Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh. Supposed to be a comedy, I didn't raise a smile until I'd finished it.

Dorian Gray- I love the premise of the story but found the language so over the top and flowery as to be unreadable.

Life of Pi - awful overcomplicated long rambly passages about animals.

Hobbit/Lord of the Rings - I was relieved when they made the films so I could see what all the fuss was about cos I found the books impenetrable. But then the films were just as bad!

At so many disliking Gatsby. I really love F Scott Fitzgerald.

"The God of Small things" - I know it is not a classic, but it is at least a popular book.

And my dislike for this book caused a whole group of American holiday makers to blank me for about a week!

We were in Kerala, staying at a spice plantation, when my husband got talking to this American woman. She told him the entire group had come there especially to experience the area that inspired the book. Basically, a book group on tour. My dh blurted out "oh really? You like this book? My wife absolutely hates it, she says it is soooo badly written, and she studied literature at university so I trust her judgement".

What a nimwit (my dh)

Moby Dick.

And Captain Corelli

And any of that Alexander McCall Smith Detective Agency shite. (realise they're not classic but they're best sellers and someone one day may confuse popular with good)

Hated Wuthering Heights, couldn't get into Vanity Fair, War and Peace (couldn't keep track of who's who), gave up on The Book Thief 2/3 of the way though, kept hoping something would happen.

Remember not being that impressed with Cold Comfort Farm when I read it for a book group. LOTR: didn't get past the first few pages. Hmmm, beginning to wonder if I might be a philistine . Didn't like Great Gatsby either.

On the other hand I really liked Middlemarch which most of you seem to hate.

Make you wonder who actually decides that these books are classics?

Yes to Mrs Dalloway

And to (all mentioned previously, I think):
Ulysses
Moby Dick
Thomas Hardy novels (surely the only valid response to Jude the Obscure is to want to slit your wrists?) (I like his poetry, tho)
Midnight's Children

Also (have we had Proust?):
Swann's Way

sorry, can't bear Dickens either.

as for Captain Corelli's Mandolin, drivel.

Virginia Wolf Mrs Dalloway. I tried and tried....

As for those who can't bear "Dickens, Austen or Brontes" -you Philistines!!!! What's wrong with you people????

Really, you don't like P&P linnet? I think it's hilarious!

To each their own and whatnot though.

Nicknametaken I totally agree. The Book chapters ruin it entirely!