Wondering what not to read? Every year there are books that just don't match their hype. Here are the most disappointing books from 2009 along with suggestions for books in the same genres that would be better choices.
1. 'The Lost Symbol' by Dan Brown
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
The Lost Symbol was possibly the most hyped book of 2009. Fans of Dan Brown's previous novels, such as The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, had to wait six years for this third Robert Langdon thriller. Was the wait worth it? Not at all. While I never expect great literature from Brown, The Lost Symbol didn't even come close to the thrills or scandals of his previous novels.
- Read a complete review of The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
- If you want a better mystery & conspiracy-filled thriller, try The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
2. 'South of Broad' by Pat Conroy
Knopf
Pat Conroy, bestselling author of Prince of Tides and Beach Music, has made his fans wait fourteen years for his newest novel. South of Broad is a rambling novel about Charleston, South Carolina and a group of unlikely friends who weather life's storms together. While South of Broad offers some charms, it lacks the charisma and focus of Conroy's earlier novels.
- Read a complete review of South of Broad by Pat Conroy
- If you want a better literary fiction that deals with family drama and has coastal charm, try That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
3. 'Nobody Move' by Denis Johnson
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
American noir could have been a unique segue for National Book Award-winning author Denis Johnson to sink his teeth into after the colossal Tree of Smoke. And it's not that Nobody Move doesn't have a bite, or that Johnson is taking on more than he can chew; it's just that there's not much meat here -- the little bit there is undercooked with too much blood and lust.
- Read a complete review of Nobody Mover by Denis Johnson
- If you want a better hard-boiled thriller, try Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
4. '1942' by Robert Conroy
Random House
1942 by Robert Conroy is an alternative history novel that considers the implications of a "third strike" on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The book's plot is pedestrian and formulaic. The premise itself is enjoyable, but not original. Its execution is weak as characters and events do not ring true.
- Read a complete review of 1942 by Robert Conroy
- For a better alternative history novel, try The Man with the Iron Heart by Harry Turtledove
5. 'The Forgotten Garden' by Kate Morton
Simon & Schuster
Confession: I did not finish The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. I pretty much always push my way through books, but The Forgotten Garden had a plot that was too slow and jumped all over the place. I gave it well over 100 pages, and then moved on. There are too many good books out there to waste time on ones without focus.
- For a better literary novel from a different time or place, try Little Bee by Chris Cleave
