Here is a very good Tumblr: One Star Book Reviews gathers together the collected knowledge some of the web’s most discerning critics (namely, people who have given one-star Amazon reviews to classic books). And these illustrious Internet users are not afraid of voicing unpopular opinions, such as “I did not like [Gulliver’s Travels] at all the twilight books were better.”
Here are some of the best rumblings of the e-literati’s collective id:
- One dissatisfied person found To Kill a Mockingbird‘s theme of systemic racism in America to be boring as shit: “Complete drivel….This book has no conflict.”
- Another intrepid reviewer, who panned C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, did not understand satire: “not interested in books about Satin.”
- But at least he didn’t confuse it with a mythological half-goat? “It might be a satyr and all but I did not like it,” quoth someone re: The Importance of Being Earnest.
- Another daringly called into question a seminal bit of the Western canon — some profound thoughts on the Odyssey: “the whole story is just stupid.”
- And on Oedipus the King: “The incest part and stuff bummed me out.” 🙁
- And Beowulf: “Mr. Beowulf should be required to repeat his nighttime writer’s class at the learning annex.” OK, GRENDEL.
Petition to replace all book reviews with this insightful commentary. In the meantime, you can find more one-star reviews here. (Alice in Wonderland gets particularly savaged: “This was the absolute second worst book I’ve ever read (the worst being Hotel For Dogs).”)
Join the discussion...