Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
Avoid, avoid for the love of all that is human, avoid.

I had to read this tripe as part of a colonial literature module at Uni. Drier than the Atacama, more painful than being buggered by a Belarussian secret policeman's cattle prod and about as interesting and fulfilling as a two page spread on Kerry Katona's latest battle with drugs/food/sanity/her bank manager.

On the upside I did also get to read the Maneater of Malgudi and a profusion of African and other Indian works which were infinitely better. Come to think of it reading the instructions that came with the dishwasher were better than WSS.
( number5 has been fighting tramps and losing., Thu 5 Jan 2012, 16:07, 5 replies)

Yep
Felt exactly the same way. It wasn't just that I didn't like it - it was that I genuinely couldn't understand why ANYONE would like it. Dull.
(SnowyTheWereRabbit the Leporid from Hell, Thu 5 Jan 2012, 17:39, closed)

You sir are clearly
very well educated and of sound judgement.
( number5 has been fighting tramps and losing., Thu 5 Jan 2012, 19:40, closed)

I had to study this twice
Once for A-Level and once for Uni. It was just as bad the second time round.
What was particularly bad at school was that we did Jane Eyre at the same time and had to read it "though the lens of the WSS." This made me hate Jane Eyre for many years afterwards which is very unfair as Bronte is not shite.
(Innogen, Fri 6 Jan 2012, 7:44, closed)

I adore the way that book is written
but I dislike the book. I don't see why anyone would want to hear a story about someone driving his wife to madness.

See also: Beloved. Beautifully written book with a horrible plot.
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Thu 5 Jan 2012, 23:18, closed)

funnily enough, its easily her worst book imho
Good Morning, Midnight is far better - I'd thoroughly recommend it and I didn't like Wide Sargasso Sea either.
(silencer, Fri 6 Jan 2012, 13:37, closed)