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The Illiad, DaVinci and Moby Dick: Overrated Books?  
WORSTS 

Tags: Overrated, Books, Most, Top, Worst, Literature, Author

If a book is a "classic" does that make it great? What if it's a top seller? We've all been disappointed by ballyhood books and authors once we pick up the covers. Here are some surprising books mentioned by our listers as "overrrated" - agree? Why? Add your own....

	The DaVinci Code - Little to offer in terms of depth or range of characters. An interesting villian but a convoluted plot.
	Moby Dick - ok, why sooooooo much stuff about sailing? Was he paid by the word?
	Harry Potter series - first one was pretty fun - and short! Unfortunately, JK's been writing "Moby Potter" ever since.
	The Alchemist - didn't turn into gold for me. You?
	Pride and Prejudice - Boy is prideful, girl is prejudiced, in the end they fall in love. In between, too much tea and wooing for me.
	All Quiet on the Western Front - interesting read, but he never actually fought in WWI. That changed my attitude a bit.
	The Illiad - Lots of heads getting crushed by the blunt end of axes, and eyes poked out by spears. And for a 2,900 year old poem it's pretty good. But for those with a more contemporary taste, reading about the sacrificed Ox for a meal is a little too distant past...
	The Odyessey - solid endiing, some good scenes in the middle, and fun if you like a voyage into allegory and metaphor. Not a favorite in most 10th grade Lit classes.
	The Old Man and the Sea - didn't connect with this 15 year old girl!
	The Little Mermaid - stick with the cartoon.
	The Purpose-Led Life - involves not reading this IMHO.

Lister: ListAfterList Wiki Contributors

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Current list rating:  4.00

Comments: I definitely agree with you on some (Old Man and the Sea, All Quiet on the Western Front), but vehemently disagree on others (DaVinci Code, Harry Potter). They may have been over-hyped, but that wasn't the authors' fault, and it shouldn't take away from the value of the books (thus, not over*rated*) Comment by: mangoflute