I never thought I would come across a book that I couldn't wait to get rid ot. Even if the book isn't that great I will still keep it on my shelf for a while. Well, after reading Before I Die I couldn't wait to get rid of it. I passed it off to my sister who read it in one sitting (it moved her to tears).

Why did I get rid of it? The writing/storyline was great. The writer doesn't dance around the fact that her main character is dying, and I applaud her for that. The story was so believable, that I found myself from time to time thinking that this could be someone's actual "death journal" - it was that realistic to me. I could see the ending coming from a mile away, but I sitll wasn't prepared for the last few pages.  It  definately isn't something you read more then once in a lifetime, and because it felt so realitic, I had to get rid of it. I mean, who would want someone's "death journal" on their bookshelf?  

Before I Die by Jenny Downham

So has anyone else read a book that they just couldn't keep after they finished reading it? What was the name of the book, and why did you feel you had to get rid of it?

The only books I've been compelled to get rid of after reading were those I hated.  For example, I got about a third of the way through A Reliable Wife last year and then I couldn't post it fast enough.

Recently I quit One Day and I couldn't wait to post it b/c it has wisher but I persaonlly believe that once people start reading it, the wishers will go away, I thought it was horribly dull - but I maybe alone in that.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.  I forced myself to finish it.  It's still sitting on my bookshelf and I shudder every time I see it.

What a complete waste of time!

MaryF in KY

The Historian.  I almost threw it out the window I hated it that much.  It's #1 on my Worst Books Ever list.

CR

American Psycho.  What a POS that book was!  Pages and pages of drivel, then suddenly the action started and it was vile and reprehensible...this coming from someone who loves hardcore horror.  It remains the only book that I've wanted to simply toss in the trash rather than leave it sitting on my shelf.  I also hated The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and was glad to pass it on.  

Carolyn R., I really enjoyed The Historian.  :-)

Tick Tock by Dean Koontz. I regret that I'll never get those hours back.

A Reliable Wife, the Great Stink and Middle Passage.  Three of the most well written, horrible books I have ever made myself read in years.  The fourth would be The Memory Keepers Daughter.  Such a great idea for a book, so not well done.  I felt bad that all three got snapped up by another swapper.  

Ditto A Reliable Wife.  I thought it was atrocious.  Olive Kitteridge didn't fare much better.

Catch 22.  I read it for last year's Classics Challenge.  I've never been so glad to send a book off on PBS. 

The Reliable Wife also gets my vote!

Have you ever felt guilty sending a book that you hated out on PBS?  Thank goodness you don't have to say what you thought of the book when you post it! 

I second One Day.  I thought it was a horrible book.  I did end up finishing it but I wanted  to throw it against the wall toward the end. 

It's funny how we all have different taste in books. I loved One Day, and the Historian.  Hated Room, and The Road, didn't finish either.

Funny, I couldn't even get all the way through American Psycho. I think I gave up when the violence really started, and I couldn't post it fast enough. I think it might have been WL, so I got it out of the house pretty fast!

Running With Scissors was definitely another one.

Ooh, Sara! I almost put Wicked on my list as well. I HATED the book.

Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch -- I listened to the audio and absolutely hated it.  Awful writing, awful narration (by the author), utterly stupid.

The Gathering by Anne Enright -- Boring and stupid.  I finished it and thought what a complete waste of my time.

The Uses of Enchantment by Heidi Julavits.  It seemed like a good story, but it wasn't.  I can't stand Freud, and that was a big part of the story.  I never even finished this one.

Death by Rhubarb by Lou Jane Temple.  I thought this first in a cozy mystery series sound promising, but it was horrible.  I can't really remember what I hated about it, but I know I won't be reading any of this author's work again.

and yes, I do feel a little guilty when someone orders a book that I hated, but I know to each his own.  I loved Wicked!  :D

My 1st pick would be American Psycho....I had to read the whole thing, not sure why I did.  I hated it all the way through but I couldn't put it down.  I posted it as soon as I was done with it. 

Oh, and Under the Skin by Michel Faber

I'm sure that there are more, will have to come back when I remember.

I couldn't wait to get rid of The Davinci Code.  I just didn't get what the hype was about.  I found it to be cheesy and predictable and I whined the whole way through the book!  There are soo many better mysteries out there.

I liked A Reliable Wife and the Historian.

I wanted to burn The Rebel Bride by Catherine Coulter. 

I absolutely hated the few pages I read of Wicked.  Couldn't wait to be rid of that one.  There was another completely forgettable book awhile back that I don't even remember the title.  I threw that one in the trash because I couldn't even bear passing that one on to anyone. 

Has anyone been so disgusted with a book that they threw it away instead?  I guess that's my throw it against the wall moment.

Uh-oh...I'm planning on reading Wicked for one of the challenges....this doesn't bode well....

I haven't read American Psycho, but I saw the movie.  Not sure how close they resemble one another, but the movie was sick.  I didn't hate the movie, but it just makes you feel dirty ...lol