I've read 800 books on Booktube, here are the worst ones (with reviews!)

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
  • Hey Booktube, I've read over 800 books during my time on Booktube and after sharing my best book recommendations, I thought it was only fair to also share my reviews of the worst ones! One per genre! Lots of popular books I don't think are worth the hype!
    Best Books out of 800: • I've read 800 books on...
    More Books I Hated: • Worst Books I've Read ...
    All My Book Recommendations: amzn.to/3IBX5It
    ____ BOOKS MENTIONED ____
    The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris amzn.to/3W9hcX0
    Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami amzn.to/4cOEtD4
    The Gunslinger by Stephen King amzn.to/4cJkbec
    The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski amzn.to/3xHlDz9
    Survive the Night by Riley Sager amzn.to/4eQ1N5g
    The Housemaid by Freida McFadden amzn.to/3zDQq05
    Normal People by Sally Rooney amzn.to/4eTnvW0
    The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt amzn.to/3zyLTfK
    Attachments by Rainbow Rowell amzn.to/4cOWGAB
    The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren amzn.to/3zqcewa
    The Forever War by Joe Haldeman amzn.to/4cwiZeO
    THe Empire of the Ants by Bernard Werber amzn.to/4eNRwGV
    The Tale of Two Cities
    The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton amzn.to/4eOVgrI
    We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson amzn.to/3Wd2IWp
    Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy amzn.to/4cPKTlu
    The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay amzn.to/3L8DtOC
    ____ BACKGROUND ____
    Chair: bit.ly/4cMfnEZ
    Desk: bit.ly/4cLg1CN
    Bookcases: bit.ly/3L7HKlp
    Lamp: amzn.to/3W5aqlg
    Frames: amzn.to/45OduW0
    Plants: bit.ly/3ztxelS
    "The Giant Jar": amzn.to/4eHHg33
    ____ FILMING EQUIPMENT ____
    Camera: amzn.to/3LcMFl3
    Tripod: amzn.to/3XO5hz5
    Microphone: amzn.to/3xGBKNo
    Mic Stand: amzn.to/3RVLjiq
    Ring Light: amzn.to/4bClzi8
    ____ To support my channel & the kittens ____
    Patreon: bit.ly/2maDB7R
    Amazon Wish List: www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/...
    Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/bookswithemilyfox
    ____ FOLLOW ME!! ____
    Goodreads: bit.ly/2a9Qoki
    Beauty Channel: bit.ly/1GDi7AJ
    Twitter: bit.ly/1KQqL43
    Instagram: bit.ly/3rgnXW0

ความคิดเห็น • 216

  • @BookswithEmilyFox
    @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +12

    What are the worst books you’ve read since discovering Booktube?

    • @dearlyintrovert670
      @dearlyintrovert670 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      Imma throw out a reeeeally unpopular take here, but I still don’t understand how everyone LOVED Ready Player One. Did we… read the same book? Because I haaaaated that book. Holy hell, it was so laughably bad.

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I agree. I feel like it was mostly nostalgia for people that were born in that specific era and… people that don’t read a lot 🙈

    • @Calm_And_Peace_
      @Calm_And_Peace_ 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Vengeful, The invisible life of Addie Larue, the unfortunate side effects of heartbreak and magic.

    • @amritasengupta5251
      @amritasengupta5251 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Dnfd it😂​@@dearlyintrovert670

    • @amritasengupta5251
      @amritasengupta5251 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      ​@@Calm_And_Peace_ vicious was great as a standalone.😮😢

  • @anavargas2837
    @anavargas2837 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +147

    I love how you expose Murakami because why doesn’t anyone else?!?! I had so many of his books in my tbr and after watching your videos you better believe I’ll never be reading them. I don’t understand why they are so hyped 😭

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +32

      I don't understand!!! I get that not everyone will like every book so that's fine but why are people giving him 5 star and ignoring all this?? At least mention it in your review😭

    • @kalina2150
      @kalina2150 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

      He is really japanese about breasts and sex, nothing new or unique really even if it's weird to us. Weird author doesn't make it a bad book.

    • @oana-mariauliu5828
      @oana-mariauliu5828 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      I read a short book by him (something about a boy and a library, I don't remember the title) and didn't like it. Then I tried Norwegian Wood because there was so much hype about it, but I DNFed it. No, Murakami is not for me and I can't believe Emily had the patience to read so much.... 😅

    • @NatalyaVins-blueflower775
      @NatalyaVins-blueflower775 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      I tried reading Norwegian Wood, and I'm definitely never reading another book by him.

    • @heba6746
      @heba6746 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      I read kafka on the shore 4 years ago and I’m still traumatised

  • @melpovardaki4072
    @melpovardaki4072 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +63

    Emily, this is the cutest background you've ever had, it suits your content so much!

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

      Thank you ❤️ I’m adding/changing a few more things soon but this was way overdue!

  • @BookswithEmilyFox
    @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +73

    Dune was almost mentioned… it got lucky I hated the skinny foetuses more 😅

    • @doyourmath826
      @doyourmath826 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Guess you only read the first dune book, or it would have made the list definitely

  • @gemgerm
    @gemgerm 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +83

    It’s not a matter of if a Murakami book will be in this video but how soon it will be mentioned. 😂

  • @veronicavolumes
    @veronicavolumes 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +24

    The Goldfinch is one of my absolute favorite books bc of the way it handles themes of grief and trauma and depression. I liked it even more than The Secret History. I also think Donna Tartt is just an incredible writer prose-wise. But I get that her books, especially The Goldfinch, definitely aren’t for everyone lol

    • @jacksonwright5145
      @jacksonwright5145 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Agreed. It's my favorite book of all time 😭 My wife hates it though. She thought Theo was too whiny lol.

    • @strawberryorange3755
      @strawberryorange3755 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      It's on my top to read list. I hope it's as good as the secret history.

  • @a.r.e.j.1693
    @a.r.e.j.1693 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +39

    And you didn't get to the worst parts of The Witcher. The show removed that part: Cirilla isn't the chosen one, she's the one that must give birth to the chosen one. Everyone wants to kidnap her to impregnate her, including her biological father. She has SO MANY s.a. scenes. So fucking many, they never stop.

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +14

      I KNEW IT!!
      I had heard about the endless SA but not the pregnancy part… one of my biggest pet peeves 😭
      I shall use that when people tell me I didn’t read far enough to know or they try and minimize the sexism. It’s so obvious!

    • @a.r.e.j.1693
      @a.r.e.j.1693 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

      @@BookswithEmilyFox Oh boy, I can make a huge list about the sexism, the books are full of it. I tried to keep my comment short because I think the whole thing with Cirilla is the worst part since it's like - the entire point behind the plot. She also gets a female love interest which is handled horribly because Ciri is about to be raped by a boy and the girl saves her but then she is the one that rapes her? And they get in a fucking relationship. Also the war between kingdoms? It ends in a TIE. Nobody wins, the kingdoms decide "whatever" and the armies go back to their homes. Also there's Milva - I fucking loved her. She was being an excellent female character and it TRICKED me because nobody is allowed to be a great female character in this fucking book. So Milva joins Geralt's team and you aren't sure why, but ok I said! Backstory will be explained late, I can wait! WELP. Turns out she's pregnant and she's considering having an abortion, which makes her feel guilty so she wants to help Geralt find Ciri so she can make up for her own child by saving another child. Now one of the few things this book did wells is that it's very pro-choice, the characters tell her that if she wants to get an abortion it's fine. HOWEVER before she can make her fucking choice, SHE LOSES THE BABY IN A FIGHT. I'm still so fuckign mad.

    • @emryborge7027
      @emryborge7027 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Well that sucks. And did she give birth to “the chosen one”?

    • @a.r.e.j.1693
      @a.r.e.j.1693 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      @@emryborge7027 No. Spoilers for the ending.
      .
      .
      .
      It ends with Geralt and Yennefer dead so Cirilla leaves to travel across universes for fun. That's her power, she even accidentally brought the plague from out world to the Witcher world. In fact Geralt's team from later also dies, the only one left alive is the bard. This includes the vampire. The games brought a lot of people back to life for the sake of a sequel.

    • @kathleenbrashier2579
      @kathleenbrashier2579 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Wtf?! Why????

  • @AbeNoSeirei
    @AbeNoSeirei 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

    I've read We have always lived in the Castle just last week and it is now one of the best books of all time for me. I loved how unreliable the main character was, it was fun to try and figure out what the scenes looked like from the outside compared what went on in her head. I also loved the female friendship /sibling bond between her and her sister, it's so deep and deliciously twisted. Overall, I liked how twisted everything was and also the social commentary about class and how humans react to fear, outsiders and in-group / out-group dynamics.
    It's amusing how sometimes I 100% agree with you (Murakami, The Witcher) and sometimes I think the opposite.

  • @shellkay
    @shellkay 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +17

    Sally Rooney & I met then quickly parted ways after Normal People. I hated it that much. So bad. Thanks for helping me know better than to try Murakami.

  • @kimbratton8629
    @kimbratton8629 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +13

    Mine was the 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I was bored and felt it just dragged on. I was so taken by the hype for it, and it was a no for me!

    • @soblue1071
      @soblue1071 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Yes who wants to be bored 7 1/2 times?

  • @Stargazerlost
    @Stargazerlost 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +22

    I’m with you about Murukami’s books. Infantalizing and sexualizing female characters in the same descriptions go beyond my creep level tolerance.
    The worst romance book I’ve ever read happened this year. It’s “Love Your Life” by Sophie Kinsella. I only dip my toes into reading romance books in the summertime, but that book had the flakiest, least interesting main character that I DNF’ed the book and ran back to the fantasy genre.

  • @Melissa_77789
    @Melissa_77789 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

    “Where is Anna?” 😂 I love that you give such thoughtful feedback and the reasons why you don’t like certain books. I find it very helpful, especially for example, the reasons you gave about The Witcher and Murakami (I had my suspicions!). I’ve no interest in stuff like that so it’s nice that I don’t have to waste my time now.

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Thank you!! The reasons I might hate a book might be the reason someone wants to pick it up or something that doesn’t bother them so I try to explain it. Some books I’d just skip totally though 😂

  • @courtneyrodgers8435
    @courtneyrodgers8435 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

    Yes. I really Like The Goldfinch. It's my favorite book. It's about the writing for me.

  • @picklejuice2
    @picklejuice2 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +30

    Years ago when you first mentioned the murakami stuff i went through and took all of his books off my tbr and i’ve never looked back bc FUCKING EW

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      I had heard his female characters weren’t good but his writing was beautiful so I was still intrigued… it’s so not worth it. I wasn’t expecting it to be so bad!

  • @dailycarolina.
    @dailycarolina. 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

    We have all been misled about *_Anna Karenina_* . I enjoyed this book in general but I did struggle reading the agricultural chapters.

  • @amritasengupta5251
    @amritasengupta5251 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

    I can mention at least two Indian soaps where the girl marries her kidnapper. It is disgusting. 😢

    • @janeb9698
      @janeb9698 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      There’s also the movie Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! Same idea. Beautiful love story that starts with a kidnapping. No thank you! Antonio Banderas is cute but I just hate that premise.

  • @suzannewdowik
    @suzannewdowik 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    With thrillers, I need an answer. With horror, I typically do NOT want an answer 😂

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      I want answers for thrillers too… I want answers for everything about 95% of the time 😂

  • @AlexOnEarth777
    @AlexOnEarth777 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +13

    Always here for the Murakami and Witcher slander

  • @seekingsol
    @seekingsol 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

    This was my first booktube review, and I'm dying at the fresh takes. Thanks for making my day! (And thinning my TBR pile!)

  • @MaviStudy
    @MaviStudy 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    I'm afraid of re-reading Unhoneymooners because I loved it when I first read it but I think I would hate it now that my brain is fully developed

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      There are definitely some books I refuse to reread to not ruin the memory of them!

  • @mikalareads
    @mikalareads 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    LOVED this video Emily!!! I love hearing your bookish thoughts!

  • @hcoffeegirl
    @hcoffeegirl 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    I love The goldfinch - it is one of my favourite books of all time - I have deep connection with the topics what the book discusses - art and depression (and even a little spirituality). However I understand it is not for everyone - I have read all of Donna Tartt's books and this one was my absolute favourite. Funnily enough I did not enjoy reading The secret history, but somehow the story/characters/themes stick with you - all of her books do imo.

  • @learntofeel
    @learntofeel 48 นาทีที่ผ่านมา +1

    you NEED to read peter swanson's latest one, it's about Lily as well. I loved it, not as much as the kind worth killing, but it was a one sitting read for me and I throughly enjoyed it and would love to hear your thoughts !

  • @zadira777
    @zadira777 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    Every time you say you hate Norwegian wood, I will always appear in your comments and say that I agree with you

  • @palmapiccinino2740
    @palmapiccinino2740 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    you are an icon I love how honest you are

  • @tanyareed5165
    @tanyareed5165 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    I hated The Goldfinch. The only reason I finished it was because it was for a real life book club.

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      How did everyone feel about it?

    • @tanyareed5165
      @tanyareed5165 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      @@BookswithEmilyFox There were only about six of us because it was a work book club, but only one other person (the one with reading tastes that align with mine) hated it. The others seemed to like it to varying degrees. But that was a group that tended to love depressing books. That's my only explanation.

    • @emilycopper3643
      @emilycopper3643 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      I finished The Goldfinch and was actually in denial for a few minutes. I almost couldn't accept that I read the whole thing and it was less than 4 stars. But I came back to myself and admitted that I did not like anything about it and I only continued because I was a victim of my own pride and was convinced if I was smart enough I would "get it".

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      Ok but that last line is so real! People love to tell you you’re not smart enough and that’s why you don’t get literally fiction or classics. I feel like I’ve used my degree in French Literature more as a “got you” than anything 😂

    • @tanyareed5165
      @tanyareed5165 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      @@BookswithEmilyFox I know! I have an English degree from Dalhousie University, and they used to look at me like I was crazy if I didn't love the literary fiction books they picked out. I did enough reading what everyone else wanted me to in school. Now I read what I want, whether it's fantasy, middle grade, romance, cozy mystery, you name it (but not horror/thriller because I've had enough of those kind of books to last me a lifetime, and real life is scary enough.) Just because they think drugs, assault, kidnapping, and who knows what else is what makes a good book doesn't mean I do.

  • @martinelanglois3158
    @martinelanglois3158 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Thank you for not only saving us lots of money but also lots of hours to read something much better. ❤📚

  • @Mad.E
    @Mad.E 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I adore book un-recommendations, my to-read list is way too long, thank you for every time you help me shrink it 🙌👏

  • @Bookchara
    @Bookchara 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I have mad respect for your brutal honestly. So refreshing!

  • @badfaith4u
    @badfaith4u 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    I love this kind of video. Thank you so much for exposing problematic books.

  • @janeb9698
    @janeb9698 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Great list! You left off the epic dumpster fire that was Wise Man’s Fear, LOL, but seriously, I agree with so much of what you said, especially regarding Norwegian Wood (appallingly bad), The Forever War, Riley Sager, and The Witcher. And I totally agree that you can have a dark world without having SA left and right. I love George R R Martin but that’s actually one of my beefs with him, that he says it’s just realistic to have SA. Not necessarily. You know what’s really NOT realistic? Dragons, magic, undead armies! Whatever, I still love GRRM. And I like Steven Erikson and the Malazan series but I was absolutely incensed when Matt of Matt’s Fantasy Book Reviews went on and on about how great Malazan is but how it’s very dark and how there’s SA in it “but it’s very impactful.” UGH. This is the same guy who loves Wise Man’s Fear and thinks N K Jemisin won the Hugo only because she’s black and a woman. I ditched that channel a while ago because I couldn’t take another minute of his not so bright commentary. I will say I loved the Witcher 3 videogame. Geralt wasn’t a jerk and the monsters were really cool. The books, however, have been an enormous letdown. I didn’t even notice the worldbuilding frankly because I was too busy being appalled by the main character and the narrative voice in general. I totally get what you mean about being able to tell when it’s the author who is sexist. That is so true!!

  • @niki_bbb
    @niki_bbb 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    I read Norwegian Wood while on my first year of uni, because my classmate was obessed with this book, she built her whole identity on it. Even had a nickname "Midori". So I read it and was like :| Misogyny and internalized misogyny suck.

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Midori was like a pixie dream girl but depression edition. Hope that classmate got better

  • @adarkcornerofthelibrary
    @adarkcornerofthelibrary 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    I agree wholeheartedly about Norwegian Wood and The Housemaid- I do NOT understand who people enjoyed those books.

  • @isirlasplace91
    @isirlasplace91 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    I feel the same about Shirley Jackson's writing. A lot of people love her and I'm really honestly wondering why! I'm always left ... disappointed, unsatisfied.

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      You made me realized that I’ve also read the lottery by her and was so underwhelmed. I keep getting it as a recommendation and I’ve been wondering if I needed to reread it lol

    • @isirlasplace91
      @isirlasplace91 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@BookswithEmilyFox You don't need to torture yourself again with that one. It IS very underwhelming lol

  • @romalibra_books
    @romalibra_books 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Norwegian Wood felt like 500 pages, I was shocked when you said it was actually less than 300

  • @booklover6963
    @booklover6963 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Do you know that Christina Lauren is actually 2 authors with their names combined ?

  • @kartik3719
    @kartik3719 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    19:50 I thought for sure you were going to say The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh lmao cause I still remember you ranting about it at the end of last year 😂

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      It’s so forgettable that I didn’t even think about it 😂 it was just horribly mediocre

  • @amyh7673
    @amyh7673 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I did like We Have Always Lived in the Castle. But I can’t even say why. I’m going to try The Haunting of Hill House eventually. I recently “won” a copy of Norwegian Wood. Now I feel like I’m in some sort of Shirley Jackson “Lottery” type situation. I haven’t read Murakami and I’m not sure I even want it in the house at this point. Ugh! What a “prize.”

  • @Eppi2012
    @Eppi2012 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    On a different note, what are you wearing on your lips? :D it really suits you!

  • @natd2330
    @natd2330 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I completely agree about The Witcher. Didn’t even make it through a quarter of the first book ( can’t remember the title and don’t care to look it up) for exactly the reason you mentioned.

  • @LALALALALALDJDNCJC
    @LALALALALALDJDNCJC 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    You have inspired me to read The Neapolitan novels

  • @theresea.k5749
    @theresea.k5749 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Now I want to read ”Norwegian Wood” just for the experience😂
    Off topic: THANK YOU SO MUCH for making me read the Napoliatan series!

  • @darlenefarley8193
    @darlenefarley8193 10 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    Fun fact the rest of the books in the series Gunslinger only get more confusing

  • @natatatt
    @natatatt 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I struggled through A Tale of Two Cities as well when I read it earlier this year. Quite liked the ending but wouldn't recommend it overall. Based on that experience I expect Dickens just isn't for me.

    • @katariinablom6710
      @katariinablom6710 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I really, really disliked Oliver Twist by Dickens, so I thought he definitely just wasn’t for me, but then I actually surprisingly loved Great Expectations! Haven’t read A Tale of Two Cities, though, maybe one day

  • @lauramichelle6976
    @lauramichelle6976 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I’d be curious your thought on the Kindred graphic novel. I haven’t read that version but I keep seeing it. I love graphic novels and I love that they are adapting classics but I’m wondering if they translate well at all (since a tale of two cities doesn’t seem to have 😅)

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      I saw it existed but I refused to try it lol once was enough and I don’t want it to ruin my memory of the actual book!

    • @lauramichelle6976
      @lauramichelle6976 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@BookswithEmilyFox lol definitely why I want someone else to tell me about too😂😂😂

  • @ninaseraphina5666
    @ninaseraphina5666 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I actually really like normal people, don’t really know why but the missing quotation didn’t bother me at all. But I had to start it twice to actually finish it. So definitely getting why people think it’s boring. Currently reading the Goldfinch so skipped the part about it. I‘m not soo sure if i will finish it. 🙌

  • @aye.p
    @aye.p 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Where's Anna?? You are not alone!

  • @chloelefeufollet
    @chloelefeufollet 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Thank you very much because I finally read Dawn by Octavia E Butler mostly because of your love for her work and OMG whoa it was amazing. So yes, thank you again and again. 🌸✨🥰
    And if you have the will and the motivation I would definitely recommend you to read “we do not part” by han kang i think you might like it. (Hopefully) 🥰

  • @erinh7450
    @erinh7450 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Only thing I'd disagree with on the Murakami is it's definitely *not* historical fiction - the author was 20 years old in 1969 when it was set, the same age as the protagonist. He's writing about his own student years (at least chronologically, let's hope the cringy stuff is made up!)

  • @DanLyndon
    @DanLyndon 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I agree with so many of these, my goodness thank you for calling out this crap.

  • @richardtalavera7582
    @richardtalavera7582 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Hey Emily! Love your videos so pls don’t take this in a bad way but *spoilers* the gunslinger is a ‘mirage’ or an illusion. The book itself not the character. If you go into the second book you will be able to enjoy the story and start understanding what happened on the first one. But yeah is poorly written 😢 so I understand you dropping it

    • @richardtalavera7582
      @richardtalavera7582 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Not trying to convince you to pick it up 🙈 i just wanted to let you know is one of those experimental reading experiences so is pretty cool. Although I haven’t read them in a while so it might be a lil outdated haha

  • @deendrew36
    @deendrew36 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I gasped when you chose The Gunslinger. 😭😭😭😭😭😭
    Still love you. 🤣

  • @elfsara91
    @elfsara91 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I picked up Empire of the Ants in a charity shop not knowing anything about it. Read a couple of chapters. Put it down and brought it back to the charity shop

  • @matastrakova2179
    @matastrakova2179 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I agree with most of these, but I abslutely loved The Goldfinch. Mostly because of her stunning writing style.
    Anyway, my most hated book ever is A little life.

  • @goddessneptune
    @goddessneptune 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Watership Down and The Secret were two popular books I finished that I thought were really bad (or at least not for me). WD it’s more just a personal taste thing, The Secret, i literally don’t understand people who think that way so it actively makes me livid.

  • @thatstuff3596
    @thatstuff3596 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    i agree with everything except the Goldfinch. love that book. boris is one of my favorite book characters of all time haha

  • @andreapocze1929
    @andreapocze1929 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My most hated book is The days of abandonment from Elena Ferrante. It was a misery to read, truely. Now I am afraid to read the Neapolitan series but I am curious.

    • @andreapocze1929
      @andreapocze1929 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Oh and Indigo ridge from Devney Perry. That is actually a badly written boring story. The Ferrante one is misery to the soul, but not because of the quality of the writing.

  • @stpetersburg64
    @stpetersburg64 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I agree on Empire of the Ants-at first I thought it was an intriguing concept but as the book went on I was disappointed.

  • @panteahashemie4231
    @panteahashemie4231 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Oh my god thaaaaaaank you,eventually someone mentioned how toxic and bad unhoneymooners was.I hate that book with every single cell in my body and the fact that they call it"realistic romance"makes me sick

  • @angelaarcher2355
    @angelaarcher2355 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I couldn’t resist the call of Ice Planet Barbarians. Oh my 😂 I laughed so hard at his qui (kwi). When the male narrator started, i completely lost it!! I was running errands, laughing hysterically in my car. Even played it back so I could hear his words again. How he could keep it together for a single recording is beyond me.
    I’m not mad at this fluffy fun piece of smutty drivel.

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  10 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      I need to try the audiobook! I’ve heard that the accents make the book even funnier!

  • @annalassila4634
    @annalassila4634 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Can someone tell me what the Murakami quote was? I didn't understand 😭

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      “Here daddy, these are my tits and this is my cunt”

    • @annalassila4634
      @annalassila4634 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@BookswithEmilyFox well, that's certainly... a quote 😃😃😃

  • @jordanlewis3668
    @jordanlewis3668 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    i read attachments in high school and enjoyed it but looking back why did i not pick up how creepy that man was 😭

  • @CricutWithHanin
    @CricutWithHanin 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    You just added every book I hated. Thank you!

  • @faeryrebel7878
    @faeryrebel7878 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I enjoyed the first part of The Goldfinch but then it took a turn and I ended up really not liking it. I’m glad I’m not the only person that doesn’t like Murakami. I wondered what I was missing and now I know the answer is nothing.

  • @simonagrandolfo2991
    @simonagrandolfo2991 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    thank you as always for the quality content! I always come to you for recommendations because of your attention to details in the reviews 💜 as for my worst books per genre I can mention for
    fantasy: American gods (don't come at me, I wanted to like it for the premise and everything, but I couldn't get past the passive character and the need of the author to include every time a woman was on the scene a description of her appearance in a way I read as sexual. I've read it a couple years ago, so these are just my memories)
    thriller: the maid by Nita prose. just boring and predictable
    general fiction: hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world by Murakami, one of the worst books I've ever read in my life hands down
    romance: triple axel, don't even know WHY I read it in the first place, so that's kinda on me
    classic: the unbearable lightness of being by Kundera

  • @KYX1994
    @KYX1994 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Totally agree about We have always lived in the castle!

  • @jennawar13
    @jennawar13 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

    As far as “bad classics” totally valid if people disagree but I have never enjoyed a Joseph Conrad book. A Tale of Two Cities was also a miss for me.
    I didn’t like Final Girls by Riley Sager, One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher, Your Driver is Waiting by Priya Guns, The Dating Plan by Sara Desai, The Outsider by Stephen King and probably many more haha 😅
    But for me I am on average a high rated so it really sticks with me if I actually finish a book and it’s below 3 stars

  • @andshereadstoo7809
    @andshereadstoo7809 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I think I convinced myself I liked We always lived in a castle becuase I was shocked that it was not a banger like Haunting in hill house was for me 💀 definately liked the concept better than the final book 😭😭

  • @dianapeach
    @dianapeach 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I'm not apologising for we have always lived in the castle but I did love it. Idk it felt less like a mystery and more of a domestic tragedy. And I have always wanted a sister. And I like vengeful female characters generally.

  • @RyeMiArt
    @RyeMiArt 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    SO glad I'm not the only one who does not like We have always lived in the castle! It was so predictable and....just..bad all over. I also don't like The Picture of Dorian Gray. Took me 3 tries to finish it and honestly I should've never bother with it.
    Worst book I read this year was definitely A fate inked in blood, another booktube darling I am afraid😅
    Also please keep these coming. I love that you give us reasons you hate these books, it helps me avoid lots of bad books.

    • @lindabloom6666
      @lindabloom6666 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I hate Dorian Gray too, and everyone looks at me funny

    • @LakaciaLloyd
      @LakaciaLloyd 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle and I was confused and underwhelmed. It read kinda like a mediocre Tim Burton movie. Gothic for no reason and the main character was annoying.

  • @khadijaabdunnur6727
    @khadijaabdunnur6727 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    i didn't like attachments either. it was dreadful and boring that i dnf'd after page 50, i think.

  • @FabianRamoss
    @FabianRamoss 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    i think the worst book i’ve ever read was Love in the time of cholera. There’s a literal scene where a girl is gRape, bc she’s a minor and the protagonist is an older guy. and she k-herself bc the guy only use her for Sx. and he says that was romantic LIKE??!
    and misogyny and more gRape disguise as love. totally gross and infuriating

  • @meljstephan
    @meljstephan 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My "worst" award goes to Tell Me Everything, a book in which a random woman lies about her credentials to spread blatant misinformation about SA.

  • @zachreads
    @zachreads 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Tbh We Have Always Lived in the Castle hurt a little, I've read almost all of Shirly Jackson's books and that's my favorite.
    I don't disagree about
    The Dark Tower (books 1,4,6,7 are the worst)
    The Witcher (after the last wish it took me 5 years to give it a second chance)
    Anna K (same)
    Tale of 2 cities (I read the full version and still remember nothing)
    I just finished The Sundial by Shirly Jackson and it is older than We... Castle and used some of the same ideas and it was really bad, so I can get not liking Castle even more now.

  • @panikiczcock2891
    @panikiczcock2891 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I don't read romance bc I'm the same as you. As soon as the ML does something problematic I'm out 😂

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Right? Because how am I supposed to think it's cute when he just did something unforgivable and didn't even really apologize??? Girl, leave him 😡

  • @zelbelreader
    @zelbelreader 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Riley Sager is my bad book favorite - idk, but I weirdly love them (despite knowing they aren't the best).

  • @jacksonwright5145
    @jacksonwright5145 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    The Gunslinger is just a mess. The series does get better as King becomes a better writer, but I still only read three of those books before giving up. He's great at horror and coming-of-age stories, I just don't trust his fantasy writing abilities.
    The Goldfinch is one of my favorites, I'm so sorry you hated it! My wife also hated it lol. Maybe I identified with Theo as a guy who just loves his mom(?), but I thought it was an affecting portrayal of grief and growing up with it hanging over you all the time. I can see how many expect it to be more of a speedy art heist kind of story and not a super slow contemplation on the permanence of art and ephemerality of life. I love big, slow books, so it really worked for me.

  • @totakluska
    @totakluska 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My worst book: Złodziej Dusz (The Soul Thief). It's an urban fantasy with lots of supernatural creatures, written by a well-known and liked Polish author. There are many, many problems with this book but the one that made it for me was the fact that werewolves were based on stereotypes about black and latino people in the US 🙃

  • @Annsolo-y1z
    @Annsolo-y1z 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    About Murakami: yess!! Feels so good to hear some hate lol 😅 Why do so many people love his books??!? I can't seem to believe any reason he writes female characters this way, other than as a sort of catharsis to blurt out some pedoph***/twisted fetishes and to relieve his misogynistic frustrations. I can understand the appeal of an author exposing a genuine "dark side" of humanity, but this??! This is what gets all the love? Anyway... 😅
    About the Goldfinch... I think one of the main reasons why I really liked it is Donna Tartt's writing, which really drew me in. It was the same with Secret history: no matter whether there was action or not, whenever I started reading, I felt like I was really "in it" and it was hard to put down. It may be because it was so personal and intimate, that I really felt for the main character. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly is the "secret ingredient" that makes characters feel like real people with whom we connect, but that book did it for me.

  • @purplexzombie3371
    @purplexzombie3371 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Some of thebworst books I've read: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Girl at the Grave, Dragon Gin Doup, and Ruthless Gods

  • @SelinaSong06
    @SelinaSong06 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Waiting for the shadow of what was lost review!

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      I'm not done yet!

    • @SelinaSong06
      @SelinaSong06 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@BookswithEmilyFox I’m so excited 😆 I picked it up immediately when you said you liked it in the last video 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

  • @jenniferbngo
    @jenniferbngo 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    Here for the salt

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      You get some 🧂! And you get some 🧂! Everybody gets 🧂!

  • @soblue1071
    @soblue1071 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I hated the Family upstairs and the good girl . I hate so much when books are marketed as thrillers and then they are not thrillers just drama

  • @nicolewood1708
    @nicolewood1708 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Bunny, paul takes the form of a mortal girl, The girl on the train, clockwork orange and the picture of dorian grey are some of my least favorite books I have read.

  • @aed2069
    @aed2069 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    THANK YOU r/e Tattooist of Auschwitz. Heather Morris saw me make this argument on Instagram and started an argument with me! All I did was question her creative liberties because she claimed some characters were “real” and profited. I will never promote her works.

    • @DanLyndon
      @DanLyndon 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      One of the most shallow, manipulative cash grabs of a book/film ever.

  • @jessicabaca5186
    @jessicabaca5186 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Im so tired of my audible recommendations, doe's anyone have some hidden gems to recommend?

    • @janeb9698
      @janeb9698 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I really liked the audiobook version of Between Two Fires if you’re in the mood for medieval horror. (LOL, who doesn’t love medieval horror?!) Other Audible books I’ve enjoyed recently: Barbra Streisand’s autobiography, Michelle Obama’s Becoming and The Light We Carry, Daisy Jones and the Six, The Eye of the World read by Rosamund Pike, and The Blade Itself. Oh and the Lord of the Rings read by Andy Serkis.

    • @jessicabaca5186
      @jessicabaca5186 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @janeb9698 Thanks for the feedback. I guess I've never read medieval horror, but it sounds intriguing😁🤔

    • @janeb9698
      @janeb9698 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      That’s how it was described to me. I had done a google search for books that were similar to the videogame Dark Souls and that was one of the ones that popped up. It takes place in France during the Plague - I had in mind more of a fantasy realm so I didn’t know if I’d like it. The audiobook turned out to be free with my Audible subscription so I gave it a try - the narration blew me away! Not sure the author’s other works will be for me. Emily read one and didn’t like it, said it seemed like it was aimed at adolescent boys. But I loved Between Two Fires. There’s an extremely creepy scene with statues.

  • @audreym859
    @audreym859 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I'm so glad someone hates Norwegian Woods too. If I ever run out of toilet paper after an apocalypse, I will be using my copy.And the ending! Can we trauma-bond over the ending? Oh god. I don't care if the other ones are "different". I never want to read another Murakami. He wrote this, so I'm done with him.

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  12 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Spoiler
      I had made a joke about all the FC killing themselves after meeting/having sex with him but removed it… maybe it would have been a bit too far 😂

  • @msellenandrea
    @msellenandrea 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    My most controversial worst book is Ocean Vuongs On earth we're briefly gorgeous 😂It is definitely the book that has made me rant the most!

    • @patriciaa65
      @patriciaa65 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I didn’t enjoy that book either. I love gorgeous prose, but I didn’t get the strength of the bond between mother and son as it was marketed as

    • @msellenandrea
      @msellenandrea 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@patriciaa65 honestly, the fact that it was supposedly written to his mother grossed me out considering what he wrote about.

    • @vorgebrauchschutteln3859
      @vorgebrauchschutteln3859 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@msellenandrea But... Why? He wrote everything he will never be able to tell her about himself in a medium she definitely cannot access, how is that creepy?

    • @msellenandrea
      @msellenandrea 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@vorgebrauchschutteln3859 i know, but it still didn't work for me 😅 sometimes we just have reactions to things.

  • @michellemagriet4439
    @michellemagriet4439 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    The picture of Dorian Gray. ALOT of people’s favourite… I don’t get it. I hated it. Felt like one of the longest books to read while it’s only what, 100-ish pages? 😅

  • @haileyscrochet
    @haileyscrochet 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    The Spy by Paulo Coelho or even The Alchemist. His way of writing women definitely make me wonder if he hates us. 🤷‍♀️ The Spy had such an amazing premise where it could have been amazing - it was supposed to be about the life of Mata Hari, but it was… I have never physically tossed a book until that one. I have never been more angry for someone in my life.

  • @TAbs_00_
    @TAbs_00_ 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    The two books that always come to mind as the absolute worst of the worst are 50 Shades and Fourth Wing. Obviously I'm the problem 😂

  • @camiloflores1592
    @camiloflores1592 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I'm very lenient with my ratings, but I gave two stars to Uprooted, like wtf I didn't get the praise for that book; I found it boring, the romance completely weird.
    I knew it was a romance, but at the beginning I thought it was going to be between the protagonist and her friend and made so much sense, but suddenly the romance was with this creepy abusive mage?
    sadly it has detracted me from trying another Naomi Novik book, but someday I'll read Spinning Silver

    • @isenhobbitz
      @isenhobbitz 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I had the same reaction to Uprooted and did read Spinning Silver. Just a heads up that I don’t think you will like it either. It has similar problems. The romances are actually worse somehow and I contest that both books would have been excellent if the leads could have gone with a queer romance instead.

    • @camiloflores1592
      @camiloflores1592 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@isenhobbitz that's a bummer not gonna lie lol..but well, life's to short to be reading books that creep me up

  • @JayGTheAwkwardBookworm
    @JayGTheAwkwardBookworm 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I’ve still never read a Stephen king book 😬😂

  • @larifari4807
    @larifari4807 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Last time I skipped, when I saw the cover of "The Housemaid" in your video, because I had bought it the same day. People were recommending this book left and right online and some even said it was the best thriller they ever read. I don't read a lot of thrillers but that one was just so BAD! I guessed the "unpredictable, mindblowing twist" about 50 pages in. Maybe because I read the book "The last Mrs. Parrish" by Liv Constantine, which came out in 2018 and it had the exact same plot... who knows :D And yes, the writing was so bad. I feel like nowadays we all settle for so little effort when it comes to entertainment. And sorry, but how is no one getting tired of the naive woman trope. It is so tiring.

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  10 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I was really surprised by how bad it was! It's so popular so I expected it to be at least okay

    • @larifari4807
      @larifari4807 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Exactly... And I also read that this author has a history of stealing the plotline of other thrillers. So I will never pick up any of her books again.

  • @fealicegreen1942
    @fealicegreen1942 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

    i love that you tell why u dont like a book

  • @sheilak4223
    @sheilak4223 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My worst was eat pray & love .

  • @cynthiafialka
    @cynthiafialka 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I am happy to say that I didn’t read any of these except for The Gunslinger which I didn’t hate. 😂 Don’t even know what my worst books are, because if they’re that bad I DNF them.

    • @BookswithEmilyFox
      @BookswithEmilyFox  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Im so glad I’ve been learning to DNF books but i feel like my worst books of the year are getting boring 😂

    • @cynthiafialka
      @cynthiafialka 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@BookswithEmilyFox 😂

  • @darlenefarley8193
    @darlenefarley8193 10 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    I read the first four and hated all of them. The Gunslinger series

  • @zachreads
    @zachreads 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Here's a few of my worst
    Cryptonomicon
    Hollow kingdom
    The Bat and Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo
    The Good House
    120 Days of Sodom
    A Brief History of the Dead

  • @rdpa4019
    @rdpa4019 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    The dark tower series gets so much better from book 2. I also hated the first one but enjoyed a lot 2 and 3