Comments for Thirteen Reviews of Books I've Hated This Year

#25: Thirteen Reviews of Books I've Hated This Year: 09/26/07

Normally I like to keep my Thursday Thirteens upbeat but I thought it would be fun to revisit some books that I've wanted to throw across the room this year. Click on the image to read the reviews.

1. Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee	2. Riding the Iron Rooster by Paul Theroux
3. The Bookman's Promise by John Dunning	4. Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir
5. Amara by Richard Laymon	6. The Happy Prince and Other Stories by Oscar Wilde
7. Marker by Robin Cook	8. When the Wind Blows by James Patterson
9. My Friend Mac by May Yonge McNeer	10. The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth
11. Skye Cameron by Phyllis A. Whitney	12. Fondling Your Muse by John Warner
13. Abduction by Robin Cook

thursday thirteen

Comments (36)

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Comment #1: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 18:05:44

Robin

I'm not even sure I had time to read 13 books this year, let alone dislike that many. Hopefully your next batch will be more successful."

Comment #2: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 18:10:52

Yuriko

See.. if I don't like a book. I stop reading it. That must be why I have so many piled up in my house. LOL "

Comment #3: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 18:13:37

Samantha

I'm seem to be finding all sorts of awful books lately, but I can't bring myself to say anything bad about another author. I'm kinda a wus like that. lol

Comment #4: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 18:16:12

ellen b:
"You must be an avid reader! I'll avoid these..."

Comment #5: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 18:25:33

Nicholas

Very interesting list. I have to say, I enjoyed The jackal very much when I first read it, and on the 2 or 3 times I have read it since then. I find that Forsythe kept the suspense up even though we all knew (or certainly should have known) that the Jackal would not succeed. On the other hand, I found the Roth book, to which you compare it, very heavy going! To each his/her own!

There’s a book by Alison Weir in my own TT this week!"

Comment #6: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 18:28:09

Special K Toni

Great T13! I hate it when a book is either predictable, or a huge letdown at the end!"

Comment #7: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 18:50:36

Tink

I've read #10 and quite liked it. I'll have to try the others to see what I think of them. :-) My TT shows my Tinkerbell collection."

Comment #8: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 19:00:05

Christina

Great T13!"

Comment #9: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 19:02:37

Mark Caldwell

I've run across that black hole you mention with The Day of the Jackal with a few books, not that one but I know what you mean, I think the biggest problem with Jackal is because the main character is a cold professional it's hard to care or hate him. I'd steer clear of the Dogs of War too as it's pretty much the same (although the characters are a little more rounded but not really very likeable)"

Comment #10: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 19:03:12

Thomma Lyn

That's a great idea for a list, and I enjoyed checking out your reviews! I have been lucky -- it's been some time since I read a book I out and out disliked. Happy TT to you!"

Comment #11: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 19:47:24

Joely

I've been very lucky this year--I'd be hard pressed to list 13 books I didn't like. Happy TT!"

Comment #12: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 20:27:43

busy

Sucky books suck. I've only heard of the Patterson one, but thanks for the heads up on the others. "

Comment #13: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 20:44:56

JenMcb

What a catchy title and list this week. Robin cook is so predictable. Thanks for sharing, I should make this a list so I won't get these at the library"

Comment #14: TWednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 21:14:55

Lori

Im glad to say... I havent read any of those and I probably never will now:) Happy TT."

Comment #15: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 21:15:08

Susan Helene Gottfried

Don't you HATE it when you can't stand a book? I hate to say it, but I've given up on almost a third of the books I've started this year. That's a horrid percentage. :("

Comment #16: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 21:53:23

Candy

I've read "Day of the Jackal" and I hated it, too! :o)" "

Comment #17: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 22:14:21

Yen

Quite an avid book reader! :) Nice lists too. Happy TT!"

Comment #18: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 23:02:29

WFM

Well thank YOU for the heads up! ;-)"

Comment #19: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 23:08:43

Jackie

What a great way to list these. I love Koontz and Patterson. I've recently started reading Jodi Picoult as well.

Happy TT:)"

Comment #20: Wednesday, September, 26, 2007 at 23:25:20

Lori

I never get time to read:( "

Comment #21: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 01:19:49

Amy

Looks like fun was had by all!"

Comment #22: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 02:43:45

Gabriella Hewitt

I used to try to slog through books even if I wasn't keen on them. I find now that if I really don't like it, I put it down and usually don't put it up again. The worst is to read something and the author blows it at the end. You feel like it's a great story and then reach the end to be let down with how it winds up. Great idea for a TT. Thanks for stopping by my TT too!"

Comment #23: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 03:59:05

Xakara

I hope you have better luck with you next batch of books, it must be terrible to have 13 you hated all in one year. :(

I can't help but be intrigued by something called "fondling your muse" but I don't think I'm intrigued for the right reasons. *wink* "

Comment #24: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 06:53:10

samulli

I never even heard of most of these, but alone from the titles I probably wouldn't wanna read them anyway. I have to admit I am quite ruthless myself nowadays about just giving up on books if they don't manage to engage me after one or two chapters. I rarely suffer a bad book through to the end anymore."

Comment #25: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 06:55:34

damozel

Great book reviews, but my favorite had to be the "fondling your muse" one. "writer of parody: Ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Also I agree with you about "Day of the Jackal," though it's one of my husband's favorite books. "

Comment #26: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 07:24:33

Darla

I'm pretty sure I read Day of the Jackal, but it was decades ago, and I don't remember anything about it. I haven't read the rest of them, and after reading your reviews, I'm glad I haven't. :) "

Comment #27: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 07:36:26

mom not mum

I think this is the first book TT I can happily say that I haven't read any of them. LOL Great list - or is it a bad list - not sure?"

Comment #28: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 09:38:41

Aline de Chevigny

LOL can I say I'm relieved that I'm not on your list?

Great TT

Aline "

Comment #29: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 10:39:00

Jennifer

I haven't read any of those. :)

My 13 this week is about banned books week. "

Comment #30: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 10:59:12

Country Dawn

Fondling Your Muse!? What a title! "

Comment #31: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 11:13:32

J. Lynne

"Fondling Your Muse" just sounds dirty. "

Comment #32: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 12:04:43

Vixen

Apparently its my lucky year, because I have not read any of those and now I won't waste my time. Thanks! Happy TT."

Comment #33: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 15:45:05

Heather

I haven't read any of these. The worst books I have read this year are Secret History of the Pink Carnation and Scroll of Seduction (which I did not even finish)."

Comment #34: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 12:04:43

Marcia

I too stop reading if I do not like it but thanks for the warnins"

Comment #35: Thursday, September, 27, 2007 at 20:54:13

thenononsense

uggh I'm like the previous commenters, when I don't like a book, I don't finish it. I love your nic. :) Happy TT!!!"

Comment #36: Friday, September, 28, 2007 at 00:09:29

Gattina

To be honnest I must have read some of them but I really can't remember,lol !"