I am curious to see what you guys think to be some of the most under rated books out there and furthermore, which titles you feel are OVER rated. and, of course, why.
Here in Utah almost all the books that are not related the Latter-day Saints are very under rated. So unless you have someplace like this discussion group a lot of good books are missed and unless you request them the libraries don't buy them. I guess that is unusually. I will be interested to hear what others say.
Toni
Toni L. Chapman Everyone needs some Tender Loving Care
I think one of the most underrated books would be Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel. A lot of people have not heard of it, but it is my favorite book of all time. It was written in the eighties I think, about a young woman in college who struggles with her depression and drug addictions. Unlike James Frey's novel it is much darker and to me more "literay." I know Wurtzel won a journalism award from Rolling Stone when she was in high school, and her writing is some of the most amazing I have ever read. Her metaphors, word choice, and style are sweeping and beautiful. From someone who has gone through depression himself, I can say that this is the most fundmental, deep-rooted, depiction of it. While her insanity in the book is a little almost over the top, you being to go with her on her journey and are swept up in the story. It is raw and real and just natural. Anyway, if anyone has read this let me know what you think about it
I've have never heard of it, but I will totally check it out. so many writers have written of their struggle with depression and things related and it sounds like the book you mentioned is not the same-old cliche stuff. thanks, hope to hear from more people soon! Ryan Back
Over rated - Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy .. Enders Game .. HARRY POTTER .. Under rated - The Hardy Boys series. (I think they need to be updated and reprinted) Of course I'm kidding about the Hardy Boys, it's hard to label a book as underrated because certain books get great reviews but aren't ever adopted by the mainstream. But overrated is easy. The deviance Code was alright, but people received it like it was the best literary publishing ever. It wasn't.
The Secret History is seriously overrated. I found out about this author because another book - the Little Friend (or something similar) was being released and I figured it would be a good idea to read her first book. Let me just say The Secret History was horrible and extremely anti-climactic. I think the author was trying to fit an entire television series concept into a novel, details and all, it was just boring! Anyone else read this book and feel the same way?
kioman wrote: Over rated - Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy .. Enders Game .. HARRY POTTER .. Under rated - The Hardy Boys series. (I think they need to be updated and reprinted) Of course I'm kidding about the Hardy Boys, it's hard to label a book as underrated because certain books get great reviews but aren't ever adopted by the mainstream. But overrated is easy. The deviance Code was alright, but people received it like it was the best literary publishing ever. It wasn't.
I agree the Da Vinci Code was overrated. With all the hype about the book I borrowed it from my friend and once i finished it was a what's all the hype about kinda moment. It was a good book but the way the media talked about it I thought it would be a great book.I thought that Angels and Demons was ten times better. Harry Potter is also overrated. While the books are good i don't think they're great enough to warrent standing in line at night to buy a book that will probably be made into a bad movie in a few years.
a room without books is like a body without a soul - Cicero (attributed)
I think The Secret by Rhonda Byrne is over-rated. The material or concepts are not new. I do not feel that Harry Potter is over-rated. The advertising hype for each new book may go overboard. But the books themselves create a wonderful fantasy world with great characters and adventures. I'm not really into the fantasy genre but I think this series shows a very creative and talented author. Librarian
The Secret drove my husband NUTS but some of my friends really liked it.
I thought all the Harry Potter spin-offs and those books about "what will happen in the next Harry Potter" were overkill, but then my daughter bought one of the latter, and she loved it. She said it gave her insights into a lot of aspects of the books that she had missed, and it made her even more excited for the new one to come out.
I've been reading a lot of the fantasy books, and I recently finished Twilight and New Moon (S. Meyer). Those two books were amazing and I wanted to find some more books that were along the same lines. I saw some recommendations for the Daughters of the Moon series. Well, I bought some from that series and they're ok... Facts are repeated a lot throughout the book and you get bored by the middle and you don't want to read anymore. I liked the series i just don't think that they were fantastic.
Babyashangel wrote: I've been reading a lot of the fantasy books, and I recently finished Twilight and New Moon (S. Meyer). Those two books were amazing and I wanted to find some more books that were along the same lines. I saw some recommendations for the Daughters of the Moon series. Well, I bought some from that series and they're ok... Facts are repeated a lot throughout the book and you get bored by the middle and you don't want to read anymore. I liked the series I just don't think that they were fantastic.
Are you going to read the third book by Stephenie Meyer, of that same series? I believe it is called Eclipse. Right now I am in the beginning of Twilight.
Babyashangel wrote: I've been reading a lot of the fantasy books, and I recently finished Twilight and New Moon (S. Meyer). Those two books were amazing and I wanted to find some more books that were along the same lines. I saw some recommendations for the Daughters of the Moon series. Well, I bought some from that series and they're ok... Facts are repeated a lot throughout the book and you get bored by the middle and you don't want to read anymore. I liked the series I just don't think that they were fantastic.
Are you going to read the third book by Stephenie Meyer, of that same series? I believe it is called Eclipse. Right now I am in the beginning of Twilight.
I'm curious to hear what you thought of New Moon compared to Twilight. I've heard a lot of people liked the first one a lot better. I did enjoy Twilight and will get the next one soon. I have to see where the series goes.
joeamerlot wrote: Harry Potter IS overated but it represents the most fantastic marketing and literary P.R. of the 21st century.
I also hate bestellers allowed to be published under the name of deceased writers (ex: Robert Ludlum) by the hungry estates of the dead authors.
I'll second that -- not just the faux-Ludlums, but also those so-called Agatha Christie books written by another author who is not remotely as good a writer as she was.
I had not heard of such a thing, but you are right the second book was just a little bit slower than the first. I think to me it was becasue there was not as much of Edward and there was more of her just sitting around waiting. I think the third book should be good and I hear there will be a fourth!
