There have been topics here about good books we've read, but did you ever read a book (not a school assignment) that you didn’t like? I just finished a book that I would not recommend – “The Rule of Four”, by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason. I won’t go into a detailed review, but suffice it to say that it was advertised on its cover as a “New York Times Bestseller” and the back cover made reference to “not since the Da Vinci Code…..” and some other mystery book.

After the first 50 pages I was ready to call it quits, but I persisted; stubbornly saying to myself that I invested time and I was going to see it through. I finally finished it. It was pretentious, filled with unnecessary similes and metaphors and the storyline kept bogging down. I found myself saying, “yeah, so what.” The story was about four brainy Princeton guys, two of who were tying to unravel a mystery from a book written during the Renaissance.

I only read during my commute on the bus to NY. 15 minutes each way. But I look forward to passing the time that way. Now, I’m reading “Caddy For Life: the Bruce Edwards Story”. He was Tom Watson’s caddy for many years. Bruce died in April, 2004, 49 years old, from Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

So what crappy book have you read?

There was a book called the Godfather i once read it was awful.

Only Kidding Guys

I don't mean any offence to anyone but I don't think any of you are in the right state of mind to critise others' book writing skill when you can't do it yourself no offence but it's a talent that very few have and none of you here have that talent so you shouldn't really be comment on there techniques and way of writing

And, um...what qualifies you, someone who has only been here a few days, to suggest that no one on here has the talent to write a book?

Back to the topic, The Godfather Returns is utter rubbish, but I think that goes without saying.

No I didn't mean you haven't a talent to write a book I mean't you haven't written one. If you have the skill show it, I mean it doesn't take einstein to write a book.

Don Cardi

Now back to the topic at hand.

The book "We Only Kill Each Other," about Bugsy Siegel, was not an enjoyable book for me. As a matter of fact I couldn't even finish it. It was filled with such fake shit, and unfactual stuff, that I couldn't stand it.

GF Returns was a really tough book to get through. After putting it down halfway through, it took me 9 months to pick it up again and finish it. It was torture, like having to finish a book assignment from my school days.


Don Cardi

Aside from GF Returns, I would have to say the book that I was most disappointed in was Tom Wolfe's A Man in Full. Having enjoyed Bonfire of the Vanities, I honestly did NOT like A Man in Full, and couldn't even finish it, which is unusual for me. I've also enjoyed Caleb Carr's books, which are historical fiction set in NYC. He doesn't publish very often, so when a new book of his came out, I eagerly took it out of the library. I don't think I got past the first 50 pages. It was terrible. And I honestly can't even remember the title.

I beg to differ with your assessment of this topic. Books, especially fiction are read for entertainment and enlightenment (among many other reasons). If I find a book is not to my liking, that is MY OPINION. It has nothing to do with being in the "right state of mind". And as far as making a statement that "none of you here have the talent", well, that doesn't even deserve a comment.

As a matter of fact, Merlin, this will be the last time I respond to any of your posts as I don't feel your contribution to any topic here is worth responding to.

We've got a stone in our shoe.


Don Cardi

A book called "Hush" by Anne Frasier. I finished it but it was a struggle.

While studying French at college I once voluntarily read "Madame Bovary". I lasted about 50 pages.

But the shortest read was (although it was a book on our college course) L'Etre et Le Neant (Being and Nothingness) by Jean Paul Sartre. I got three quarters of the way down the second page before tossing it aside.

And you've been here.. how long?

On topic -

I read The Rule of Four.. and I know what you mean, MaryCas.. it kind of dragged on.. and on.. and on. I really had to force myself to finish it because I hate not finishing books. Even if they're terrible.

Merlin,
If you read more topics from the glorious past of "The Godfather Trilogy" section on this board, you will find out that we have members here who definitely HAVE the talent. And be careful - it's easy to hurt people.

I used to think that if I bought a book I had to read it all the way through no matter what, no longer. If I am halfway through it and hate it, I just put it away. The Rule of Four was awful, but I did read the last chapters just to find out what happend. The last real disappointment for me was the last book in Cormac McCarthy's border trilogy... Cities of the Plains or something. It was not as good as the first two.

Who the hell do you think you are? Your still wet behind the ears here. Who the hell are you to make coments like that about us?

This guy is a joke. :rolleyes:


DS

Thanks Bogey and dontomasso, I was hoping it wasn't me having a mid-life intelligence crisis.

I beg to differ with you but our very own Plawrence has a incredible amount of talent. He has proved that over and over. Just read what he has done so far in his GF novel and you will see for yourself.

On topic-
GF returns. It took me 8 months to read it.

I have written books and I am not trying to put any of you down I'm just saying if you have talent show it. Somehow I don't think any gangsters would be in here because that would be absord because they like to keep a low down so they don't get discovered and I know what you mean by "who have talent so be careful" you must think I'm stupid well you're wrong

Merlin,

I don't know what the hell you are trying to say here. I can't even grasp any concept. So I'm not going to bother. You, of all people, should not be telling us anything about writing whatsoever because you have one of the worst grasps on writing I have ever seen. Good books would not exist unless people had opinions on them. The public decides how good a book is, not an author. An author may have an opinion on what their best work is, but it certainly does not mean that it's true. Anthony Burgess thought A Clockwork Orange was one of his worst books, and I LOVE it!


Anyways, a really bad book was The Painted Veil by F. Sommerset Maughm. Holy shit, what a lame ass "dainty" story.

The Doc

P.S. Hemingway's worst novel was considered to be To Have and Have Not. I read it and liked it tremendously. I suggest it to all.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DonFerro55:
[QB] Merlin,

I don't know what the hell you are trying to say here. I can't even grasp any concept. So I'm not going to bother. You, of all people, should not be telling us anything about writing whatsoever because you have one of the worst grasps on writing I have ever seen.


And it can't spell "absurd" either.

In your next post you say:

Umm, so if you haven't written a book you don't have talent?

Who are you to criticise us? You obviously haven't read anything in the Godfather IV section and PLawrence's dis-continued Godfather novel.

Well, than again, you've only been here TWO WHOLE DAYS! :rolleyes: