What book have you read that wasn’t subjectively “bad” but you regrets reading all the same?

For me, Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter. The book was engaging and it kept me on my toes, but I just with I hadn’t “poisoned my head” with all the graphic gore that was in there. I years later i still think about this and how I really wish I had never read it.

Question inspired by a comment /u/PrincessOfWales made in another thread :)

  • trash_babe@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I read The Road for a class at the beginning of a depressive episode. I then had to read a semesters worth of Cormac McCarthy books, including Blood Meridian and Outer Dark. I really appreciate his skill as an author but my god the last thing I needed to do at that time was deeply read and analyze those books for hours on end. I want to finish the Border Trilogy but it’s been 12 years and this lady still needs a break from that level of bleakness.

    • Fragrant_Tale1428@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Omg. That sounds absolutely horrible. I’m so glad you were able to find your way out and through that. What a resilient being you are!

    • katchoo1@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      I had that experience with James Ellroy. Incredible writer but bleak and misanthropic world view. And I understand that McCarthy is several notches beyond that so I’m probably never gonna read that guy.