Wednesday 24 March 2010

Book Doctor by Esther Cohen


Pages - 251

Published by Counterpoint in 2005

Challenges - Take a Chance Challenge and Support Your Local Library Challenge

What Harbinger Singh really wanted was a book. Sometimes, when he was being honest, he would admit he didn't care very much about the subject. He wanted a book he had written. He didn't know why, and he didn't much care.

This has got to be the most boring book I have ever persevered with. I read it for the Take a Chance Challenge and since I needed two books with the same word in, I didn't want to give up on it, but oh how I wanted to throw it in the trash.

Arlette Rosen earns her living by helping people develop book ideas. These are normally non fiction books about really boring subjects. Harbinger Singh, a tax lawyer enters her life, wanting to write a book, any book, in order to win back his ex wife. The book follows the growing relationship between the two.

I am not going to make this a long review, because I really don't think this book warrants it. The characters held little interest for me, books were seen as a way of making money and being famous, there was no love for the craft of writing, it was just a means to end. The book ideas discussed were very droll and painfully boring.

The book was meant to be funny, the only time I laughed was with relief at actually making it to the end. It took me for ever to read it, because it just didn't hold my interest at all.

Harbinger is pompous and long winded and I wouldn't want to spend more than a minute in his company. In fact, he reminded me of a distant relative, who spends his time bragging about everything and believing he is superior to everyone else.

The story doesn't go anywhere, in fact you could probably pick a page from the book randomly and be able to summarise the story from that.

This has the title of the worst book I have ever read and for me to say that it has to be bad.

I would only recommend this if you are passing your time,watching paint dry! How scathing is that! I am sorry, I had hoped to love this book, but I hope never to see the cover again.

22 comments:

  1. I'm really sorry to hear that. I hope your next book will be better. I don't like to write negative reviews either and I try to like a book, but when a book is really disappointing and bad, you just have to let people know:)

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  2. I'm sorry that the reading experience was bad for you. The title sounds so good so it's really unfortunate that the story didn't work out that way. :(

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  3. Lol, you got a little wicked streak too. Love it, great honest review, I could nto ask for more

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  4. Well thats certainly a very honest review, not a book I'll be reading any time soon.

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  5. Oh my --- the title would have captured my attention, but so glad to know what is between the covers is not worth the purchase!

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  6. Well, that stinks. I'll be sure to give that title a miss.

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  7. Well, the book might not have been funny, but your review sure was! I'm sorry, Viv. I sure hope your next read more than makes up for it!

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  8. Good review - I have read those.... try as we may not every book is going to be a win.

    Nice job Vivienne - here is hoping your next read is fantastic and gush worthy :)

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  9. Yikes. Not a fan then? heh. No, in all seriousness, that sucks that this really wasn't a good read. Good on you for actually finishing it though. If I'm struggling that badly with a book, I have to give up. You've got some will!

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  10. Your first line really made me laugh. Onward and upward!

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  11. Moving on then... :D Brilliant review, very honest!

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  12. Hearing this is such a bummer. I hate it when you come across a book that has no redeeming qualities. Usually, I'm able to find something enjoyable about most books, but every now and there there comes one that I just don't like at all. Thanks for warning me away from this one.

    Jennifer @ www.justicejennifer.com

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  13. lol--I cracked up at your comment of laughing only with relief at coming to the end. Sorry it was such a dud.

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  14. At least you stuck with it! I always give up on books that bore me. Your review made me laugh....good for you for being honest!

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  15. Vivienne, it sounds as if this book could have used some "doctoring" (chuckle, chuckle).

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  16. Andreea and Sheila - luckily the next two books have been much better.

    Alice and Molly - it was the title that made me pick it up, it was just so bad.

    Blodeuedd - I try to keep that wicked streak at bay!

    Petty Witter - I hope you never have to even look at the cover.

    Notinthepink - normally I wouldn't have bothered, but I was a bit desperate to get another challenge finished as noticing we are nearly a quarter of the way through the year and I am still only completing my first two challenges out of seventeen.

    Diane - are you sure?LOL

    Pickygirlfoodfilmfiction - I don't mean to be funny, I think it is my turn of phrase that does it. The Englishness in me might be the funny bit.


    Carmen - I am moving at a hundred mile an hour away from this one.

    Jennifer - if only I could have found a sentence to enjoy. Ho hum!

    Darlene - but it's true!

    Missy - I must find that funny streak everyone keeps talking about. It keeps hiding from me and needs to be put into action more.

    Suko - so true!

    I am replying to these comments, under the influence of Sinutab, for my sinuses, so if they are a bit off the wall, please excuse me.

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  17. Okay, I think I'm going to give this one a miss :P I'm sorry that the book was so bad, but your review made me laugh!

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  18. LOL Sounds charming. Thanks for the laugh and the bullet dodge.

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  19. That stinks that the book didn't live up to your expectations. I HATE when that happens!

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  20. Oy! This sounds pretty darn bad! And there are so many books with the word "book" in the title ... I wish you had found a better one!

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  21. Oh, dear. And the title is so promising. On the Day I got my Ph.D., I told my three-year-old son I was going to be Dr. Foy. He was horrified. Fresh from a visit to the doctor for shots, he said, "I don't want you to be a doctor. I want you to be my mummy." I corrected the misunderstanding by telling him I'd be a book doctor, not a body doctor. "Book doctor" has been a family joke since then.

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