The Reviewers' Roundtable - I Just Didn't Like That Book

I am a new member of the awesome reviewers at The Reviewers' Roundtable! *happy dance*

The Reviewers' Roundtable is our version of a weekly feature where we discuss a book related/blogging topic.

Meet the Reviewers:

Michelle from Pink Polka Dot Blog (Thursdays)

Emily from Read Your Bookcase (Fridays)

And me (Emily) from Emily's Crammed Bookshelf (Mondays)

You know when there's this book, this really hyped up book that everyone is obsessing over and fangirling over and oohh it's just so amazing?  Yeah, I'm sure we've all heard of them.  Well, what happens when you don't actually LIKE the hyped up books?  What happens when you are the only living person on earth who didn't like a book?  Well, you're all alone with your failure.


Really popular books that everyone loved...but I didn't:

House of Night series by P.C. & Kristin Cast

I read the first book, Marked, and could barely get through it.  And, when I looked on the Goodreads page there were 5 stars pretty much across the board.  I have absolutely no interest in continuing this series.  It had no substance, no building, annoying characters, and horrible writing.  I truly hated this book/series.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I by no means hated this book.  I actually gave it 4 stars.  I actually kind of loved it...except for the beginning.  The beginning was all kinds of wrong.  The main character, Katsa, was a complete brute, there was a crazy case of insta love and then insta-love-with-sex.  What I couldn't believe was that there are so many reviews of this book, yet none of them seemed to mention any of those flaws.  But the second half of this book was SOO amazing it more than made up for the horrible beginning.  Let's just say the first part of this book belongs on this list...but the second belongs on my favorites list.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

This book I didn't really like...like at all.  This book is on the same popular level as Hunger Games and Harry Potter...and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why.  The idea was amazing, but to me the writing was below-par, the story line was boring and predictable, the romance was completely bland, and the characters were blocks of wood.  I'd heard how strong Tris was but to me she came across as really stuck up, mean, emotionless, and very above everyone.  I'd also heard that Tobias was so so SO sexy...but he wasn't.  He had absolutely no personality.  At least Peter had personality!  I actually kind of liked him more than Tobias.
Ok sorry.  Rant over.  I did hear, though, that the second book is a LOT better, so I'm still going to be checking it out.  And I'm also really excited for the movie because I don't think they'll depict Tris as how she was in the book, and I've seen pictures of Tobias and he actually looks really hot.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

I can't even remember what happened in this book. I think I read it like a year ago and I remember thinking "Wow, this is kind of bland and boring".  It just wasn't the amazing, fast-paced book I had heard it was going to be.  But I think I'll re-read it soon so I can at least remember what happened and support my argument lol.

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

I didn't hate this series either.  I just can't remember it (again).  I can remember the beginning of the first book, the ending of the first book (but only because I just saw the movie) and the beginning of the last book.  Everything in between is blank.  I DO remember hating Bella and Edward.  I was totally Team Jacob.  Also the writing wasn't very good.  I can't talk about the story line because I can't remember WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED. Haha.

Really popular books that everyone has read...but I haven't:

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

EVERYONE HAS READ THIS SERIES!  FREAKING EVERYONE!  Except me. *hides in shame* *cowers in corner*  I'm listing this one first because I MUST read this series soon.  I have the first 3 books sitting on my shelf just begging me to read them...and I will very very soon because the movie is coming out in August.  Yeah.

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

Oh hey waddya know...another Cassandra Clare series that everyone has read and that's being made into a movie and I still haven't read I don't even own and need to go buy like now bye *orders off Amazon*

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Yep.  Haven't read this one either.  Don't hate me or make fun of me or be mean to me!  I know what a bad girl I am!  But I will need to read this soon because there is going to be a movie and I need to read before I can watch.  That is the rule that I've made for myself.

Really popular books that everyone has read and loved...and I have too:

These books are the most epic of the epic.  They're so amazing I can't even describe how amazing they are, I can't even put into words how much I loved them.  So yeah.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

THIS SERIES IS FREAKING AMAZING!  I actually own this box set and omg it's so beautiful!  The writing, I will admit, isn't amazing, but that is more than made up for with the amazing characters, action, story line, and twists.  My favorite book was the first one, I completely guessed the ending of the second one, and the last one was a lot more boring and dark, but I still LOVED them all!  So much!!!

Also, I really loved the movie!  OMG it was so amazing!  You guys have no idea how freaking excited I am for Catching Fire to come out.  I CAN'T FREAKING WAIT!!

OH OH AND ONE MORE THING!  I just wanted to tell you guys this because I think it's SO COOL!  My birthday is May 8...AND KATNISS' BIRTHDAY IS MAY 8 TOO!!  AAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

The epicness of this series cannot be matched!  It is easily the best mythology and adventure series I've ever read.  The characters and the twists and the story and the writing and the humor all combine to make one big ball of awesomeness...in the shape of a book.  Yeah.

Yes, the Lightning Thief movie was the worst movie ever, but they have a second chance with the Sea of Monsters movie...which I'm not expecting much out of. But the books are just so good that the fact that the movies are shit can't even ruin them.  That's how you know if a book is good.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Honestly I'm not even going to talk about this one much.  It's freaking Harry Potter!  Need I say more?
This series is the best series ever.  I've actually read it so many times I am sick of it.  But it's still the best story I've ever read.

The movies...I wasn't a fan.  But, like with PJO, the books were so good that even the movie couldn't ruin it.

Okay there ya go!  My first post for The Reviewers' Roundtable.  THAT WAS SO FUN!

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON OUR TOPIC!!!