Books I wanted to like but didn't

I had high hopes for Karen Russell's Swamplandia!.  Everywhere I looked, I saw good reviews.  I had a coupon and a Groupon (!) so I bought this book in hardback.  Hardback's not something I usually do.  In fact, if you were to open most of my hardbacks and peek at the front page, you would probably find inscriptions on them since most hardbacks I have were gifts.  Alas, this book did not live up to the considerable hype.  (3)

I'll admit it, I liked Ann Brashares Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, Book 1).  I even saw both movies in the theater.  So I thought her novel for adults, My Name Is Memory, would be good.  Instead, it wasn't.  (4)