This is post two in my little blogging series about seriously hyped books. The first was the five that didn’t disappoint, this is the five that really did. Actually there are a lot more than five that I could have included (something I can’t say for the last lot – I’m such a miserly reader) but I’ve picked the five worst offenders.
1. A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin
The only reason I’ve made it through all six books and am waiting desperately for the next one to be released is that the TV series has brought the characters alive. Without the TV series I would say it has far too many characters, the plot is overly complicated and it’s incredibly badly written. The women are awesome though.
2. The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
I just found this a bit bleugh. Not terrible but not amazing either. There wasn’t really enough of a plot to keep me hooked. And I didn’t really find myself connecting with the characters either.
3. Agatha Christie
These books just seem so dated every time I read them. I haven’t read the really hyped ones – Murder on the Orient Express or And Then There Were None and although I intend to the ones I have read have really put me off.
4. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Give me Jane Eyre any day. I found this such a struggle to get through what with the overly long descriptions and ridiculous use of the northern accent. So even though there is a great plot hidden under there there’s was too much wrong with it for me to properly enjoy it.
5. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
I don’t know if this book really classes as ‘hyped’ but my mum recommended it most highly to me. And I suppose I would have liked it alright, despite the unnecessary extra characters, but the woman researching her family history took the biscuit and I just lost all interest.
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Sort of agree with you about Game of Thrones, I quite liked it but I can see it was over-hyped. Then I agree on 3 BUT Agatha Christie! Dated! What do you mean dated?! I love Agatha Christie and the fact it has a 1930/40s etc setting and style is very much part of the charm. I like the fact that the books are part game part novel too – but maybe that’s not your thing. I actually think Agatha Christie is under-hyped, she’s know for being a bit of fun but I think she’s a great writer and the simplicity of her style is exactly my taste.
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I really think I need to try Agatha Christie again. Everyone speaks so highly of her books. Maybe I just picked the wrong ones – what would you recommend as her best?
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I really enjoyed ‘And Then There Were None’ (originally titled ‘Ten Little Niggers’ – it was named after an old nursery rhyme, the book has nothing to do with race issues). 10 people are stuck on an Island and then…well you can probably guess where it’s going from the title! It’s a mystery but there’s no detective in this one so it’s a bit different.
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That one has been near the top of my TBR list for ages. Ive heard it has one of the best twists of all time. So I’ll definitely keep a look out for that one
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If you haven’t enjoyed the Christie novels you’ve read so far, you can probably abstain from Orient Express and Ten Little Indians. Her writing is kind of notorious for being similar across her books. I enjoy them, personally, but not everyone does.
Cannot agree win you on Gatsby and Wuthering Heights. What Fitzgerald and E Brontw do with language is beautiful, and their depictions of people are far more realistic (and devastating) than a lot of fiction. You are not alone in your opinion, I am sure, I just cannot understand it.
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I really wish I liked Wuthering Heights – I think I just found it too much hard work. But yours is definitely the more sophisticated taste! I’m less about the beautiful language and more about the plot line!
And thanks for the tip about Agatha Christie. I think I’ll write her off for good then
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I totally agree with The Great Gatsby. For me another one that didn’t live up to its hype sadly was Lord of the Rings.
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Lord of the Rings! I completely agree and can’t believe I didn’t think to include it! One of those rare cases where the films are sooooo much better than the books
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