Not to offend anyone, but classics rarely work for me.. I tried Wuthering Heights, couldn’t get past the middle, tried Great Expectations, could barely get past the quarter mark… However, I loved the Sherlock Holmes books, Ray Bradbury and The Catcher in the Rye, but hated any attempt at F. Scott Fitzgerald :)) So every time I get to try a classic, I’m incredibly weary..
I think it’s the verbose language of much of late 18th/19th century British literature that puts people off. It takes some getting used to but I love it.
Currently reading at the mo. Im enjoying it so far, but I’m not one-eyed; someone mentioned Valley of the Dolls the other day, which I haven’t read for ten years, so I immediately started reading that instead!
LOL I looked at every answer and thought wow, I loved that book! I’ve read them all. Boring for me was Middlemarch by George Eliot. (And I know a lot of people loved that one.)
They aren’t very well written at all, you aren’t missing out. I found it far more entertaining and beneficial looking Into the few scraps of historical accuracy used in the stories
I’ve heard quite a few that did love it. It’s hard to go by other’s reviews sometimes. In my book club we just finished a book and everybody hated it except one person!
I defined boring as not hooking me in a manner that kept me reading. The Reagan Diaries are boring but I’m hooked due to reliving some of my childhood when I didn’t know what was going on behind the scenes. Hard slog (about 60% done over 3 years) but will finish.
Definitely. Of course it was boring — didn’t it win a Pulitzer? (Looked it up. Naaah! Just an NBA … which is prize enough! I have learned to be wary of awards)
Cold Mountain…started it once and couldn’t get into it. Tried later and really liked it. Same thing happened to me with The World According to Garp. Sometimes it isn’t the right book at the right time.
I can’t believe I’m saying this but, Ready Player One. I honestly thought I was gonna love it, since I’m crazy about sci fi, but I got bored and stopped reading!
The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller, a fantasy novel – of which, I have both books in the duology. There were three parts to book one, and the first two parts were simply about Prince Gar and Lord Asher doing stuff not leading up to the end, and on the LAST PAGE of book one, the climax finally occurs! I don’t recommend this book unless you like long stories with action actually happening on the last page.
I read a book once written by a pair of EMTs regarding cases they dealt with it was so poorly written that I only read the first chapter I can’t even remember the name of the book it was horrible
Lord of the Rings – tried to read it twice and never managed to get further than halfway. Dr Strange and Mr Norell, I gave up on that after a few chapters.
You have to do Moby Dick a little at a time. If it’s assigned, you’ll take the whole thing, like medicine, and there will be sections where you don’t want to put it down … you might even find yourself missing sleep. In any event, when you’re done, you’ll have read some of the best prose ever written. Certainly, writers should read it — it’s something we can aspire to.
I just can’t get into it as of right now. I’m still trying though… hasn’t scared me yet, but I bought it because of all the recommendations and claims that it would.
not very, like 120 pages out of 1 million lol. It jumps around so much, that’s probably what’s messing me up. It’s hard getting my brain to deal with the randomness
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius – got tired of the whining. Felt somewhat vindicated of my dislike/boredom/never finished when I heard Eggers speak and say it is his least favorite book as well.
@Jason Currently on page 40 ha but I plan to pick it back up this summer. Honestly, part of the reason I havent read more is because the book is so bulky, I can’t carry it on my commute.
Try the audiobook. It’s really fantastic. The narrator is one of the best I’ve heard. The first 100 pages, or the first hour or so of audio, are a bit slow, but it picks up as you go. But, it’s not for some people. It’s not an easy read.
I like the audio better than the book actually. Many IJ lovers and physical book lovers will probably attack me for such a statement, but the audiobook is top notch, and I’ve listened to a lot of them.
@Jason My hubby is a huge fan of the book and references it frequently so I definitely want to get through it ha. I personally believe that all books should come with an audible download – I like to “read” both ways [I live in NYC which requires a lot of walking – Podcasts + Books on Tape are my jam!]
I just wanted the serial killer part – the rest just bored me, except that I learned who a bunch of the streets in my neighborhood in Chicago were named after.
I couldn’t think of any books I found boring off the top of my head, so I scanned all of the above mentioned books to see if I also felt that they were boring, but agreed about only one. I guess I’m a fairly patient reader. I like books that are page-turners, but I don’t not-like books that are not.
yes. common authors: beverly Lewis, Wanda Brunsetter, Amy Clipston, Suzanne Woods Ficher, Cindy Woodsmall, Kelly Long and others. it’s very formulaic and I just can’t do them other than the Christmas books
The girl with the dragon tattoo, I know everyone else loves it, but I was so bored it’s the only book in my life I didn’t finish, and I finished two different versions of the Bible and I’m not even religious
I had a hard time getting through Inca Gold by Clive Cussler. My friend recommended it and was upset when I told him it was the hardest thing to finish. On top of that it was an easy read which is why I even attempted to finish in the first place. After watching Sahara, I realized that I will never be a fan of Clive Cussler.
Not to offend anyone, but classics rarely work for me.. I tried Wuthering Heights, couldn’t get past the middle, tried Great Expectations, could barely get past the quarter mark… However, I loved the Sherlock Holmes books, Ray Bradbury and The Catcher in the Rye, but hated any attempt at F. Scott Fitzgerald :)) So every time I get to try a classic, I’m incredibly weary..
I also thought Great Expectations was boring. Also, Pride and Prejudice too.
I think it’s the verbose language of much of late 18th/19th century British literature that puts people off. It takes some getting used to but I love it.
Hated Wuthering Heights, but loved Jane Eyre.
I couldn’t stand Wuthering Heights or Great Expectations. I read them but I was a grump until I finished. I HATE it when I am stuck on a bad book!
Tess of d’urbervilles ? i really want to like it but i just cant.
I first read it in high school, and I probably only loved it because I was just as whiny and dramatic!
Dune.
Agree
David Copperfield
A Gentleman in Moscow
Currently reading at the mo. Im enjoying it so far, but I’m not one-eyed; someone mentioned Valley of the Dolls the other day, which I haven’t read for ten years, so I immediately started reading that instead!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one!
Yep me too
Station Eleven ?
It’s funny, isn’t it? I couldn’t put Station Eleven down! Guess the world would be boring if we were all the same!
I felt the same about station eleven! Just couldn’t get into it at all
Loved it!
Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. I couldn’t get through the first few chapters and had to quit.
Agree!
LOL I looked at every answer and thought wow, I loved that book! I’ve read them all.
Boring for me was Middlemarch by George Eliot. (And I know a lot of people loved that one.)
Gone Girl
Agree!
The Great Gatsby…
Goldfinch
Agree
Agree also.
Couldn’t finish it
Gave up.
Loved it
Practical magic
Anna karinnina (or however you spell it) & 20000 leagues under the sea
Love Anna Karenina..
@Dana I see lots of people did makes me wonder why I didn’t. What did I miss?
@Jennifer idk.. it’s been years since I’ve read it. I just remember really liking it. Will maybe reread this summer.
I couldn’t finish it either
The Hobbit bored me to tears. I didn’t find Harry Potter all that interesting either. *hides*
The hobbit was aimed at 8-12 year olds, might have something to do with it
Well, I was 18 or so when I read it, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as a little girl either.
I agree about the Hobbit. I couldn’t finish it. I thought it would be more like The Once and Future King. I bailed on it after about 50 pages.
History of Tom Jones, A Foundling by Henry Felding…it was torture!
Geralds Game.
Sister land by Curtis sittenfeld
I really liked that book
I only enjoyed the chapters talking about the past. For some reason the present chapters bored me
@Reem yes, fair enough. Now that you say this, I do remember having a similar response!
I can’t get past the first few pages of The Davinci Code. I am going to read it one day though.
They aren’t very well written at all, you aren’t missing out. I found it far more entertaining and beneficial looking Into the few scraps of historical accuracy used in the stories
@Perry Thanks for that. Interesting.
I remember reading this book…it started sooo slow…and once I got to page 100, it took off.
One Hundred Years of Solitude. I felt like I would need that to get through it.
I tried twice. My sister thought I was crazy…she loves it.
Same… I was bored to tears and my sister loved it.
I’m reading it right now and I’ve heard such great things about it… I just keep waiting for it to pick up :/
Beartown
Did you finish it? I couldnt. I was like yea, youre all in the middle of nowhere and youre the hockey mecca of the world. We get it. Move on.
Exactly! The sports and environs did win.
Devil in the white City
Me too on that one
I’m reading this right now and so far I’m enjoying it. Maybe it helps because I am from Chicago.
The two different stories were irrelevant to me. It felt like he mashed both stories to try and make one. The architecture story was dry to me.
Loved it!
Betty so am I….
After Alice
Goldfinch I loved! Wonderful story telling
Me too!
The Name of the Rose.
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Agreed! No character development at all. I was very disappointed.
I didn’t care for that one either.
I love Ann Patchett but I have been afraid to read that since I’ve heard that lots of people didn’t love it.
I’ve heard quite a few that did love it. It’s hard to go by other’s reviews sometimes. In my book club we just finished a book and everybody hated it except one person!
Germs, guns and steel
You read the all of it? Oh my….
Lovely Bones
And I loved it!
Me too! Loved that book!
I loved that book! One of my favorites, actually
The Scarlet Letter. Ughh, so dry.
‘Exit West’ by Mohsin Hamid. I just couldn’t connect with it.
Agree. Don’t get the NYTimes Best Book of the Year &etc. hype.
Game of Thrones – didn’t like the writing style, never could care for any character.
???
I defined boring as not hooking me in a manner that kept me reading. The Reagan Diaries are boring but I’m hooked due to reliving some of my childhood when I didn’t know what was going on behind the scenes. Hard slog (about 60% done over 3 years) but will finish.
Dr Zhivago, Cold Mountain
Oh yeah, cold mountain was definitely boring.
Oh yeah, cold mountain was definitely boring.
Definitely. Of course it was boring — didn’t it win a Pulitzer? (Looked it up. Naaah! Just an NBA … which is prize enough! I have learned to be wary of awards)
Cold Mountain was the worst
Cold Mountain…started it once and couldn’t get into it. Tried later and really liked it. Same thing happened to me with The World According to Garp. Sometimes it isn’t the right book at the right time.
Ferals
50 shades pf Grey. The writing style was absolutely horrendous i tried twice with all the hype but couldn’t force myself past the first two chapters.
agree…I got through the first one fine, barely made it through the second one and gave up 1/3 way through the last one :/
You did better then me!! ?
I couldn’t read it either. I don’t know about boring but it wins hands down for crappiest writing.
Terrible writing! I didn’t get past a few pages.
Ditto. Not sure I even gave it 20 pages. Writing was atrocious!
Agree
Bogeyman by Gayle Wilson
Commonwealth – not enough plot for some well drawn charactors. Goldfinch – overrated and 200 pages too long.
Thank you! I’m new and retired!
The plague
I have started it three times without finishing.
The stranger was such a good book that I think were trying to talk ourselves into thinking the plague is a good book.
True, I loved The Stranger and I read it before The Plague.
A Casual Vacancy. Bored me to tears.
I could not finish it, and I love all the Harry Potters.
Try her other series..can’t think of the name offhand…really good.
Twilight, The Goldfinch,A heartbreaking work of staggering boredom.
Yes!
No No! I loved The Goldfinch! How funny….some times it’s all about the mood I’m in.
It does have so much to do with mood.
Outlander! I couldn’t get past the first few pages.
I couldn’t either
Good to know I’m not the only one!
The Casual Vacancy byJK Rowling.
50 shades of grey… couldn’t get past 20 pages. What horrendous writing!
The Yellow Emperor’s Curse…bored me to death
Fifty Shades–the writing was so pathetic, I couldn’t make it past the first 20 pages to see why it was a “sensation”.
Likewise and Twilight too.
Ditto. Not sure I even gave it 20 pages. Writing was atrocious!
The Handmaid’s Tale
I agree with you! The way it was written..
It really had potential to be something good, but completely missed the mark for me.
Same for me !
I can’t believe I’m saying this but, Ready Player One. I honestly thought I was gonna love it, since I’m crazy about sci fi, but I got bored and stopped reading!
Started and put it down years ago and I, too, love Sci-fi. Was debating picking it up again since the movie is coming out.
Loved it
I love the movies, but little women bores me.
Same for a little princess and Heidi.
1984
1984, Fahrenheit 451, The killer inside me, Divergent..
Fahrenheit 451 was the absolute worst
Prodigal Summer
I love all her books but this was my least favorite.
@Brenda me, too. Poisonwood Bible and Bean Trees are my favorites!
@Leah I also love Flight Behavior because of the woman in it rising above. Lacuna was hard.
@Brenda Lacuna WAS hard!
Two very popular books that I found boring were The Martian and Lincoln and the Bardo.
All the books I found boring are popular.
Maybe it was all the hype around these books that caused me to expect too much, but I found both to be quite tedious, which bored me.
The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller, a fantasy novel – of which, I have both books in the duology. There were three parts to book one, and the first two parts were simply about Prince Gar and Lord Asher doing stuff not leading up to the end, and on the LAST PAGE of book one, the climax finally occurs! I don’t recommend this book unless you like long stories with action actually happening on the last page.
Several N. Sparks books.
I read a book once written by a pair of EMTs regarding cases they dealt with it was so poorly written that I only read the first chapter I can’t even remember the name of the book it was horrible
Lord of the Rings – tried to read it twice and never managed to get further than halfway. Dr Strange and Mr Norell, I gave up on that after a few chapters.
Little Fires Everywhere
Fantasy. Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.
Big little lies
Wicked, I put it down and didn’t pick it back up again!
None. If it is boring I pass it on and go to the next one. so much great stuff to read out there.
The Guineveres.
The Zookeeper’s Wife. Boring and terrible writing.
Could be, but the movie was good.
That’s what I’ve heard.
Moby Dick.
AMEN!
You have to do Moby Dick a little at a time. If it’s assigned, you’ll take the whole thing, like medicine, and there will be sections where you don’t want to put it down … you might even find yourself missing sleep. In any event, when you’re done, you’ll have read some of the best prose ever written. Certainly, writers should read it — it’s something we can aspire to.
It is good writing. But I really did not like the story.
Seveneves, All the Light We Cannot See, House of Leaves is turning out that way for me too. I was so excited for that one too.
House of leaves, really? I’ve only ever heard good things about it. About how terrifying it is.
It’s sitting on my bedside table, waiting
I just can’t get into it as of right now. I’m still trying though… hasn’t scared me yet, but I bought it because of all the recommendations and claims that it would.
aww man. How far in are you?
not very, like 120 pages out of 1 million lol. It jumps around so much, that’s probably what’s messing me up. It’s hard getting my brain to deal with the randomness
Catcher in the rye
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius – got tired of the whining. Felt somewhat vindicated of my dislike/boredom/never finished when I heard Eggers speak and say it is his least favorite book as well.
Beowulf. I feel sorry for high school students who are forced to endure it.
I was one of them !
I had to read that garbage in OLD English in college. Pure torture!
Nos4a2
In The Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson.
Which was odd since I LOVE most of his other works and the topic seemed like it would be fascinating.
I found the first 50 pages a slog but then couldn’t put it down!
Ah. I gave up after 100
@Carrie I can definitely see it not being everyones cup of tea!
One Day
Infinite Jest and anything by Hemingway
How far did you get into Infinite Jest?
@Jason Currently on page 40 ha but I plan to pick it back up this summer. Honestly, part of the reason I havent read more is because the book is so bulky, I can’t carry it on my commute.
Try the audiobook. It’s really fantastic. The narrator is one of the best I’ve heard. The first 100 pages, or the first hour or so of audio, are a bit slow, but it picks up as you go. But, it’s not for some people. It’s not an easy read.
@Jason That’s not a bad idea! Thank you!
I like the audio better than the book actually. Many IJ lovers and physical book lovers will probably attack me for such a statement, but the audiobook is top notch, and I’ve listened to a lot of them.
@Jason My hubby is a huge fan of the book and references it frequently so I definitely want to get through it ha. I personally believe that all books should come with an audible download – I like to “read” both ways [I live in NYC which requires a lot of walking – Podcasts + Books on Tape are my jam!]
50 Shades of Grey.. barely made it thru 1/2 chapter
I hated those books, only read them because my best friend had cancer and she guilted me.
A Horse Walks into a Bar, David Grossman
Yep, DNF for me.
I second the ‘anything by Hemingway’; also, anything by Roth, Naipaul, both Amis’, & Franzen.
Devil in the white city
I loved that book!
I just wanted the serial killer part – the rest just bored me, except that I learned who a bunch of the streets in my neighborhood in Chicago were named after.
Wow!! I couldn’t put that book down; that’s the last book I would think of as boring, but I guess different tastes gives us variety
I thought it was boring also. I am with you @Jennifer. I could have cared less about the architecture of this building or that building.
You Will Pay by Lisa Jackson. I usually love her books, that one, not so much.
Sophie’s Choice
The Swan Thieves
Twilight just dreadful writing
I was ok with Twilight but the sequels were deadly.
Yes, terrible, lazy writing. It’s one of the few examples of where a movie is better than the book!!!
The Sound and the Fury. Got halfway through the book and could never finish it.
The Nightingale.
all harry potter books
Blasphemy
!!!
Cold blood- Truman capote
I loved that book!
@Leah I’ve never finished it! Couldn’t get past the 4 chapter. I still have it, hoping one day to try again. I want to like it!
@Reed I think I liked it because I read it after watching the most recent film. The plot really fascinated me.
James Boswell’s, The Life Of Samuel Johnson.
I’ve had that book for thirty years and still haven’t finished it.
CAROL just can’t say 1 good thing about it
One Hundred Years of Solitude ?
you should have known from the name ?
?
Right there with you in that one!
I thought it would take me a hundred years to finish it.
@Jan I could not stand the characters nor the way it was written.
Eat, pray, love
I really wanted to like it….
I really wanted to too. ? didn’t finish it.
Not boring, just self-centered drivel.
Moby Dick. Just couldn’t get into it at all.
Oh my mine would be very very long. I DNF often.
Hunger by Roxanne Gay
100 Years of Solitude.
I completely agree with you!!!
Thank you @Ale, I had several friends who kept telling me it was so great…………I just could not get into it.
@Carla I couldn’t either. And I read it at different ages. Still didn’t like it one bit.
My daughter is shocked by this, but I’d have to say Inheritance by Christopher Paolini. It’s her favorite book!
The story of Edgar Sawtell.
Omg yes! It was awful. I pushed through it and regretted it
@Laura me too!!!
Never did read it, but Oprah sure went gaga over it.
The hobbit.. all those songs and things.
O.K one more, The History of Wolves.
I liked that book but could someone PLEASE explain the weird ending to me.
A Hologram for the King
Girl on a train. Took to long to really get into the story. Too much time on the train.
I agree.
Not a very good book.
It’s the title…LOL!
And the movie…ugh.
Mansfield Park by Jane Austin. ? And I love her. ?
Have you read “Northanger Abbey”? It is good, very funny.
No! I’ll have to check it out. Thank you!
The Bonfire of the Vanities..
As I Lay Dying
Life of Pi
I thought so, too!!! A librarian friend of mine said I needed to give it another chance…
Life is too short for bad books. LOL
@Marla you’re right!
@Leah another chance? The first time was painful!
I agree @Marie
World War Z—too military-ish. It read like a report, not a story.
I actually liked that book and although the movie was quite different (and had to be) they did a pretty good job.
I went into it expecting a different type of prose, I guess.
Into there water? by Paula Hawkins
Vanity Fair. I’ve been trying to get through it for months but I just find it boring.
I couldn’t think of any books I found boring off the top of my head, so I scanned all of the above mentioned books to see if I also felt that they were boring, but agreed about only one. I guess I’m a fairly patient reader. I like books that are page-turners, but I don’t not-like books that are not.
Name of the wind.
Sleeping Beauties
The Mists of Avalon – so boring!
Hamilton
I hated both My Friend Flicka and Black Beauty as a kid. And Johnny Tremain.
The Hunt for Red October. I wanted to like it–but no…
The movie wasn’t any better.
Hahaha, good, I don’t feel so bad then! I’ve not seen the movie. :p
Swamplandia
Amish fiction. just can’t go most of it
That’s a thing?
Amish fiction is a thing? Who knew?
yes. common authors: beverly Lewis, Wanda Brunsetter, Amy Clipston, Suzanne Woods Ficher, Cindy Woodsmall, Kelly Long and others. it’s very formulaic and I just can’t do them other than the Christmas books
Huh! I can’t believe I didn’t know this!!!
You’re not alone.
H, my name is Henley
If you’ve read one of them you’ve read them all.
Storm Warning by Jack Higgins. aaaarrgh, Hate this book.
The girl you left behind
Girl on a train
The spy from paulo..
Among Strange Victims????
Is that the one you were telling me about that was so weird?
Yes. Boring as hell, culminating in a real sh!t show…
The girl with the dragon tattoo, I know everyone else loves it, but I was so bored it’s the only book in my life I didn’t finish, and I finished two different versions of the Bible and I’m not even religious
I couldn’t finish that one either
I just put down “A Room With A View” and “A Wrinkle In Time” though AWIT is pretty good, I just don’t like fantasy.
The Zookeeper’s Wife
Here’s another one. It’s already been mentioned by some others, and I must agree: Anna Karenina is a snooze-fest for me!
A Man Called Ove
I liked the book but it was a chore for me to get through. It moved too slow for me.
Curious incident of the dog in the nightime
That’s my favourite book!
@Nicole oops, sorry
I found it a brilliant story and very easy read, completely got into the characters.
I realize l might be the only one but… The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Gone with the Wind. Tried 3 maybe 4 times and didn’t make it past the third chapter.
I had a hard time getting through Inca Gold by Clive Cussler. My friend recommended it and was upset when I told him it was the hardest thing to finish. On top of that it was an easy read which is why I even attempted to finish in the first place.
After watching Sahara, I realized that I will never be a fan of Clive Cussler.
Love Warrior by Glennon Melton Doyle. I was supposed to feel sorry for all of her pain and I just found her so selfish and self-involved.
Everything by George Eliot EXCEPT Silas Marner.
Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor.
The Gentleman from Moscow, made it half way and just didn’t care what happened!