What is the worst book that you actually finished reading?

Question

Why did you finish it?

Answer 1

I don't think I've ever finished a book I despised. And, luckily for me, I haven't read a book that I despised in a long time. If I finish the book it's at least decent.
The last book I had a hard time finishing was 1984, by George Orwell, because I was at the section where what's-his-name was reading from Emmanuel Goldstein's book and it was just... slow. But I got through it and liked it after that.

Edit: Actually, I can think of one: The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom. Many love his writing but it doesn't do anything to me. I basically read it to see what the fuss was about and found that there was nothing to fuss about, in my opinion.

Answer 2

Etched City...I've forgotten the author. Someone had given it to me and I could barely read 2 chapters. I've a pretty open mind and will read just about anything, but this was just painful.

Narcissus in Chains? by Laurel K Hamilton? (i think) yeah...not so much. I never read the whole thing. I dont see what all the hype is about her.

The Body Artist by Don Delilo(sp?) That was just weird. The only reason I finished it was because I had already gotten so far, might as well.

There are others, but since I didnt like them, i've put them out of mind.

Answer 3

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby. I guess I finished it because I really trusted Hornby to pull it together in the end. I mean, this guy's a great writer. I guess I should've known better, because if it's bad all the way through, it's not going to suddenly pick up in the last ten pages. In fact, the last few pages were the most painful. At that stage, it was just morbid curiosity that kept me turning the pages--like watching a train wreck. I wanted to see how bad even someone like Hornby could crash.

Answer 4

the worst book I ever read ---- and finished reading was James Joyce's "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man". I finished it because I had to write an exam .... which included it. Even though I was enrolled in a science course they made us take an English course in first year. I have never felt so sorry for anyone as I did for the prof who taught that course....he was trying to teach future doctors about poetry and lesser known pieces of literature. It must have been hell for him...as the course was for us.

Answer 5

Parsival or a Knight's Tale by Richard Monaco

I bought it when I was on an Arthurian kick. The description on the back of the book read something like, "Through his innocence and goodness, Parsival restores the chivalric ideal to Camelot..." So, I thought I was getting a nice story about knights, chivalry, fair ladies, and the quest for the Grail.
Well, Parsival was not so much "innocent" as he was ignorant. He did absolutely horrible things because nobody ever taught him it was wrong. I kept reading hoping for some kind of turn-around but it never happened.

Answer 6

The worst book I have ever read is A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I had to finish it because it was required for my English class. Most boring book I have ever read.

Answer 7

Treasure Island...The Call of the Wild...Shakespeare's Julius Caesar...

I really enjoy reading, so even though I find a book that is absolutely dreadful, I kind of skim through it because I don't like not finishing books that I start reading. I want to know the ending.

Answer 8

As a person who assigns books for my students to read, I've enjoyed reading the answers above that noted despised required reading for school assignments.

The book that was the hardest for me to finish, although I did it, was "Moby Dick." Maybe it was my age (19), maybe it was the required 80 pages a night, maybe it was the picayune one-question quiz every day in class. But, other than the basic plot and the famous opening and closing of the novel, most of what I remember concerns the sailors' using the whale's penis skin as a raincoat.

Thanks for asking.

Answer 9

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Awful. Boring. Luckily it wasn't too long (but long enough considering it was about such a short period of time!). Read it for some high school English class. After that I just stopped reading the books if I hated it, even if it was for class.

Answer 10

Do note that this is my opinion, and I am aware of how many people love these books.

The Harry Potters, 1-4
Eldest
Alanna
Outlaw: Champians of Kamigawa

For the most part, I feel an obligation to read anything I have already bought. Also, I am wanting to be a writer so I try to read what everyone is interested in to get ideas of what is in.