I know the title doesn’t really make sense, but I will be posting my best of lists over the next few days and wanted to start highlighting the worst of the worst that I’ve read this year and why. Over the next three days you will see my top lists of fiction, non-fiction, and young adult.
I read 270 books and have only 5 that I rated less than 2 stars. I have an additional 12 rated at 2 starts but figured to highlight only the 5 that I REALLY disliked, and why.
My least favorite book of the year was Robin Easton’s Naked in Eden: My Adventure and Awakening in the Australian Rainforest.
I agreed to read this for a TLC Tour and regretted it as soon as I read the first page. I knew I wouldn’t like it but for some reason pushed my way through. This is one of the main reasons that I need to get better at abandoning books, and why I am going to be freer with myself in 2o11 in terms of reviews. I started the blog last year with the goal of reviewing everything that I read soo… I forced myself to do it!
The book wasn’t bad, it just definitely wasn’t for me. Why do I know that the book definitely has a huge audience and will definitely do well? My review that day garnered 108 comments or trackbacks and that is still my busiest day on the blog with 628 views, according to WordPress. I was on site working that day and almost fell out of my chair when I checked my email and saw what was going on. It was quite stressful, but ended up staying (mostly) positive with the author weighing in as well. I also ended up giving away two copies of the book, so hopefully that outweighs any negative publicity from my review.
Second least favorite was Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange.
I found this book was just… boring. As a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, I don’t think it did a good job. I didn’t feel that the characters stayed similar to in the original characters at all – especially Lizzie. I also didn’t like the way the book was written in that the reader knows what is going on but Lizzie does not. I felt this made the book a lot more boring and dry.
Others enjoyed this one but ultimately it just didn’t do anything for me. The too easy and cheesy ending didn’t help either!
Third, The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls by L. J. Smith.
I started reading the Vampire Diaries books because they were featured in EVERY airport bookshop I went through and eventually I just had to cave. I thought the original series was alright, but not great by any means. I didn’t feel the characters or writing were as good as they could have been. The sequel books though, were just painful.
How much did I dislike this book? I actually gave away the entire Vampire Diaries series in hopes that it would keep me from feeling the need to read the next one when it comes out. Here is hoping it works!
I know the TV series is huge but I just can’t bring myself to read it for two reasons – for one thing I never watch TV, my other reason… I just disliked this book that much!
Fourth, Philip Roth’s Nemesis.
I know, I know. Roth is a huge American writer that everyone loves. Everyone but me, that is. It seemed like it just tried too hard and failed.
I feel like maybe Roth is too ‘white male’ and pretentious for me. The book didn’t resonate to me as a female reader at allll but then I tend toward the international fiction and female authors, and often don’t resonate with those white, male, Western authors. I’m not saying it is because I am female that I disliked it, but I am saying that I know my biases and internal prejudices and they do point me away from this type of book. I do see it as something that I should work on, but I also don’t see it as hugely important to do so as white, male, Western authors have huge audiences anyway. Some day 
So, a ton of people love the book, and I can see WHY I disliked it, so don’t avoid it on my advice!
Lastly, Adios, Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft.
This was a young adult book that just didn’t do it for me. I find that a lot of the young adult books that are aimed at male teen readers are too full of action and not a lot else.
This book didn’t have a ton of action, but what it did have was a lot of unrealistic situations, and it was just… odd. Everything is falling apart and by the end of the story – surprise! – everything magically works out in the most ridiculous and unbelievable way!
If you don’t mine unbelievable, then read the book. Another prejudice that I may have to work on perhaps (young adult aimed at males) but again, I likely won’t do anything about it in 2011.
So there you have it, my top 5 least favorite books. As you can see although I really hated all of them they all have their own audiences. Did you really love any of these?
Want to win one of these books to see if you agree or disagree with me? Fill out this form! I will give away one copy of a book of your choice to one winner. (Open internationally to anyone, contest closes at midnight AST on January 9th)
