Books Hated By Critics, Loved by Everyone Else

[BAYLOR]

Okay ive done book loved by critic and hated You . In this topic , Let' turn it around and do books that the critics either hate or ignore. But find favor everyone.

 

[Michael Colton]

Les Miserables was widely panned and even referred to as infantile when it was first released. The other common answer is the Twilight series. I have never read them, but the critical and general panning of them was drowned out by the copies sold.

 

[Elvraie]

Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. Hated by a wide spectrum of critics, adored by a legion of fans.

 

[zaltys13]

Same applies to The Da Vinci Code, I've never read it.

 

[Michael Colton]

Same applies to The Da Vinci Code, I've never read it.

There supposedly was a study done, I do not know the accuracy or validity of it, that showed those books were the most given away to thrift stores and the like - suggesting that it was widely purchased but often given away. It is one of those books that has boggled my mind, because I know countless people that read it but have yet to meet anyone that actually enjoyed reading it.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

There supposedly was a study done, I do not know the accuracy or validity of it, that showed those books were the most given away to thrift stores and the like - suggesting that it was widely purchased but often given away. It is one of those books that has boggled my mind, because I know countless people that read it but have yet to meet anyone that actually enjoyed reading it.

I enjoyed reading it. It was a good page turner.

I enjoyed reading mine but it wasn't a keeper and I gave it to the charity shop after I had read it along with several other paperbacks.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

The Charity shops here are stuffed full of Dan Brown books. Also other "high profile" hyped general media books. One shop though never puts out SF&F! They dump it!!!!

 

[zaltys13]

There supposedly was a study done, I do not know the accuracy or validity of it, that showed those books were the most given away to thrift stores and the like - suggesting that it was widely purchased but often given away. It is one of those books that has boggled my mind, because I know countless people that read it but have yet to meet anyone that actually enjoyed reading it.

I see many copies of Dan Brown books in charity shops/thrift stores, I always assumed that people who didn't read much, or don't collect books read them and then pass them on which is why there are so many about.

I do something similar myself, I enjoy reading thrillers but have no desire to keep them on my shelf.

 

[Randy M.]

[...] I enjoy reading thrillers but have no desire to keep them on my shelf.

Me, too, with a few exceptions.

Anyway ...

In general, critics hate mysteries, with exceptions like The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Moonstone, Rebecca and The Maltese Falcon. For a large chunk of the 20th century mysteries were the biggest seller in genre fiction, with the possible exception of romances.

Critics were divided on the Harry Potter series. Whatever power the books had when published was probably exponentially increased by the movies; like Gone with the Wind they will probably last a long time because of that.

Critics widely panned Moby Dick when it was first published. Later critics essentially thought the earlier critics demented and eventually general readers caught up.

Critics hate Stephen King. Except the ones who don't, but the former are vocal and number Harold Bloom among their number and Bloom is worth listening to. Like all critics, though, he has blind spots. It's interesting that so many writers read and enjoy King's work.

Which leads to, Critics hate horror. And there's a lot to dislike in the publisher genre of horror, but that's not all there is and most critics seem to know that, though not all. As with s.f., if it's good it can't be horror, if it's horror it can't be good.

And all mystery, sf, horror and fantasy readers hate critics, because critics have a despicable urge to call out bad or lazy writing, poor thinking and over-used tropes, even the ones who otherwise say sensible things. Okay, maybe not all of the ones who say sensible things. But all genre readers hate Edmund Wilson who had no truck with genre, bashing detective stories (but not Sherlock Holmes or the beginning of The Big Sleep), H. P. Lovecraft (even while finding HPL's letters of interest), LOTR (but not The Hobbit which he had enjoyed reading to his daughter [I think daughter]), and ghost stories (while criticizing Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural, though in turn offering interesting suggestions for a scary anthology he'd consider putting together). In return, Wilson is remembered by a host of genre readers in terms that would make an Orc blush, but not so much by general readers.

I recall Wilson making a useful distinction, though. There are works like Middlemarch and Moby Dick that are classics because they explore territory -- content, style, whatever -- no earlier work did, and do it better than any other work; there is an aesthetic appeal to them that always draws some admirerers. Then there are popular classics like Treasure Island or the Sherlock Holmes stories that appeal to generations of readers who keep them in print. Most of the books we're talking about here are either flash-in-the-pan successes that will eventually fade away (anyone here still read Robert Chambers' romances? -- from what I've read about Dan Brown's stories, they might fade over time) or works that become popular classics (maybe the Potter books; I do think the movies increase the chances of this). With popular classics later critics usually come around to appreciate them.


Randy M.

 

[Heather Myst]

I must be the one person who loved The Davinci Code. I also liked Angels and Demons. The history involved and the short chapters that made for an easy read were really enjoyable for me.

 

[Dinosaur]

Rea

Same applies to The Da Vinci Code, I've never read it.

Read the first chapter and after the info dumps that put military sci-fi to shame decided it wasn't for me.

The first Harry Potter books were written off as worst witch ripoff from memory.

 

[Bick]

I'll also admit to having enjoyed the Da Vinci Code. Good romp. I still have it somewhere, though it's not the kind of book you re-read - but that's a genre thing rather than a quality thing I think.

Critics don't seem to care much for Alan Dean Foster, but he's one of my favourite SF writers.

 

[Vertigo]

Isn't The Lord of the Rings one of the books most loved by its readers and slated by critics?

 

[Bick]

Isn't The Lord of the Rings one of the books most loved by its readers and slated by critics?

My impression has always been that it has received critical acclaim, at least in the main. Perhaps I'm wrong on that?

 

[Vertigo]

To be honest I'm no expert on literary critics so I may very well be wrong in this. I'm just sure I heard it somewhere, probably on TV

 

[BAYLOR]

Same applies to The Da Vinci Code, I've never read it.

Actually , its fun book to read.

 

[tobl]

There supposedly was a study done, I do not know the accuracy or validity of it, that showed those books were the most given away to thrift stores and the like - suggesting that it was widely purchased but often given away. It is one of those books that has boggled my mind, because I know countless people that read it but have yet to meet anyone that actually enjoyed reading it.

here, you met one

 

[Vince W]

Actually , its fun book to read.

Sorry, I have to agree with Stephen Fry.

 

[BAYLOR]

Sorry, I have to agree with Stephen Fry.

Its pure historical Hokum but fun.

 

[Narkalui]

It was a fun read, but it was still trash