These popular novels are beloved by many, but I hate them. ORACLE PHOTO/ LIV BAKER
As an English major, it's not uncommon for me to have to read books that don't appeal to me, but I've learned how to suppress my distress and keep reading.
From young adult novels to British classics, there are many books that literary fans consider must-read. Like many other readers, I tend to gravitate towards popular novels that receive rave reviews on social media.
Most of the stories I was inspired to read have stood the test of time, but others were a total brain waste.
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Below are some of the most heartbreaking novels I've read recently, a list of books you shouldn't read this summer.
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
This was one of those books I really wanted to enjoy.
Literature students always rave about this novel, but it's no exaggeration to say that it's the most boring book I've ever had the misfortune of reading.
The novel has no plot, and the only thing that drives the story is the protagonist Lizzie Bennet's romantic relationships.
It's like one long gossip column. I don't care that Lizzy married Darcy, or that they were considerate enough to overcome their pride and prejudice. I don't care at all. This isn't even a good love story.
It's still long for a book with no content: 448 pages of absolutely nothing.
A similar but worthwhile read is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Both novels have strong female protagonists, but Bronte's is far more dramatic and full of poignant quotes.
“Gone Girl” Gillian Flynn
This story is a favorite of many, but if there was ever a book that deserved to be “cancelled” and banned, it's this one.
It's a brilliant work that portrays the ups and downs of married life and blurs the line between love and obsession. The entire story revolves around Amy and her desire for revenge against her husband.
But Amy isn't a hero who embraces her dark femininity; she's actually just crazy and manipulative. I think touting her as a “revenge-seeking girlboss” is a really dangerous argument that overlooks her role as an equal abuser in her marriage.
Maybe I just like having a clear antagonist in my stories.
Another book that offers the same mysterious storyline is the Pretty Little Liars series, which is just as fascinating, if not more exciting.
“The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton
Most people I've spoken to who've read The Outsiders loved it, and it's a great coming-of-age story, but the book and none of the characters resonated with me.
Very little of importance happens in this book, and it's full of 50's clichés – “Golly gee!” is used at least once per chapter.
There are also way too many characters with weird nicknames that are hard to remember, and half of them aren't essential to the story.
A similar young adult novel set in the same period is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Both books present a cynical view of American society, but Salinger's focus on one main character makes it easier to read.
“Looking for Alaska” by John Green
As a victim of the John Green Tumblr boom of the 2010s, this book was a surprising disappointment for me.
The story was fun and the dialogue provided plenty of laughs, but the main character, Alaska, was cliché and overall unbearable.
As I said before, the plot is memorable, it defies the happily ever after cliché, it ends in tragedy, and I hate how one of John Green's most beloved protagonists is so reckless and full of forced pretense.
My personal favorite of John Green's works is The Fault in Our Stars, which dominated internet culture when I was in my early teens.
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In the end, I'm happy just to say I've read all of these books.
I love being able to cross books off my to-read list and form my own opinions on books that have been beloved by so many over the years.
Of course, what books you like and dislike is subjective.
That's the great thing about art and literature: you can absorb what speaks to you and discard everything that doesn't.
