In which I am remembering how much I hated that book

June 16, 2009

Instead of my favourite books (which I write about a lot), I thought we’d take a break.

Here are the books I hated.

1. The Excellent Wife – this was one I actually chucked into the street. My neighbour was mowing the lawn and saw me fire it out the door. I hollered that it was a terrible book and I’d dispose of it properly later. I think he did it for me because when I finally relented and went to clean up, it was gone.

2. Babywise also including the whole “Growing Kids God’s Way” materials. When I’m at the bookstore and I see them displayed, I actually try to hide them.

3. Christian fiction Amish books. Seriously. Aren’t we about done with the books about the Quakers?

4. The Sisterchicks books. A lot of women I knew raved about them. So I picked up a couple from the library. At least I didn’t spend money on them. *shudder* But I’ll never get those couple of hours back.

5. Why We’re Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be I have my own critiques of the Emerging Church and so was interested to read this. But I found it loveless, harsh and deliberately misleading. To be honest, I hate most “critique” type books though. I hate when someone publishes a book just to say the other guy is doing it wrong.

What about you? What are the books you’ve hated?

post signature

0
  • Sarah

    Ya, Babywise is at the top of my list. I know a lot of well-meaning people have been told this book is the "Christian" way to handle babies. But in my assessment (and that of several pediatricians), it advocates abuse. I hate it. God is not an abusive controller – and nothing about that approach reflects his nature. End of rant. American-Super-Opinion shoved neatly back into pocket to be pulled out again when necessary. ;)

  • Sara

    "Babywise" ruined mine and Cale's life for the first few weeks.

    I'd like to add "I Kissed Dating Goodbye." It made me think, at 18, that I had to "date Jesus" or marry the next guy I went on a date with. Too much pressure!

  • Bethany

    Babywise. Hate it.

  • Brittaney

    Oh the Amish books, don't even get me started. Incredibly boring with no redeeming value and yet they multiply like rabbits. Who is reading those books??

    Another one I hated was The Accidental Husband. I took a chance and picked it up at the library. Won't be doing that again.

    Also have trouble with some of the classics. Hated of Mice and Men, it just seemed cruel. Got sick to my stomach reading Lord of the Flies. Ended up requesting to read Ivanhoe for my senior paper instead.

    I try to forestall hating a book by reading the ending first. If I don't like the end I don't read the book. It works pretty well

  • Mary

    I so agree on Babywise. Babyfoolish is what they should call it. I hate it so much I have no tolerance for people who say "well, it's working for us". Is it now? I want to scream at them.

    I agree on the Emergent critique. I'm so sick of it too. Most of it is mean spirited, as you point out, and very selective in its examples of excess or error and representing them as the norm. I have an old friend who does a big Apologetics radio show in LA who rips the emergent movement and I told him flat out I have NEVER seen anything even close to what he claims is happening out there. I don't care that he has a PhD after his name. He's wrong.

    I am pretty selective about what I read since I work full time with two kids. No time to read makes being picky a high priority. I usually only read something if it's recommended by a good source.