The books you

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Terrible Books
The books you...

The books you read and wondered how they got published. I was just thinking about how most of the threads on here are about books that people have liked but what about those ones that left you in incredulous disbelief.

submitted by Spell Caster
(July 17, 2019 - 9:59 am)

i sort of agree. I’ve had s lifelong disdain for HP, mostly just because of the popularity and hype, and I can get kind of weird about popular things. Just recently though, I finally decided to actually read them for myself partly because I wanted to see how bad/good they really were, and partly because I had watched the first three movies with friends, and I enjoyed them. I’m currently on book seven, and though I actually rather like the books, I have to say, I don’t think they’re very well written. I don’t think they’re that poorly written, but there’s really nothing great that stands out about the writing either. Although, I’ll give them this—they get better as they go on.

No matter what your opinions on HP though, no one should ever give you hate or be rude about it. As someone who used to be anti-HP, I know what it feels like to not want to mention your opinions because of what people might say. 

submitted by Leeli
(July 28, 2019 - 7:57 am)

If HP was told in first person, but like, omniscient, or just third person omniscient, I might like it better. I also feel the smae about the Hunger Games, but I don't hate it as much as I hate HP. I love the first two, and as epic as it is, after reading the book (and watching the movie, screw Lionsgate), it seemed blandish. Like District 13 is BORING. 

rip Finnick 

submitted by Secret
(July 30, 2019 - 6:08 pm)

well i kinda like Harry potter .

Its my favorite book ...Embarassed 

submitted by Bibi Potter
(October 14, 2019 - 2:00 pm)

*hopes my future books do not make it to this list*

Makes you wonder, what actually constitutes a good book? We spend hours perfecting our style, plot, pacing, etc--but what do readers really look for? I suppose these things are just too mysterious to be explained.

KotLC (book 1) and I have a strange relationship. I can't explain it. I've spent a lot of time making jokes about it with my sister, but only because I liked it. I could relate a lot to Shannon Messenger's writing. I saw my writing in her wording and phrasing, so you could say there was some one-way author bonding going on there. Which actually boosted my confidence, because hey, if her writing was deemed good enough by a publisher, then there's a chance mine will be, too.

Anyway.

I don't read very much anymore, so my memories of books are fad--

*pauses*

Ah. I just remembered. The Spirit Animals series didn't really hold my attention. Either there were too many books, too many authors, the plot/characters didn't go deep enough, or something, but I wouldn't call them exceptional, at any rate. The idea was cool though!

Percy Jackson book 1 (The Lightning Theif), I thought, was not as well written as it could have been. Again, I could see a little bit of myself in Riordan's writing--and hey, it was his first novel, so all things considered, it was great. His writing improves through the series. It was cool to watch his style develop.

submitted by Micearenice
(July 23, 2019 - 11:03 am)

I know this sounds surprising, but...

Swiss Family Robinson. 

submitted by Ella Starburst, Breaking Down Barriers
(July 23, 2019 - 5:19 pm)

Oh God Ella. I totally agree with you. A story about a familiy who gets stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere and everything goes perfectly fine for them for frigging ten years.

Did anyone read The City Of Ember? I liked the idea of the story at first, but then it got boring. Also, Doon has literally no character except for the fact that he likes bugs, is friends with Lina, and hates Ember and everybody in it.  

submitted by Secret
(July 29, 2019 - 8:20 am)

City of Ember was just . . . .so obscure. I don't know. It was as if it was trying so hard to be different it was just . . .weird. Even more so with Unwanteds (I mean I've only read the first two book but still).

Harry Potter is okay, except with the character development and Harry's love life. I feel like so many of the characters are so shallow, except for Draco and Snape.

I don't think Green Ember is badly written at all, though it seems to me that the author has a kind of . . . . childish style? IDK that's the only way I can explain it. But I can see how others might think it was badly written. 

 

submitted by spiffycat, age 12
(July 29, 2019 - 1:00 pm)

Percy Jackson.

Everyone is always so surprised when I say I hate Percy Jackson, especially because I'm something of a Greek mythology nut, but I think Percy Jackson kind of ruins Greek mythology.  Rick Riordan makes everything into a big joke, and Greek mythology isn't like that at all.  It's super solemn and serious.  So when someone whos' never read Greek mythology reads Percy Jackson, and then reads something like D'aulaires Book of Greek Myths, they don't like D'aulairs, because they were expecting something more comical.  So Percy Jackson, in theory, reduces the number of people who read traditional Greek mythology.

submitted by Child of the Goats, age 12, Virginia
(August 21, 2019 - 1:26 pm)

I agree with you, spiffycat, about the Green Ember series and wanted to let you know that the reason his style is so childish is because it was written for younger aged kids (like 5-10) to read (or for it to be read to them), as it started as only humble bedtime stories for his kids. (I know this because my little sister is SUPER obbsessed with those books)

submitted by Elmnessa, age 700 years, planet snowlight
(December 30, 2019 - 8:49 pm)

OH MY GLOB IT WAS SO BORING AND LOOOOOONNNNGG

also the ending with the girl (forgot her name)  was completely unnecessary! What importance did she add? The writing was bland, and don't get me STARTED on the grammar...

submitted by Ella Starburst, Heads up High
(August 2, 2019 - 10:46 pm)

Wait, what are you talking about, Ella?

submitted by spiffycat, age 12, never nowhere
(August 3, 2019 - 7:04 pm)

Swiss Family Robinson 

submitted by Ella Starburst, Heads up High
(August 4, 2019 - 5:34 pm)

I read the first City of Ember book and also liked the idea. Around the 4th chapter I started to put it down, but pressed on in hope of some late-chapter awesomeness. Spoiler: it didn't come. I REFUSE to read the sequels. And if you disliked the regular book, DO NOT READ the graphic novel, unless you like marveling at how terrible book adaptations can be.

submitted by Sirfire , age 230 moons,, who's asking?
(January 5, 2020 - 5:43 pm)

The Canning Season

It wasn't very well written and the plot was confusing, the characters were confusing, the writing was confusing, it was just overall confusing, also the plot wasn't very good 

submitted by Barnswallow
(July 28, 2019 - 6:45 pm)

The Story Thieves

A Sliver of Stardust

ALL THE RAMONA BOOKS

Also all the Percy Jackson books EVER. I'm sorry if anyone here is a fan. I have mixed feelings because I... ah.... have a crush on Nico Di Angelo....BUT ANYWAY I like the characters but now the story. 

submitted by Esile, age 12
(July 30, 2019 - 11:26 pm)