perhaps i should start writing love-triangle (square?) tea novels. i seem to have a nack for predicting what will transpire.

by the by, are you ever going to tell us which book you're reading?

If you really hate the book then just skim through the rest of it, making sure to read the last few pages properly. You'll be able to wing it just fine during the discussion. This tactic stood me in good stead for Anna Karenina at my book club (I did actually read and enjoy most of it but, inevitably, ran out of time).

Or better yet. Don't read the bloody thing, merely participate as adding comments onto observations, taking the discussion wildly off tangent. Perhaps read the ending. Any direct questions about content, consult book, claiming poor memory for precise passages.

It's not like you're bloody well going to get a grade, this is mere socialising and puffery.

Not sure why I bother trying, but reading this book is like watching a car accident. Morbid fascination, revulsion (but oddly can't look away), etc.

In such occasions, my behavior tends to be saying out loud how the book/show/etc. was so shitty I couldn't go to the end of it.

Usual reactions range from moronic ganging laughs at me, silent passing on as if nothing was said, scorn by windbags, embarassed awkward words by whoever comes with me, to people suddenly realizing they can go against the consensus. So cliche, but oh so true.