Bottom 6 Books Read So Far 2024
Last week, I wrote a post about the top 12 books I have read this year so far. I have a personal rule that I try to read a book all the way through, even if I need to power through it. Although I enjoyed most of the books I read, I encountered some that I could not get into and barely finished. Here are the bottom six books I have read so far.
1. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
I sprinkled in some literary classics in my reading list for the year, so I read “The Catcher in the Rye.” I wanted to like “The Catcher in the Rye,” but it was hard not to be frustrated with the main character, Holden. Holden’s character, while intentionally complex, comes across as overwhelmingly negative and tiresome. His incessant cynicism and relentless judgment of others make him a difficult character to empathize with. His whining and lack of self-awareness were grating. Holden’s refusal to accept help or acknowledge the love and care offered by the people around him, like his sister Phoebe, paints him as obstinately self-destructive.
I give “The Catcher in the Rye” one out of five stars because Holden was insufferable and unrelatable to me. I could see how a student in middle school could relate to him, but for me, even if I were in middle school, I could not relate to him.
2. Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering
“Tell Me Lies” disappointed me with its predictable plot and unlikable characters, although the characters were not meant to be likable. The story centers on the toxic relationship between Lucy and Stephen, but instead of focusing on their complexity, the narrative often feels repetitive and shallow. Lucy's obsession with Stephen quickly became tiresome, and her lack of growth throughout the book makes it difficult to sympathize with her.
Stephen, on the other hand, was a manipulative and self-serving character without any redeeming qualities. This one-dimensional portrayal failed to provide insight into his motivations or make him an intriguing antagonist. The novel relied on clichés and overused tropes that took away from its potential impact.
I give “Tell Me Lies” two out of five stars because its aim to explore the darker side of love fell flat and left me frustrated with the characters.
3. Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls
Last year, I read Jeannette Walls’ memoir “The Glass Castle,” so I was looking forward to reading “Hang the Moon.” I enjoyed each of the characters, and I thought that each of them made the main character Sallie look better. What I did not like about the book was that the plot was not interesting. The book could have been cut in half, and the story would still be the same. Most of the time, we just read about Sallie going about her daily life, nothing interesting. The summary led me to think that Sallie was a successful bootlegger, kind of like a female Al Capone, but Sallie did not start bootlegging until three-quarters of the way through.
I give “Hang the Moon” two out of five stars because the characters were at least interesting, even if the plot was not.
4. Medea by Eilish Quin
“Medea” took on a new angle on the story of Medea, the mythological witch who was infamous for killing her children. I added this book to my reading list because I thought it would read like “The Song of Achilles,” but it did not. I enjoyed the story of Medea, but the story stayed the same. In many other retellings of Greek mythology, the story would take on a new angle of the characters to make the reader sympathize with them. I could not sympathize with Medea. She was self-destructive and quite manipulative. Although Medea’s story was interesting, I give that credit to the mythology rather than to the writer.
“Medea” gets two out of five stars because the story was still interesting, even if the characters were not.
5. Hooked by Emily McIntire
“Hooked” was a dark romance that reimagined the classic Peter Pan tale, focused on the character of Hook (also known as James). The story painted a new angle on Captain Hook’s story and transformed him into a nuanced anti-hero. The story was filled with intense, passionate romance and characters that pulled me into a gritty, atmospheric setting. While the mature themes and uneven pacing do not appeal to me, the dark romance and imaginative retelling of Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and Wendy pulled me into the story.
“Hooked” gets three out of five stars for its intriguing new angle on a classic story.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
I enjoy a good fantasy series, and “Graceling” had the potential to be an engaging fantasy but ultimately fell short due to uneven pacing, underdeveloped characters, and lackluster world-building. The main character, Katsa, felt like a one-dimensional Mary Sue, and her romance with Po lacked genuine chemistry. If Katsa and Po had remained friends, I could believe their relationship more. The antagonist, King Leck, was a clichéd figure with unexplored motivations. Despite an intriguing concept of Graces, the execution was inconsistent, and the writing style was often clunky and repetitive.
I give “Graceling” three out of five stars. The idea of the plot was good, and the series continues with four more books. Maybe the series gets better, but I will not continue reading it.
****
These are some of my least favorite books I have read in 2024 so far. For me, a good book is a reflection of the characters within the book. I found that I rank books lower if the characters are unlikable, as is the case with “Tell Me Lies,” but overall, I did not enjoy these books as much.
