Most years (I guess I skipped last year), I compile a list of "stinkers," books that I had strong negative feelings about or that did not measure up to my expectations based on either the author's previous work or the publishing hype surrounding the book. These aren't necessarily the books I liked least, and they aren't necessarily even ones that are poorly written, to make my list they just had to disappoint me in a pretty big way.
The Alice Network, Kate Quinn
I really didn't like this book. I found it poorly written, unbelievable, and the foul language and immorality and sex scenes and violence made me sick to my stomach. I should not have finished it.
Alternate Side, Anna Quindlen
This one wasn't bad, but it was sorely disappointing. The tone was so heavy and foreboding. I generally like Anna Quindlen books, though admittedly, I like her nonfiction more than her fiction, but this one disappointed me. We were supposed to think it was about race relations, but the story was really in the bitter deterioration of a marriage.
America's First Daughter, Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie
Wow, I really did not like this book. It read like an anti-white man screed, and it did the thing I most detest authors doing: using current-day standards to examine the past. Unforgivable.
Code Girls, Liza Mundy
See above. Only instead of "anti-white man," substitute "anti-man."
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon
This one was much darker than I anticipated. I didn't care, nor was I prepared for, the tone or the dark situations. I didn't like the characters, either. I can't fathom why it's so popular.
Dear Mrs. Bird, AJ Pearce
Another World War II book about women not getting their due. Or something.
The Dollhouse, Fiona Davis
Fine for "chick lit" but I found it absolutely lacking in subtlety. I doubt I'll try another Fiona Davis book.
Educated, Tara Westover
Oh, you're firing up the hate comments now, aren't you? I really debated including this here because it wasn't a bad book, and it was well-written, and it was beloved by all, but I found it needlessly unsettling. There was no resolution, and I felt emotionally manipulated by it. I think it was likely written ten years before the author was ready.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman
This is hands down my least favorite book of the year--that's #1 out of 180 books. I know I'm almost alone in my dislike, but I detested this book.
Endurance, Scott Kelly
I didn't care for the weird macho tone of this one. I like manly men with interesting jobs, but had this guy tried to hit on me, I wouldn't have given him the time of day. He's a hero, but to me he wasn't likable.
For You, Mom. Finally. Ruth Reichl
I love Ruth Reichl's writing, but I really didn't like this book about her mother.
The Geraldo Show, Geraldo Rivera
Talk about macho egomaniac. Puke.
Lab Girl, Hope Jahren
This one was just too...weird. Something seemed not quite right here.
Pretty in Plaid, Jen Lancaster
I love Jen Lancaster's books, but this one was definitely not my favorite. It was at least a third too long, and younger Jen grated on my nerves.
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Oh my gosh I never thought this one would end up on my stinkers list. Had you asked me last year what my three favorite books were, Pride and Prejudice would have been number one, but it just did not stand up on the re-read. I was shocked and saddened.
Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
I know this book is a favorite for many, but I found it intensely annoying. And bleak. It wasn't poorly written (though it wasn't stellar, either), but I didn't like any of the characters or situations, and it was hilariously diverse. It tried way too hard, and it accomplished almost nothing.
The Undressing, Li-Young Lee
I have a complex relationship with Li-Young Lee's work. I've been reading him as long as any poet, but his poems are often too inaccessible. This book was full of those.
The War that Saved My Life, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Oh wow did I dislike this book. I could not condone giving this one to a young girl. So much abuse, the hinting at lesbianism, its oversimplified and unbelievable plot. Yuck.
What books made your naughty list this year?
I read my first Anne Tyler novel this year when I listened to Back When We Were Grownups (reviewed here). I enjoyed it, and I was eager to try her newest novel, Clock Dance, which came out this summer. I was expecting a lighter novel than I got. This is the story of Willa, a re-married Arizonian who was widowed relatively young and whose sons are grown and rather distant from her. One day she receives a call from her son's ex-girlfriend's neighbor (got that?) saying she needed Willa to come to Baltimore to take care of the ex-girlfriend's daughter while the ex-girlfriend recovers from a gunshot wound. Though she doesn't know any of these people, she decides she has nothing more pressing to do at home, so she and her overbearing lawyer husband set out for Baltimore. It's the story of community and belonging to each other and seeking fulfillment in life. Much of it is rather uncomfortable, but there are some light moments and some moments of enlightenment for a couple of the characters. While I didn't love it, I didn't dislike it, either. I enjoyed the writing and many of the characters, but I wasn't blown away, and I was disappointed at the somber tone. My rating: 3 stars.
Apparently, I have a love for dire winter adventures. A colleague at work is working on a Winter Survival book display, and I was able to offer five titles* to her, thanks to my recent read, Endurance. This classic (from 1959) is about British explorer Ernest Shackleton's 1914 attempt to reach the South Pole. I won't go into the details of the voyage, but rest assured there's plenty of adventure, crushing ice floes, near starvation, dwindling supplies, and bad luck. If you read and loved Hampton Sides' In the Kingdom of Ice, you'll love this one. My rating: 4 stars. *Those titles: In the Kingdom of Ice, The Snow Child, To the Bright Edge of the World, and Into Thin Air.
I read Larry Watson's Montana 1948 in college, and I even had an autographed copy of the book...which I donated, because I hated the book. The title came up again recently when Modern Mrs. Darcy recommended it for those looking for short reads to meet their reading numbers goal for the year. Well, I was looking for a short audiobook, and I decided to re-read it to see just why I disliked it so much. And this time around, I loved it. This one deals with some themes I just wasn't ready for when I was in college. The book is narrated by a grown David Hayden about the events of his twelfth summer that changed his family forever. David's father is the sheriff in his small Montana town; his grandfather was the sheriff before that; and his uncle Frank is the town doctor and war hero. Uncle Frank is accused of sexually molesting his Indian patients, suspected of murdering one of them, and Sheriff Hayden is forced to choose between family loyalty and what's right in the eyes of the law. It's a very well done book. It's short, but it packs a punch. There's nothing superfluous, nor anything sentimental or too hardhearted. But there is right and wrong, and there are choices and dire consequences. This really is a wonderful book, and I'll be sure to read some of Watson's other work. This one reminded me a lot of Wolf Hollow, though that is for middle grade readers and not quite as intense. Still, very similar. I highly recommend the audio. The narrator is Beau Bridges, and he nails it. My rating: 4.5 stars.
I've long enjoyed Tony Hoagland's poetry, but I'm not sure I've read many books by him until this year. A few weeks ago, I read Priest Turned Therapist Treats Fear of God, which I enjoyed, so I picked up What Narcissism Means to Me this month. (What great titles, huh?) I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I forgot to write down the titles I enjoyed most to link to, but there were a couple of outstanding poems. Hoagland's poems are at a good intermediary level--not too easy, not too hard, but they are probably best if you have a bit of poetry under your belt. My rating: 3.5 stars.
