This is related to this post, where I talked about not finishing books. Because sometimes I finish books I don’t like.
In fact, one time I finished a book that I didn’t just dislike. I hated it.
And this is how I reacted.
1. I Read the Sequel
I know, I’m an idiot. But the second half of this particular book (which shall remain nameless) was MUCH better than the first. So, I figured it might be one of those series that just needed to get going. More often than not have I absolutely loved series where I hated the beginning.
As it turns out, the sequel was WORSE! SO VERY MUCH WORSE!
Did I read the whole thing anyway? Yes. While I was doing so, I came to the realisation that I was literally wasting my life, forcing my way through these books, so I did not read book 3.
Or 4. Or 5.
2. I complained about it…to everyone
Because my Mum loves books as much as I do, we often discuss bookish things. We often talk about things like ‘Why Twilight wasn’t so bad’ and ‘Why The Hunger Games was so. very. amazing.’ and ‘all the issues with the writing in The Mortal Instruments’.
When I love a book, I throw it at her and tell her to read it. We discuss it afterwards.
When I hate a book, I go to her to rant. I don’t rant about books online, because my rants can often be pretty horrible, so I save the hating for the real world, just among family/friends.
Now, I complained about this book for weeks! In fact, when I think about the book, I just want to start ranting all over again.
And I read it, like, well over a year ago.
In fact, I thought about this book, and then I started writing this post.
3. I checked the Goodreads Reviews, to see if anyone else felt the way I did
No-one did. All the reviews I saw talked about ‘beautiful writing’ and ‘amazing characters’.
I strongly disagreed with both of these.
4. I debated whether or not to get my Mum/Sister to read it
And here is the question which made me write this post. Do I wish to make my Mum or Sister suffer the way I did?
Or, the even bigger question, if they read this book, will they suffer through it? Or will they think it is as amazing as everyone on goodreads says?
Do I want to make people read it so that they can understand what I’m ranting about? Or do I want them to take me at my word and avoid the series?
So, now it’s your turn. What’s your process when you dislike a book? Do you rant about it online? Do you secretly wish people would read it so that they understand why you disliked it so much?
Let me know.
The Magical Adventures of Cassie the Weird 
I usually just write a review on goodreads about what could have been done better and find some redeeming qualities (even if it’s the cover) that I can focus on. But yeah, then I usually rant about it to my mum or my bookish friends, but not online I can’t do that either and everyone has different opinions so I don’t want to offend anyone either. Sounds a bit similar to your process actually. And if it’s a school book that everybody hates, the whole class just talks hate about it to each other and we bond of the suckishness of the particular book. 😀
The only time my class ever did that was about the end of Animal Farm. We had many ‘around the lockers’ conversations about that.
And then we watched the movie in class, and we hated that ending so much more, which resulted in many more conversations around the lockers.
And I would say that the only redeeming quality of these books are the covers. They are so pretty, they lure you in.
I hate it when I hate a book and everyone else loves it! Why?! WHY?! My favourite way of dealing with it though is normally to rant and write up the worst review ever. Hahaha, I know, boring, right? I read a book a while ago I was really disappointed in and I’m still fuming.
I actually read this book long before I started blogging, so a ranting review wasn’t happening.
That’s probably a good thing. I seriously hated this book. I mean, most of the time, I just dislike books a little, or I get frustrated with them, but this book…
I still can’t believe I read the sequel, though.
I always feel like a horrible human being when I rate a book on Goodreads lower than the average rating. I feel like I’m missing something that everybody else ‘got’.
But reading/writing is so subjective. Everyone’s looking for something different, and sometimes what you thought a book would be about, just doesn’t pan out.
The real question now is: what book are you talking about in the post? Because I’m kind of interested to see if I agree with your opinion…
Well, see, it actually takes a lot for me to dislike a book. It’s very, very rare that I will dislike something people love.
But when I do, I cannot, for the life of me, figure out WHY people like it. I dislike books because the characters are annoying, and they don’t sound like the character they’re supposed to be. When every character talks exactly the same way.
And yet people love some of these books, and I just don’t see it.
Some books, I can see why people would like them, and they just aren’t for me.
Those other books, though…
I make a point of not mentioning this book specifically by name when I rant about it on the internet…I’m too nice to do that. Though ALL my family/friends know which book it is.
If you really want to read it and compare opinions, I can DM you the name of the book via twitter.