, 28 Jan 2007 04:19:46 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13812 diana, i visit your blog, so if you forswear yourself, i would request an on-line confession and mini-review of said formerly-forsworn author's work. not in a punitive way, necessarily... no...not at all... diana,

i visit your blog, so if you forswear yourself, i would request an on-line confession and mini-review of said formerly-forsworn author’s work. not in a punitive way,

necessarily…

no…not at all…

]]> By: PixelFish http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-1/#comment-13799 PixelFish Sun, 28 Jan 2007 01:28:47 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13799 orangedragonfly @41: Hey, whatever, works for you. If we are talking about the same book, I will admit I like the setup but I don't think the world building was completely thought out in terms of long range consequences. And it's the last part of the book that I really don't care for. orangedragonfly @41: Hey, whatever, works for you. If we are talking about the same book, I will admit I like the setup but I don’t think the world building was completely thought out in terms of long range consequences. And it’s the last part of the book that I really don’t care for.

]]> By: Justine http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-1/#comment-13732 Justine Sat, 27 Jan 2007 19:19:47 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13732 Mely @ 31 said <i>Also, I think you are making up the one about "And it was all a dream."</i> I <i>so</i> did not make it up! Talk like that will get you banned from this blog, missy. I may have to force you to read it. Or I would if I could tell you what it is. Sorry you're not enjoying this. Mwah hah hahaahaha! I do indeed know the book you mention, Marrije. And it was as annoying as that whole season of <i>Dallas</i>. Mely @ 31 said Also, I think you are making up the one about “And it was all a dream.”

I so did not make it up! Talk like that will get you banned from this blog, missy. I may have to force you to read it. Or I would if I could tell you what it is.

Sorry you’re not enjoying this. Mwah hah hahaahaha!

I do indeed know the book you mention, Marrije. And it was as annoying as that whole season of Dallas.

]]> By: Darice http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2007/01/26/rw4-novels-i-despise/comment-page-1/#comment-13761 Darice Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:40:16 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=522#comment-13761 abject apologies, blog overlord!!! abject apologies, blog overlord!!!

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