who is the most overrated writer ever?

I love James Joyce.. Ulysses, Portrait of the Artis as a Young Man are both amazing works.. and The Dubliners is in my opinion one of the best collections of short stories written in the english language.. even Finnegan's Wake is quite an amazing and enjoyable work to read through especially if you don't worry about understanding every single word, but I've read it twice, once without notes, and the other time with notes to the book that were longer than the book itself... :p and I still enjoyed it both times..

but as this is opinion, I don't really see the problem with anyone saying they think Joyce is overrated, or any writer for that matter.. if someone wants to say Dostoevsky is overrated in their opinion that is okay.. but if you are going to say you think a universally respected and for the most part considered "great" writer is overrated, give reasons why you think so.. :D

from what I have read on some sites regarding great books and great writers, I would have to say overrated writers are those like Stephen King, and John Grisham.. and JRR Tolkien.. but it all depends on who's opinion we are looking at, for I doubt most people who are seriously into literature, or who are lit critics, think King or Grisham are great writers.. maybe Tolkien in my opinion gets undue praise for his literary talent.. as his books are basically fantasy books written a little better than most others, but in my opinion that does not make them great literature.. they don't transcend genre writing which in my opinion is the only way a genre work can jump into great literature..

I'm still fuming over the fact that I was fooled into thinking that the "Twilight" saga was so good. It wasn't. It's just that the book was so hot in forums and in my school that I actually thought it was good but I was so wrong! Imagine my disgust when they compared Meyer to Anne Rice! So far, I consider Meyer the most overrated writer.

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Originally Posted by Cassandra15

In any case, noone can compete with Proust; as an early editor said, Temps Perdu begins with a thirty page description of someone turning over in bed. And it only gets worse from there.

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I beg to differ - the only thing wrong with Proust is that he has an unfair reputation for difficulty, which is a pity, because it means people are discouraged before even having started to read him. My boredom threshold is rather low, but I didn't once find the Recherche tedious. He tells a good story, honestly!

I envy you islandclimber for finding Joyce enjoyable though. I loved the Portrait, liked Dubliners, but trudged through Ulysses twice, finding him interesting to study, but on the whole rather yawn-provoking, except for a few chapters. I haven't tried Finnegans Wake yet but I suspect I will have the same type of reaction.

I can't think of any author whom I find overrated, because I generally go by the rates of academic circles, but I can think of some I find extremely boring (The Man without Qualities by Musil tops eveything else, for me) - that said, I wouldn't say they were overrated, just that my capacity for understanding has limits.

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Originally Posted by Bitterfly

I beg to differ - the only thing wrong with Proust is that he has an unfair reputation for difficulty, which is a pity, because it means people are discouraged before even having started to read him. My boredom threshold is rather low, but I didn't once find the Recherche tedious. He tells a good story, honestly!

I envy you islandclimber for finding Joyce enjoyable though. I loved the Portrait, liked Dubliners, but trudged through Ulysses twice, finding him interesting to study, but on the whole rather yawn-provoking, except for a few chapters. I haven't tried Finnegans Wake yet but I suspect I will have the same type of reaction.

I can't think of any author whom I find overrated, because I generally go by the rates of academic circles, but I can think of some I find extremely boring (The Man without Qualities by Musil tops eveything else, for me) - that said, I wouldn't say they were overrated, just that my capacity for understanding has limits.

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Yeah, I don't really see Proust as being difficult or tedious.. Mind you I have only read in translation but still.. I thought In Search of Lost Time was amazing.. One of my favourite books..

I agree with you though.. If you go by academic circles you really can't say an author is overrated, maybe you just can say you didn't enjoy that work, or understand it.. I know there are famous authors I don't like in the slightest.. but I still don't view them as overrated really, just not my cup of tea... ;)

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Originally Posted by crystalmoonshin

I'm still fuming over the fact that I was fooled into thinking that the "Twilight" saga was so good. It wasn't. It's just that the book was so hot in forums and in my school that I actually thought it was good but I was so wrong! Imagine my disgust when they compared Meyer to Anne Rice! So far, I consider Meyer the most overrated writer.

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She is without a doubt.

I'm most likely the oldest person who posts on this site, so I probably have a different slant on all books mentioned so far.

The Catcher in the Rye: When it was published in the 1950's, it was groundbreaking, and opened the door to a brand new style of writing. It was so innovative and amazing at the time, that I can remember actually feeling thrilled! I can't even guess at how many times I've read it Those of us in college at the time were totally blown away by the book. However, since then, many hundreds of books have been written, using "Catcher" as a template. I believe they call them "Coming of age" stories or movies? Consequently, it's just become one of hundreds of teenage angst stories. "Catcher" was the first and the best . . . you had to be there!

Hemingway, is overrated, and has not stood the test of time. His books seem tedious and boring now. Anyone ever see a really good movie made from a Hemingway book? The only one that is watchable today is The Killers, with Burt Lancaster.

Steinbeck has endured because of his two masterpieces, "East of Eden", and "The Grapes of Wrath". Both still readable, and both made into classic movies, that still hold me spellbound.

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Originally Posted by Vintage34

Hemingway, is overrated, and has not stood the test of time. His books seem tedious and boring now. Anyone ever see a really good movie made from a Hemingway book? The only one that is watchable today is The Killers, with Burt Lancaster.

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I didn't know that was a condition for a book to be considered good? Going by that logic, The Brothers Karamazov is a horrible book, since it doesn't even have a movie based on it? (at least as far as I know, but you know what I mean)

I agree Hemingway is overrated, but the reason you gave is just...wrong. Especially bearing in mind the fact that no really good book can ever be matched by a movie.

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Originally Posted by johann cruyff

I didn't know that was a condition for a book to be considered good? Going by that logic, The Brothers Karamazov is a horrible book, since it doesn't even have a movie based on it? (at least as far as I know, but you know what I mean)

I agree Hemingway is overrated, but the reason you gave is just...wrong. Especially bearing in mind the fact that no really good book can ever be matched by a movie.

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BK has more then 5 movie versions, so it's a great book! :lol:
Really, reason is...yes, wrong.

Tko bi glumio Ahmeda Nehrudina? Rade Šerbedžija?

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Originally Posted by bazarov

Tko bi glumio Ahmeda Nehrudina? Rade Šerbedžija?

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Haha, who else? Maybe Josip Pejaković, but from a much younger age... And I really didn't know about the movie versions of TBK, never seen a single one... Huh, now you got me interested!

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Originally Posted by NotWoodhouse

I'd have to nominate Nathaniel Hawthorne.

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I'll second!

As far as other 'classic' literature goes, I'd say Orwell is overrated in my eyes.

I'd have to nominate Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I'll second!

I must agree with PabloQ that such one-line comments are completely useless... if not inane. "That Mozart guy was over-rated" "Yeah, and Raphael couldn't hold a candle to Bob Ross".:rolleyes: Personal opinions are fine... but when they seemingly contradict the opinions of generations of literary figures: writers, critics, scholars, literature lovers... then it would seem that one might feel somewhat obliged to offer up something along the line of reasoning behind such blanket statements. You feel Nathaniel Hawthorne is over-rated? Why? What books have you read by him? Who would you compare him with by way of comparison and contrast. I find it interesting that JBI got taken to task for having taken the time to offer up a reasoned analysis of why he didn't like the harry Potter novels... but we still get these continual comments dismissing Hawthorne, Hemingway, Joyce, Proust, and the like.

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Originally Posted by stlukesguild

I'd have to nominate Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I'll second!

I must agree with PabloQ that such one-line comments are completely useless... if not inane. "That Mozart guy was over-rated" "Yeah, and Raphael couldn't hold a candle to Bob Ross".:rolleyes: Personal opinions are fine... but when they seemingly contradict the opinions of generations of literary figures: writers, critics, scholars, literature lovers... then it would seem that one might feel somewhat obliged to offer up something along the line of reasoning behind such blanket statements. You feel Nathaniel Hawthorne is over-rated? Why? What books have you read by him? Who would you compare him with by way of comparison and contrast. I find it interesting that JBI got taken to task for having taken the time to offer up a reasoned analysis of why he didn't like the harry Potter novels... but we still get these continual comments dismissing Hawthorne, Hemingway, Joyce, Proust, and the like.

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couldn't have said it better myself! :thumbs_up

Meh, I'll say that outside of perhaps The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne isn't that great. Just try reading The Great Stone Face without being bored to tears by the long predictable drone of the tale.

Still, not the most overrated ever - tastes differ of course.

I would say, perhaps Poe or someone would be more overrated. Hawthorne is only remembered pretty much for a handful of stories and one novel anyway.

Neither did I, but I've checked it once on IMDB.

Do I have to dislike some author's books to say she's overrated? Because I love Harry Potter -books but I do think J.K. Rowling might be a little overrated. I mean obviously she has a great imagination but still I don't really get how it has got so popular.