The Q: What’s the Most Over-Rated Book?
We’ve all read a book that our friends have ranted and raved about, finished the final sentence of the final page and thought, “That was lame. My friends should get their heads checked.” Every time I tell folks that I didn’t like The Great Gatsby, they look at me like I just called them ugly. What books do you think are over-rated?
We've all read a book that our friends have ranted and raved about, finished the final sentence of the final page and thought, "That was lame. My friends should get their heads checked."
Every time I tell folks that I didn't like The Great Gatsby, they look at me like I just called them ugly. I generally catch an earful like a rebellious teenager who broke curfew and got my forehead pierced. But the truth is, I didn't enjoy The Great Gatsby. And while I'm certainly willing to concede that it has a monumental place in the history of American Literature, I'm also adamant in my view that the book is over-rated and I'd much rather be curled up on the couch with Catcher in the Rye or Lord of the Flies or Dave Barry Slept Here. In fact, if the choices were between The Great Gatsby and the instruction on how to work our DVR, I'd hate to tell you which way I'd be leaning.
Certainly you have a book (or books) that everyone claims to love but you don't. So the Q for you is this: What do you think is the most over-rated book? Leave it in the comments section so we can all discuss (and you can even mention why I'm crazy for not liking The Great Gatsby).
And if you name one of my favorites, I promise I won't scold you as if you broke curfew. I may take you off my Christmas card list, though.
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Brian A. Klems is the former Senior Online Editor of Writer’s Digest, and author of Oh Boy, You’re Having a Girl (Adams Media/Simon & Schuster). Follow him on Twitter @BrianKlems.
