However, there are SEVERAL books I am inspired to never ever read thanks to the reviews or comments by bloggers, and I've been thinking more about those lately. So I am answering this question with a twist, because that's just how I roll. And I think it's more fun!
New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn — My 28-year-old Twilight-fan of a boss lent this to me for an upcoming weekend roadtrip, insisting it was a good read. I wasn't particularly excited about reading it, but I like to read the really popular things to find out what all the fuss is about. Also, I often possess an unnatural affection towards teen and tween-geared entertainment (ie: High School Musical), so I tried to read with an open mind (though I refused to read it on public transportation or in front of strangers who could judge me). It was a good quick roadtrip read, but holy god, BARF. Bella is an annoyingly weak character, and Meyer's reinvented vampires are ridiculous (sparkle? Really?). After reading on a blog that the later books in the series involve crazy sex, parasitic fetuses, and vampire abortions, I just laughed and said, "Of course they do." And I'm sure her tween audience ate that shit up. I know I would find these books absolutely terrible, but I'm unsure as to which is worse: these books or their movie versions with the two most boring, brooding actors on the face of the Earth. Just consider me a Buffy girl for life.
Catching Fire — The week this came out, I pretty much just marked everything in my Google Reader as "read." EVERYONE seemed to review this, which made for really boring blog reading. Also, it made me so sick of the damn cover art. I'm sure it's great and all and I realize that I am not giving it a fair chance, but overexposure turned me off. I refuse to read on principle.
J.M. Coetzee — Jackie @ Farmlane Books reviewed Coetzee's Summertime. It was a great review, but I have a history with Coetzee, one that is not pretty. During my Sophomore year of college, my friends seemed to go through a Coetzee phase, and I tried to hop on board. Mostly I tried to hop on board with the ulterior motive of impressing my now-boyfriend (yes, books were my means to an end), and I tried to like Coetzee so we could have inspiring literary discussions. But I can't like him. He looks like a very nice man, and I know he deserves a great deal of literary merit, but he bores me to DEATH. Jackie's review just released all those pent-up feelings about Coetzee and reminded me I should never read him again. You got me, Coetzee. I give up!
Any books you just can't wait to never pick up?
