Recommending Books I Didn’t Like #2

I’m definitely of the opinion that taste is subjective. Which is why, what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. That’s why I want to recognise books that have a lot going for them, but sadly weren’t my cup of tea. Writing a post like this can be a real challenge- and yet I’m here for round #2 because I relish the chance to give books the kudos they deserve… even if they weren’t quite my jam! Today I’ve chosen books that could easily turn out to be five star reads for someone else! Let’s get to it!

Eye of the World– having watched the show (and yes hearing all the ways it differs from the books) I can now say that it has a really interesting story. So much so that even though I didn’t enjoy the first book because of the writing style, I’m keen to give the series another go. It doesn’t hurt that I’m told it’s a story about hope- which is exactly the kind of fantasy I’m often looking for!

Romanovs– I was kinda numb by the time I got to the end of this monstrosity mammoth book- but the last section is worth reading and it’s an absolutely comprehensive study.

Gormenghast– I didn’t love this story, but it could be because it was very overhyped for me. What I will say is that the descriptions are so visual and I can still remember the feel of the book- even if I didn’t love it as I hoped I might. It’s a one of a kind book that will stick in your mind.

Handmaid’s Tale– love it or loathe it, you can’t deny its cultural significance or Atwood’s talent. Even if I felt tripped up by the world-building, I can attest to this being the kind of book you won’t forget in a hurry. 

Slaughterhouse Five– this is a rec straight from my sister, who loves Vonnegut and wanted me to try it. And it certainly has a striking writing style, even if it wasn’t for me.

Station Eleven– this one is an easy one to recommend, since the only reason I didn’t like this book was because of timing. So I can definitely say it’s a well-written and intense experience… just maybe hold off on it until you’re reading books set in an apocalypse caused by a pandemic.

Fifth Season– this is also easy to recommend- especially since I didn’t dislike this one per se. I just didn’t love it as much as I thought it would. But there is absolutely no denying the quality of the work or that it is doing something entirely unique.

To the Lighthouse– I mentioned Virginia Woolf in my last post, yet I also wanted to mention that I love her writing on a sentence-by-sentence level.

Sons and Lovers– this is another one I didn’t hate- but I find it a little emotional for me and this may be the only opportunity I have to recommend it. It’s beautifully written and a really moving story.

Grief is a Thing with Feathers– this is definitely an unusual book that divides opinion- and the only way to find out which side you fall on is to go ahead and read it. While I didn’t get as much out of this as I hoped, I think it does have some profound insight into the process of grieving.

So, what do you think? Would you recommend any of these too? And what books that you didn’t like would you recommend? Let me know in the comments!