I’ll go with the low-hanging fruit: Mein Kampf. I’ve read it, cover to cover. As a piece of propaganda, it’s good. As an example of good writing? Absolutely not (though I will admit I have only read it in translation). Oh, and the whole fascist, racist, and generally shitty worldview of the author that he infuses into the text. And the fact that the author is literally Hitler. You 5-star that book? You’re a Nazi. Period. And as a Jewish person, I don’t look too kindly on them.
Anything by Cassandra Clare, Eoin Colfer, Rick Riordan, Nicholas Sparks, E.L. James, Dan Brown, Stephenie Meyer… I’m looking for folks who didn’t stop reading at age 19.
As a children’s librarian who truly enjoys middle grade and YA fiction, I am hurt at the inclusion of Rick Riordan on this list. The rest of them I agree are not great, but Rick Riordan (and anything published by his imprint) is a fucking delight! And also has books for adults that are very good for a quick read (classic disgraced detective novels).
I do also read other things, but not all books that aren’t for adults are terrible.
I agree, and I wouldn’t judge anyone for reading Riordan. The issue would be giving his books a 5 Star rating, putting it on level with the greatest works in the language. Riordan’s written something like 30 books since 2005; I think it’s fair to say he’s on the casual/pulp side.