Ok bookworms, don’t get mad at me for this one because I know there are a lot of fandoms out there and a lot of you probably like this one. The most overrated book in my opinion is Twilight by Stephanie Meyers (the whole series actually).
I feel like everyone knows the synopsis of this book but I will still put one just in case.
Synopsis: In the first book of the Twilight Saga, internationally bestselling author Stephenie Meyer introduces Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, a pair of star-crossed lovers whose forbidden relationship ripens against the backdrop of small-town suspicion and a mysterious coven of vampires. This is a love story with bite.
Now don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the book and read the entire series in high school. But the reason I think this book is very overrated is because it received so much attention from the media and was over sexualized with actors/actresses (plus it started the whole vampire fetish thing that went on for awhile).
Stephanie Meyers is a brilliant writer and knows exactly what to say in her books to draw her audience in. She knows how to get a teen girl’s blood pumping with promise of forbidden love and fangs/fur.
Let me know what you think is the most overrated book in the comments! I am very curious to see what everyone else thinks on this topic 🙂
Definitely agree that Twilight is up there – I would also say The Hunger Games is overrated! But because it made dystopian novels popular, I have to give it some credit. I just didn’t enjoy its plot, unfortunately.
Fair enough! I agree with you on the introduction to popularity within dystopian futures. I am glad this happened because these are my types of books 😀
Fifty Shades of Gray. Ugh!😒
Twilight wasn’t over-rated. It was just horrible. Next to useless feminine character, all weepy and emotionalized into paralysis.What a lousy role model for young women. Where’s Buffy when you need her?
Angelus “That’s everything huh? No weapons. No friends, No hope. Take all that away and what’s left?”
Buffy: “Me” (proceeds to kick his ass, then kills the love of her life to save the world).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKYg8A_QUKk
Most over-rated book, for me, was Oryx and Crake. It was basically a story that’s been done many times before, and was only published because it had Atwood’s name attached. Otherwise, the publisher might have said, “unoriginal and derivative”.
Granted, many people really liked it, but I suspect that was because they’re the type of people who wouldn’t read apocalyptic literature in the first place: they’d go with “serious” literature written by Atwood, Richler, Findlay, Hemmingway, Steinbeck, etc. Therefore, their first foray into apocalyptic writing would be Atwood, and if that is your first experience to this “end of the world” scenario you would like it. I certainly would have loved it (probably).
Not saying it was a bad book, it was good, but I’ve read better on the same subject by lesser known authors. The accolades given Atwood’s book though were just over-the-top. Most of them had probably never read a sci-fi/futuristic type book in their lives.
YES! Buffy is amazing and I have read most of her comics and watched the entire show.
I have never read Oryx and Crake but have had many people tell me about it and my one friends swears by it. I do agree that it most likely received the attention it did because of the author!
Still I liked twilight. I didn’t think it was that bad. Also liked the hunger games, though her style was a bit weird. I was reading it and correcting it at the same time. But yes both overrated but that just purely because of the movies.
Agreed I still liked them, they were just over commercialized but hey it brought more attention to good books so its a win win.
I would agree. I couldn’t finish it.
Although I did enjoy Twilight – waaay back – the sparkly vampire stuff always got on my nerves. Apart from that, I might be a bit convinced that I’d definitely not like the books now? Weepy Bella: definitely! I used to be so timid back when I read those books, which is completely not the case anymore.. *coughs* so I’m thinking she might get a whole lot more on my nerves now..
I can’t really think of another book that I’d say is definitely overrated.. I read too many good books lately, haha! :’)
Haha yea Bella wasn’t exactly the strong female character that is mainly portrayed in most YA now.
On the contrary, haha. But right now I also feel like she doesn’t really evolve into a strong character either. Although I could be wrong since it’s been so long..
She eventually becomes a vampire in the end and is “strong and beautiful” but it took 4 books to get there and even then she is still not the ideal role model female character.
Physically strong and beautiful still doesn’t make for a strong character, haha. :’)
Oh I agree with you, that’s why I put that in quotes *picture me doing air quotes*
Blame it on today being Monday that I ignored the obvious quotes! D:
Haha no worries, we are all exhausted on Mondays 😛
I 100% agree with this. Totally overrated book series. I actually didn’t think it was well written either. Just my opinion.
I do agree with your pov here.
For me it’s Catcher in the Rye. maybe it’s a case of you had to be there, but I’ve read it at least 40 times over the past 40 years and while the theme is great along with all the phonies stuff, the line by line writing I just don’t find all that interesting. Not like Vonnegut, who often has no real storyline at all; it’s all in the writing itself. Again, maybe you had to be there at the time it came out. Just my 2 cents.
I have actually never read it so I can’t give you my opinion on that until I do 😛
Agreed. Disappointing in the extreme, but not my choice of most overrated.
Hmm. I just chose one out of a hat. What is yours?
Probably the only reason I did read it is because it was assigned in the 8th grade. I went to boarding school up East and every boarding school assigned that book (hence the huge sales, just like Mockingbird), because it was set at a boarding school up East. John Knowles “A Separate Peace” as well.
You can read Catcher if you want; there’s much worse. But I just don’t get why it is so highly touted. I just read Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” yesterday, and I thought that was better than catcher. Plus, it’s only 90 pages. I can send you a copy if you want. I have a file of pdfs of tons of great old books. These pdfs are widely available all over the web.
I actually have an old copy of Catcher, just never got to reading it. I’m surprised I never read it in high school, our profs leaned more on Shakespeare…. which sometimes can be ok but a lot of the time puts me to sleep.
If you were in boarding school, you would have.
Here is a great zip file with all kinds of pdf book classics. These are all readily available on the internet. Also included, some classic short stories. Enjoy.
P.S. – Catcher is in there…
http://philiployd.com/pdf.books.rar
Thanks! I will take a look at these 🙂
If you put FB and LinkedIn share buttons on your site I will share on my social media. I have about 12K LinkedIn connections, and 5K FB. Most all authors.
Is there not already share options at the bottom of each post? And I have social links on my main sidebar for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. But wow that’s awesome, I would really appreciate that 🙂 I will gladly share some stuff for you too if you wish.
okay, so you do have FB but not linkedin. you can add linkedin.
You know what, I really like the subject matter of your post. how about I make a link to your post on my Flashbytes site on Thursday? then I’ll spread it on my social media.
Awesome yea I really should add linked in. Cool thanks man! I will make sure to check it out 🙂
shoot me an email so i have yours and I’ll make a post for you on Thursday. flashbytes2020-gmail.com
Is it flashbytes2020@gmail.com?
For me, the most overrated book has to be James Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Peurile and self-serving crap passed off as literature.
Good one. I will revisit it. In fact, just read Ulysses again last year.
I haven’t read Ulysses, having been put off by Portrait of the Artist… Is it worth the read?
The one i was most disappointed with was Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises”. The man who never ran with bulls or did much of anything besides hang-out with men who did this sort of stuff was overrated period. I heard what he wrote when he was drunk was far better – and I believe it.
Sorry, I never read the Twilight Saga.
You didn’t miss that much lol, don’t worry. 😛