TheBookSwarm
Ask Question

What’s one book you could not finish, no matter how much you tried to?

What’s one book you could not finish, no matter how much you tried to?

Syed #questionnaire

32
Reply

760 Answers

Barbara

The Help. I know the book had rave reviews but for some reason I could just not get into the book and finally just put it up. Maybe I will try again at some point.

3
Reply
Monica

The audio version is excellent.

1
Karen

the Association of Black Women Historians Hate that book so I didn’t read it.

3
Shena

Me either I tried for a month ?

1
Berdina

Same here! I also hated the movie ? But hey it’s still on my shelf and I still love books. That’s all that matters ???✌️

3
SyedQuestion author

Haha. This book was mentioned twice on this post. Will see what it’s about.

1
Alexandra

I started it three times. Just cant get into it

0
Sameer

The God of Small Things.

1
Reply
Karen

I’m with you!

1
SyedQuestion author

I liked it. ? Why didn’t you?

0
Sameer

@Syed just couldn’t get through it. Long descriptions, little action. Not my kind of read.

2
Kathy

Still working of The Goldfinch

4
Reply
Stephanie

I had the push through that one, but was glad I did.

1
Kathy

I finally downloaded it to my kindle.. Thinking that it will be easier…

0
Monica

Took me a long time and I listened to it.

1
Alison

I’m afraid to read it because I love love love The Secret History but this one got such terrible reviews.

0
Monica

Cold Mountain – graphic war scenes

0
Reply
Ethel

The portrait of an artist as a young man

0
Reply
Ashlea

I don’t know why, because I don’t even think it is a bad book, but I have never made it through “Catch-22.” I always seem to get stuck in the middle and then somehow abandon it. I guess that’s my paradox and coincidence that it is with this book?

2
Reply
Valerie

The Son

0
Reply
Monica

which one? I find three different authors.

0
Valerie

@Monica Philip Meyer.

1
Leslie

The Amber Spyglass, Book III of His Dark Materials (Pullman). I think I’m going to start from Book I again, as soon as I can find the time. 🙂

0
Reply
Alison

I barely got through The Golden Compass. I love Philip Pullman as a speaker but I find his writing lacking. The flow is terrible and it’s all too over-complicated. I wanted to love it, but I really disliked it.

1
Leslie

The Golden Compass was great IMO, but then the flow went indeed south. 🙂 Lots of good ideas (those daemons!), though.

1
Karen

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

1
Reply
Aimée

Same!!! (Posted below)

0
Alexandra

It was a textbook which I never enjoyed. Nightmare

0
Laura

Jonanthan Strange and Mr. Norrell.. I couldn’t do it. It was painful.

1
Reply
Sari

The Lord of the Rings and I mean the whole trilogy. I know that this book is classic but I have never understand why Tolkien is so popular or how it isn’t so boring to read how people riding around the forest almost ten or even more pages.

4
Reply
Sameer

I bought the box set of 3 books and couldn’t get through one.. Totally didn’t get what’s so great. Ended up giving away the almost new set to colleagues. ?

0
Sharon

I agree. I’ve never been able to get into any of Tolkien.

3
Patricia

I just finished the return of the king! I understand why you guys have trouble with this series, there’s definitely a lot of boring parts in the book but the good stuff is exceptionally good

1
SyedQuestion author

Never picked it up. Heard very mixed reviews from friends from ‘boring’ to ‘exceptional’.

1
Patricia

I feel like it takes a lot for me to be bored by a book sometimes. The story is good but Tolkien didn’t know how to write very well lol .

0
Kathy

I tried to read this years ago after reading and loving the Hobbit. I really liked the first book, then got hopelessly bogged down in the second book and never finished it. Then after the movies came out, I tried reading it again. Surprise! I read all 3 volumes and enjoyed them all.

0
Monica

It took forever to get through book one. Then I loved book two. Book three was like seriously that is the epic love? So much walking.

0
Rebecca

Unbroken

1
Reply
Beverly

I loved this book, so sad, but I enjoyed the read.

0
Rebecca

Too much trauma to a human being.

0
Bonnie

I loved it but I did skip some of the chapters about the Japanese prisoner camp. It went on way too long.

0
Amanda

It took a long time for me to get through it, that book sits on your soul.

0
Brittany

I stopped about 40 pages through. I really struggled with the way it was written.

0
Sarah

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

1
Reply
Stephanie

I’m curious, why?

0
Justine

It didn’t hold me either.

0
Sarah

Not sure? It sounded really good but I have tried a couple times and just couldn’t get into it…

0
Stephanie

Ok. I was just curious. It worked for me. That’s what wonderful…a book for everyone.

2
Susan

It took me two tries to finish…I had a hard time syncing with the letter format. I did enjoy it, however!

1
Sarah

I might have to give it another try ?

1
Amanda

I couldn’t get in to it when reading, but I really enjoyed the audiobook.

0
Kat

I DNFed that one too.

0
Kimberly

IT

0
Reply
Lynn

The Narrow Road to the Deep North. I only read a little bit but was SO bored I couldn’t go on. I probably didn’t give it a fair chance.

0
Reply
Shena

The help

3
Reply
Justine

Thank You! I thought it was just me!

1
Karen

Shop Girl by Steve Martin. 20 years later and I am still traumatized at how bad it was.

2
Reply
Barbara

And my husband loved it. I didn’t even try. Chocolate and vanilla.

0
Alison

I liked it.

0
Harriet

The Weaker Sex by Antonia Fraser.

1
Reply
Barbara

Harriet that may have do with when you read it. What was new is sometimes old.

1
Jade

Under the dome. It started off so good but it was so long and I would sporadically lose interest. Then I finally just watched the TV show.

0
Reply
Leslie

I read it and hated the ending so much I was sorry I ever started it!

1
Linda

Same here! I generally like Stephen King, but just couldn’t do it. I tried watching the tv series and bailed quickly. Still not sure if it was the bad acting or silly premise.

1
Patricia

What’s the ending lol

0
Jade

I gave up on the tv show too because it just seemed so ridiculous. I wasn’t sure if the book had all of that crazy alien stuff in it, to that extreme, but I was annoyed.

0
Alastair

I loved the book (including the ending) but gave up on the TV show which was so different from the book and seemed to lose its way.

0
Beverly

The Gunslinger by Stephen King, Just couldn’t get into it at all. Husband loves the whole series though.

0
Reply
Jade

Oh and the book You, hated the voice, writing style and the pace.

0
Reply
Stephanie

One Hundred Years of Solitude

7
Reply
June

I didn’t finish this one either. Can’t understand why all the accolades for it.

1
SyedQuestion author

I have only heard praise for it and was to purchase it next week. What made you not like it?

0
June

Too many people with the same name. I got half way through it and put it down. Magical realism with politics mixed in too. It just wasn’t my type of fiction. You may enjoy it.

0
Stephanie

I’ve tried to enjoy it…three times. Magical realism with politics mixed in (as June mentioned ??) just isn’t working for me in this case. Give it a try. I see a few books on this list that I fully enjoyed.

1
Barbara

Recently, The Age of Innocence

0
Reply
Leslie

Sophie’s Choice. It was brilliant but I was pregnant when I was reading it and when I got to the “choice” scene I was so upset I put it down and never picked it up again.

0
Reply
Barbara

Every mother is still upset. Pregnant? No. It’s really wonderful but it haunts you forever.

1
Peg

Devil in the White City.

1
Reply
Berdina

Totally! I have this one too. I had such high expectations and still haven’t been past why they decided to have the fair in Chicago. ? I was like “wow”, and put back in it’s spot. ?

0
Peg

@Berdina I tried a couple of times, but obviously that book is not for me.

1
Harry

I really liked it!

0
Barbara

@Berdina ?

1
Dawna

“Eat, Pray, Love” — I could not stand her writing or her as a person.

6
Reply
Gabbie

I managed to finish it, but kept thinking if you gender flipped it and had a man wake up one day to decide he was no longer in love with his wife and pissed off to Europe to sleep around and whinged that his wife was dragging her feet on the divorce… That man would now be dead via hateful mob

0
Alysia

Grey!

0
Reply
SyedQuestion author

You mean, the E. L. James book?

0
Alysia

Yes.

0
Jason

Lincoln and the Bardo. I kept hearing all the great reviews of the audiobook. I don’t get what the big deal is. I don’t see how it’s likely to win a Pulitzer. Granted, I still have a couple hours of audio to finish that I keep putting off, but I’m going to finish it at some point. I’ve been saying that for awhile though.

1
Reply
SyedQuestion author

Well. It won the Booker last year. So I decided to give it a try. Was not impressed.

1
Betsy

It was a book better heard. The audio book was amazing and I followed along with the print book. It was amazing but did take the two layer approach to fully appreciate.

1
Jason

I listened on audio. I still have about 2 hours of it left. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and this one I cannot like.

0
Jason

I liked The Tenth of December better than Bardo

0
Autumn

The Swan Gondola by Timothy Schaffert. It’s not that it isn’t good, I just couldn’t connect to the characters. And it wasn’t very intriguing to me.

0
Reply
Caroline

Fifty Shades of Grey that my other half thought I might like. I nearly died of boredom. If there hasn’t been a murder by at least page 10 I have zero interest.
Unless it’s by Terry Pratchett or J.K Rowling….then I’m very interested.

5
Reply
Katina

I do not understand this one either. There are plenty of raunchy romance novels out there. So poorly written.

1
Chrissy

This! It was horribly written!

1
Amanda

The only reason I could ever appreciate that series is because the stigma for raunchy novels lifted just a little smidge and access to better ones was made just a little bit easier.

1
Patricia
1
Reply
Bonnie

Just finished, sooooo boring, listened to the audio version and the reader sounded like a robot!???‍♀️?

2
Patricia

I want the information and knowledge but damn I just can’t make myself read it lol

0
Olga

Farewell to Arms. So much waily waily and oh woes…

0
Reply
Kayrene

Yep, forgot about that one. I realized pretty quick….I am not going to enjoy this one.

0
Jasmin

This is my third time trying to read Lolita. I’m hoping to finally finish it this time, because I do like his prose style…

1
Reply
Jason

Lolita is one I couldn’t get into at all. I stopped and started a few times, but never made it too far.

0
Patricia

Awe that’s my fave book !

0
SyedQuestion author

I loved Lolita! His writing was so good.

1
Jason

Yes, a lot of people love this one. Jeremy Irons narrates the audiobook and seems to do well based on what I’ve heard. Maybe I will give it another go after I finish the book I’m on now.

0
Kathleen

The Kite Runner.

2
Reply
Autumn

Really? I loved the Kite Runner. What didn’t you like about it?

0
Maria

Fates and Furies

1
Reply
Renée

And Ladies of the Club. It was a gift, I usually always read gift books no matter what (weird I know). I’ve started it 4-5 times and just cannot get into it

0
Reply
Barbara

Loved it! ☺

0
Sherron

Moby Dick

4
Reply
Jaimie

I know 1 person that has legit read that book. ?

2
Alison

I made it almost to the end, which is unlike me for books I loathe. BLEH.

1
Shannon

The wedding by Nicholas sparks

2
Reply
Kathy

The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway. Was for book club. Decided to watch the movie while drinking wine with girlfriend. STILL couldn’t finish the movie!

1
Reply
Karen

The book changed my life! Maybe you have to be a teenager.

1
Gabbi

Shantaram….i just cant get into it

2
Reply
Patricia

The green mile

2
Reply
Maudia

Ulysses by James Joyce. Tried twice. Impenetrable.

4
Reply
Jason

I’ve heard similar things about Ulysses. I’ve always been tempted to give it a try but never have.

0
Maureen

My friend did his doctorate thesis on Ulysses. Not for me either.

0
Diane

Wicked. I’m not a fantasy fan.

1
Reply
Linda

Moby Dick

3
Reply
Jaimie

No one finishes that book ?

2
Linda

@Jaimie I actually have a friend who loved it! Go figure…

2
Jaimie

My friends dad lives it!!! He’s the only one I know that has read the entire book lol

1
Linda

@Jaimie Yeah I have just that one friend. Anyone else I know ?

0
Michael

Naked Lunch

1
Reply
Patricia

I liked it a lot but I know what u mean. It was super hard to read . Loved it tho lol

0
Patricia

Villette by Charlotte bronte ?

0
Reply
SyedQuestion author

I bought Jane Eyre yesterday. Have you read it? What did you think of it?

2
Patricia

@Syed one of my all time favourites :)) it’s amazing

3
SyedQuestion author

Am glad! ?

0
Monica

@Syed I loved Jane Eyre. So many people told me to read it, I put it off for years. I couldn’t put it down.

1
Rachel

The woman in cabin 10. I tried so hard lol

1
Reply
Michael

Dust

0
Reply
Kristine

Gone Girl and Girl on the Train

4
Reply
Nina

I never did read it all. That book makes me have anxiety they way it’s written ???

0
Kristine

@Nina I put them both down. The “literary voice” of the gone girl made me wanted her gone.

1
Marie

I couldn’t finish Girl on the Train too! Gone Girl got better as it went along.

0
Aswin

One hundred years of solitude!!

3
Reply
Bettie

Me too!!! Just couldn’t get through it and I tried many times.

1
Aswin

Actually, I thought i was the only one …

1
Jan

So many people adore this book. I did not. I left it with 25 pages to go.

1
Laura

Same!

1
Audrey

Ugh. I was just about to start it.

0
Janet

I loved it so start reading and see what YOU think.

2
Bettie

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez.

2
Reply
Katina

For the love of God Twilight!

7
Reply
Katina

….Harry Potter.

7
Reply
Jaimie

Me too! I don’t get the big deal…

1
Jerri

This is blasphemous. You have been marked… ??‍♀️ lol

2
Jaimie

I know… Lol ?

0
Michael

The 3rd book of King’s Dark Tower …. Just lost interest. May pick it up again in the future when my TBR list is smaller.

0
Reply
Jason

You should pick that series back up. I didn’t like The Wastelands as much as the others in the series. Books 4 and 5 are a lot better than that one in my opinion.

0
Jason

A lot of people say book 4 is the best of the series, though I thought 4 and 5 were both great.

0
Dawn

The Grapes of Wrath. I know it’s a classic to but it was sooooo boring.

1
Reply
Patricia

I liked it a lot ❤ the ending is amazing

1
Patricia

Made me cry

0
Dawn

I was also in high school at the time soooooo

0
Thelia

I read this in high school (about 40 years ago) and its still one of those books that sticks in my memory.

1
Harry

Missoula

0
Reply
Mary

Trinity. Even with an Irish background, a fondness for the author, and three separate attempts, I just couldn’t do it.

0
Reply
Emily

My dad’s book. Honest to god, I’ve tried to read it a dozen times over the years. Nope. Nada. No go. Best sleep aid ever. ?

6
Reply
Donnie

Little women ?

2
Reply
Hollie

Gone Girl

3
Reply
Sergio

The Satanic Verses

1
Reply
Julie

Catch 22

0
Reply
Teresa

In Cold Blood

1
Reply
Jaimie

American Gods

2
Reply
SyedQuestion author

Was about to purchase. Why?

0
Jaimie

I just didn’t like the plot or the characters but I think I’m the minority. Most people love this book.

0
Sandra

The Great Gatsby. I’ve had to read a synopsis and watch portions of the movie. I hate the writing and I hate the story. I know it’s sacrilege but I just cannot get around it. It’s crap.

4
Reply
SyedQuestion author

This is blasphemy! ?

1
Marty

I figured I am just not intellectual enough… yawn… didn’t even make 50 pages which is my rule. Too many other good books to read!!!

1
Sandra

@Syed I know, but I am unashamed. One man’s treasure…

2
Jodi

I read it… but reading it made me fall asleep often.

0
Barbara

My favorite. Just my opinion.

0
Susan

The Stand. Just creeped me out too much!

0
Reply
Sandra

Oh, this is one of my favorites!

1
Anne-Marie

The Confederacy of Dunces

1
Reply
Stephanie

Mansfield Park

1
Reply
Carmen

Anna Karennina

2
Reply
SyedQuestion author

Haven’t started this one yet. On my TBR for 2018. Why didn’t you like it?

0
Carmen

Well it was years ago so it might be different now…and it was a book I really wanted to read…bit every time I picked it up I just couldn’t get into it. I tried and the more I tried the more my mind rebelled. I’m not even sure why. Maybe after this, I’ll try again

0
Sandra

Oh I got through that but yeah, wasn’t love.

0
Beth

I could never get through this one until I tried the audio version. I actually enjoyed the story that way.

0
Steve

War and peace

3
Reply
Jill

Catch-22

1
Reply
Karen

The Book Thief

1
Reply
Susan

Watership Down. Don’t know why.

1
Reply
Ariannah

That was my first read of 2017 after Richard Adams passed away. I realized I had never read it. It was so boring that it took me all month to finish. But I finished it. I spent $5 on the Kindle version. My daughter’s close friends have that as a “favorite” and I just couldn’t.

1
Brandon

Agreed!

0
Laura

Dune.

2
Reply
Theresa

I’m someone who insists on finishing books, and I just could not force myself through Cloud Atlas. The writing was self-indulgent and the characters were flat. Maybe the movie is better?

3
Reply
Kimberly

Same.. and don’t bother with the movie either..

1
Ginger

Movie made it somewhere better. But still mot worth seeing

1
Amanda

I enjoyed the movie, but never tried the book.

0
Fifi

Shantaram

0
Reply
Deborah

The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman. I love many of her other books.?

2
Reply
Linda

Love Alice Hoffman! One of my favs, but she can be a little on the dark side in some of her books

0
Marie

I tried to read Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, this week. Could not stay with it. It is the first I tried of hers. I wonder if I should try a different one. So many love her.

0
Susan

The DaVinci Code. Bored me to tears.

1
Reply
Jaimie

Omg yes!!!! Torture

1
Jamie

I agree.

0
Carmen

I still haven’t read it or seen the movie

0
Courtney

See once I got a little further into it, I really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down.

0
Susan

@Courtney i got at least 3/4 through.

0
Airene

Hush hush series

0
Reply
Holly

Anne of Green gables

5
Reply
Mary

Catch 22. Twice!

1
Reply
Tracy

Forrest Gump gave me headaches, but Catch 22 – ACK!

0
Mary

Hidden Figures. Read like a textbook in many places.

1
Reply
Barbara

Dead Wake. So violent. I couldn’t bear it.

1
Reply
Susan

I didn’t even get to any violence, I started going cross-eyed at the beginning when there were SO many details about the ship! Enough already! ?

0
Dawn

Cider House Rules. Boring.

0
Reply
Emily

Shogun

1
Reply
Margaret

war and peace tried 5 times

3
Reply
Susan

Have you heard if the app Serial Reader? It’s free and it breaks down classic books into small bite-size pieces that you can read once a day. I just started The Lost World by Doyle.

1
Audrey

Great Expectations (in HS). But then I couldn’t put it down when I tried again 30 years later. Lol

4
Reply
Louise

Lord of the Rings. I was twice given it as a present, and both times I tried to get through it and failed. Found it very dull. A shame, because I enjoyed The Hobbit very much.

2
Reply
Kathy

Wuthering Heights. So boring, and I hated Heathcliff!

1
Reply
Faith

Gone with the wind – boring and boring and boring

2
Reply
Sana

Catch 22

1
Reply
Adriana

The Passage – it had just way too many point of view characters. I don’t like books with too many story lines to follow.
World War Z – Same problem.

1
Reply
Marie

Crime & Punishment by Dostoyevsky

1
Reply
SyedQuestion author

It is one of my favourites! Why couldn’t you finish it?

0
Colin

I finished it. It took me a while. Basically. Man commits murder just because he could. Man feels bad about it. Man confesses. Man is sent to a Gulag. Man feels better. A book about not being able to live with yourself.

2
Marie

@Syed I couldn’t get into the style of writing from what I remember! Maybe I’ll try again now I’m about 20 years older hh

1
Marie

@Colin Sounds like a narcissist character who commits abuse because he wants to, confesses only because he feels bad and wants to feel better by the confession rather than because of feeling guilty at what he did! Maybe glad I didn’t finish it!

1
Colin

@Marie Basically yes. The book suggests that you can do an evil act, but you will have to live it.

1
Marie

@Colin Thanks Colin!

1
Darleen

Memoirs of a Geisha

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

It’s been years, but I still have the books in hopes to try again one day.

4
Reply
Teresa

I really enjoyed listening to Memoirs of a Geisha. Great reader on that one.

3
Barbara

@Darleen, I’m saddened! Both of these are favorites of mine! I hope you give them another chance.

2
Alandra

House of Leaves

1
Reply
Morgan

Such a good book, but definitely a struggle.

0
Jason

Started it recently based on the recommendation of a friend. We will see how it goes.

1
Lydia

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

3
Reply
Morgan

One of my favorites!

1
Lydia

I have tried about 6 times to get in to it and for some reason never can. I desperately want to love it! I think the backwards part is messing with my brain. Is that in every copy?

0
Jean

@Morgan Me too! I love the diverse opinions on this site, though!

1
Jessica

Twilight lol

1
Reply
Leah

I must agree!!! It actually has a good plot, but the writing is atrocious. So lazy! This is one case where the movies actually were so much better!

1
Cheryl

War and Peace. I’m halfway through it. I occasionally pull it off the shelf and read a chapter. Sorry, Tolstoy, but it’s a struggle. The translation is acknowledged as well-done but…

2
Reply
Marie

I couldn’t finish that one too when I tried in my early 20’s!

1
Tamanna

And The Mountains Echoed

1
Reply
Alicia

Gone Girl — TOO much jumping around, I could not handle it

4
Reply
Angie

I hated all of the characters. Didn’t care if she was dead and didn’t care if he did it. They were awful people.

0
Brittney

Lord of the Rings

0
Reply
Morgan

Naked Lunch. I tried, I really tried.

0
Reply
Christine

Beautiful creatures

1
Reply
Charity

Gone girl

3
Reply
Lisa

Atonement

0
Reply
Lisa

The Book Thief

1
Reply
Susan

I was just about to start it, I need to get it back to the library soon. Why do you think you couldn’t finish it?

0
Lisa

I hated the writing. Felt manipulative and pretentious. Lots of irritating repetitive descriptors. It felt like it was consciously “artistic” – like the author was trying to purposely write an award winner. It lacked authenticity for me. I might have been able to handle it for a couple of hundred pages. Not for almost 600. It just seemed like he tried too hard. Bring narrated by Death was just strange. Strange can be ok but it didn’t work for me. I thought most characters lacked depth in a way that felt superficial or phony. After all the rave reviews I was profoundly disappointed in this book.

1
Lisa

@Susan

1
Susan

I thumbed through it and read a few pages and I think I might pass…SO many books out there!!

1
Susan

Thank you for your thoughtful review! ?

1
Susan

@Lisa btw…I saw several people agreed with you…The Book Thief was a book they couldn’t finish. ?

1
Lacey

Cold Mountain

2
Reply
Monica

Was it too violent for you as well? I was sick reading it.

0
Lacey

@Monica I just had a hard time getting into it altogether. Several people have told me how much they love it so I will maybe try again someday. But it just wasn’t for me the first couple of tries.

1
Monica

@Lacey I was the only one in my book club that couldn’t finish it. Everyone else said they loved it. I love reading about our likes and dislikes on books. It is really eye opening.

3
Suzi

I loved it ?.

0
Hayley

I never finished A Series of Unfortunate Events. You couldn’t pay me enough to finish Twilight. I made it halfway through the second book. Wouldn’t have ever made it that far, except someone told me they got better. Bleh.

2
Reply
Stacy

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

3
Reply
RebeccaLynn

War and peace. Tried repeatedly. Even bought it so I could finish it at home. Lol

4
Reply
Susan

The Dead Wake…all the details of the ship! ?

0
Reply
Marilyn

Kon Tiki. Same problem.

1
Annette

Eat Pray Love

2
Reply
Suzi

I only liked the “eat” part and quit after that…her descriptions of Italy (or was it Sicily?) and her epicurious adventures were fun to read.

0
Jennifer

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

1
Reply
Ashlynn

The Secret

1
Reply
Janet

Gravity’s Rainbow

2
Reply
Audrey

LotR. Why does it take three pages and 70 adjectives to describe a forest ? (hyperbole, but still)

2
Reply
Idrees

The Book Thief. Got halfway through and found the characters boring sadly ?

2
Reply
Chloé

Moby Dick, by H. Melville… People say it’s brilliant but all that sailor’s vocabulary is too much for me…

1
Reply
Zeinab

Melville delivered the literal concept of journey through this book. It was honestly a JOURNEY going through it.

0
Chloé

I’m actually sad I wasn’t able to finish that journey as you say… And I know there is more to it than just a sailor’s story… But those words were too difficult for me… ?

0
Zeinab

It’s such a classic. If you’re into raw literature you’ll appreciate it.

1
Chloé

I know… I love all the classics I can lay my hands on… After this conversation I might go and get my copy and give it another go… One chapter at a time ?

0
Zeinab

Glad to hear that, and feel free to let us know your thoughts on it. ?

1
Chloé

I will ?… Hoping I won’t give up this time…

1
Alastair

Some chapters are a slog through shipping and whaling terms, but the story is superb, and it all comes together at the end for a dramatic finale. I was glad I stuck with it.

1
Chloé

All this makes me wish I had been more courageous! ?

1
Betsy

Crime and Punishment

0
Reply
Chetna

Catch 22

1
Reply
Rosemary

Pillars of the Earth

Mists of Avalon.

Just can’t.

oh,also that time travel one by Gibaldon. Just can’t.

1
Reply
Teresa

In The Mists of Avalon the first chapter or two are awful to get thru, but later it is great. Skip them and then go back.

0
Rosemary

@Teresa I dragged myself through half of the book on three different occasions. It’s just not the book for me. I so wanted to finish it but I couldn’t tell the difference between the characters. They all had the same voice. It totally did NOT turn on the movie projector in my head, so with sadness, I gave my copy to someone who loved it. There is a reader for every book – MoA and I just couldn’t make it work. 🙂

1
Barbara

Pillars is one of my ABSOLUTE favorite books!!

1
Rosemary

@Barbara It is the favorite book of several THOUSAND people, and I tried and I tried – paper, audio – just couldn’t drag myself through. I terribly want to love it, but, alas, I just can’t. 🙁

2
Teresa

I also can’t get into the Gibaldon one. Dirty Scotsmen don’t do it for me.

0
Rosemary

@Teresa rape as entertainment is what caused me to just set it aside.

1
Teresa

@Rosemary yup. I am not interested in a “savage” lover. Give me Mr Darcy any day (or Colonel Brandon as played by Alan Rickman)

0
Rebekah

Game of Thrones. The first one.

0
Reply
Suzi

I know! Too many characters in the first 100 pages for me – I don’t have time for that much memorization!

0
Hannah

The Man in the High Castle

1
Reply
Nancy

Wicked. Yuck!

5
Reply
Lori

The Zookeeper Wife

1
Reply
Susan

I got about 3 paragraphs into that one.

1
Bernadette

Ditto

1
Nikkie

Same here!

0
Alannis

The youngest templar

0
Reply
Cheryl

50 Shades of Gray

2
Reply
Janet

Well yes, there’s that. My hair stylist loved all three and I bought them from her. I can’t read bad writing. I just can’t.

0
Ariel

The Unbearable Lightness of Being. I tried so hard to get through it.

1
Reply
Jessica

Velocity by Dean Koontz

1
Reply
Mia

It was difficult to finish.

0
Laura

50 shades. Omg the worst written book in the history of the world. Seriously atrocious writing.

10
Reply
SyedQuestion author

E. L. James studied at my University, so I am quite tempted to read the books. ? Is it really that bad? ?

Don’t worry, we also gave the world David Mitchell and Kazuo Ishiguro, so it pretty much worked out well. ?

0
Sari

Well I might be crazy but I have read all 5 books by E.L. James, they are ok and also helped open the doors to books where is taboo theme. But it isn’t my favorite but it was ok. Or maybe I can’t see any book like waste of time.

1
Laura

I don’t care about taboo themes but I couldn’t get through the horrific writing. It was seriously painful.

1
Sarah

I completely agree! It was so badly written. I still finished it cause I just have to, but it was really really bad.

1
Laura

I was trying to read it in the pool and it got wet and I literally threw it in the trash.

1
Vicky

I got stuck on Game of Thrones.
Was “planning” to start Zoo Keepers Wife this weekend. We will see how it goes….

0
Reply
Teresa

Silence of the Lambs.

1
Reply
Michelle

War and Peace.

1
Reply
Jennifer

Beloved by Toni Morrison. I’ve read the beginning of that book at least 4 different times.

0
Reply
Pam

Gone Girl

3
Reply
Kimberley

The Girl from Munich.

0
Reply
Sarah

The Host

0
Reply
Deanna

The Historian. This got rave reviews but I could not get into it and I tried 3 times.

2
Reply
Karen

Me too.

1
Melany

girl on the train

2
Reply
Patty

The Last days of Magic. I just could not get into it.

0
Reply
Patricia

American Gods. Tried like 5 x

2
Reply
Karen

I tried twice.

1
Kristie

I quit reading it too.
Absolutely bizarre!!

1
Angelica

No!!!! I love AG

0
Laura

Girl on the Train

1
Reply
Mary

Trajectory……….it was a book that had some short stories. I only read the first one . It was poorly written and hard to follow the plot. Instead of reading the rest of them I returned the book to the library. I figured if the first one was so confusing then the rest of them had to be too. I think somebody named Russo wrote it.

0
Reply
Teresa

I Captured the Castle.

0
Reply
Melissa

2666. I’m sure it must have gotten better. .. at some point.

0
Reply
Fatima

1984 by Orwell ?. But still, I will keep fighting to finish it.

2
Reply
Steven

Really? I love 1984.

2
Alastair

I finished it, although I thought the ideas it contained were more interesting than the characters or the storyline.

1
Fatima

Yes, I liked it too, but found it a bit difficult to finish. NOW I am more motivated to finish it.? Thanks ??

2
Beth

Seriously? Loved loved that book.

1
Janie

Just finished it, but skipped over “The Book”.

1
Steven

I bitterly slogged my way through the Dune trilogy. I have to admit I did complete it….but only just. And out of sheer stubbornness.

1
Reply
Judy

I loved them!

1
Katina

Though I’ve read several I have not finished many of Oprah’s book club books. ????

1
Reply
Sarah

One of hers in particular was The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I liked the first half of the book,and then the story changed so completely that I threw the book down in disgust. Maybe it was just me, but I couldn’t finish that book.

0
Iris

It isn’t just you.

0
Cathie

Life After Life-Kate Atkinson
and
Casual Vacancy-JK Rowling. I tried both a few times and finally gave up.

0
Reply
Victoria

Ditto on Casual Vacancy! I wanted to like it sooo much, but I just couldn’t get through it.

2
Candace

Ministry of Utmost Happiness

0
Reply
Alexis

Room.

0
Reply
Ashley

The Cuckoo’s Calling

0
Reply
Melissa

Ulysses

1
Reply
Darleen

I only read Ulysses because I took a James Joyce class last year. We read Dubliners and Ulysses, I’m so glad I took the class, I really enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t have read it on my own.

0
Amanda

The Borrowers

0
Reply
Jean

Paying Guests

0
Reply
Viv

50 Shades!!!!!!!

4
Reply
Debra

Infinite Jest…I’ve tried multiple books by David Foster Wallace but just….can’t. ??

0
Reply
Jason

Infinite Jest is the best book I’ve ever read. Maybe try the audiobook if you’re interested in getting through it. The narrator is really good, and they book really picks up later on.

1
Debra

Thanks, I’ll try that!

1
Siham

Homegoing

1
Reply
Nikkie

What was it that you didn’t like about it?

0
Siham

Funny story: I liked it. Or at least I liked the bits I got to read over and over again. (Almost) every chapter/protagonist is interesting enough but there isn’t enough glue to put them together and make me wanna keep on reading. It’s the structure really, it reads like short stories and I’m no fan of those.

1
Nikkie

I respect that. There were some chapters what I wished were longer but after the little snapshot it was over for each character.

0
Jonathan

Capital. … it was never finished by anyone, not even Marx.

0
Reply
Marian

The Night Circus, I dont know whyyyyy.

2
Reply
Angelica

I had to do the audiobook. I’m almost done. It’s kind of boring but I’m committed to finishing it. I want to know who won.

1
Barbara

Me too. Just not my cup ‘o tea.

1
Angelica

@Barbara I’m forcing myself to finish I. I took a break to listen to “Iron Gold”.

1
Anne

Tried the audiobook but even Jim Dale couldn’t get me to finish it.

1
Marian

This is me everytime I try to continue reading it..??

2
Allison

If you really want to know, you could just skip to the end. The book police will never know, I swear.

0
Carla

100 years of Solitude.

0
Reply
Marscha

Ulysses.

0
Reply
Nicky

The Book Thief

0
Reply
Angela

Last of the Mohicans

0
Reply
Patricia

Under the Dome by Stephen King.

3
Reply
Lisa

Me too!

0
Patricia

The weird thing is, I am an avid Stephen King fan. I had read almost everything he wrote up to that point, but I just couldn’t get past the first third. It sets on my shelf with the bookmarker where I gave up. There are other books by him I have never read, but none that I had started but couldn’t finish.

0
Jack

Needful Things for me. I literally fall asleep.

0
Patricia

No, didn’t have trouble with Needful Things, but it wasn’t my favorite either.

0
Kashana

Yes!!! I got to page 300 something and just put it down

0
Jo

The art of war…

0
Reply
Nathan

To Kill A Mocking Bird so Over rated.

1
Reply
Chloe

Midnight’s children by Salman Rushdie.

0
Reply
Lacey

Atlas Shrugged

1
Reply
Sandy

I would love to know if anyone ever finished that speech. Jeesh!!

0
Sameer

I did. Loved the book. ? I agree not an easy read. One of my all time favorites anyhow. ✨

0
Bonnie

Horrible.

0
Jade

50 shades of grey

5
Reply
Kathy

Infinite Jest. I tried repeatedly. Also, anything by Faulkner.

0
Reply
Mary

I don’t remember the title. It was decades ago. Every time I picked it up something would happen that needed immediate attention.

0
Reply
Renee

Fifty Shades of Grey, so bad.

3
Reply
Leslie

Oh that was the worst!

1
Leslie
0
Judy

I agree.

0
Gina

The Davinci Code.

3
Reply
Jean

Ah! I thought I was the only person in America who didn’t like Davinci Code. Abandoned it after a few chapters. Ugh ?

0
Regan

The 5 Crazy Ladies of North Pearl St. Ugh

0
Reply
Mike

Ulysses

0
Reply
Dara

Flowers in the Attic

0
Reply
Kerry

Gone girl

2
Reply
CoCo

Salem’s Lot… scared the shit out of me.

1
Reply
Autumn

The Scarlet Letter. Ugh.

1
Reply
Danielle

Call of the wild–animal violence

0
Reply
Sarah

I skipped that part. So the 20 pages I read makes it a very diffent book than was probably intended!

1
Joyce

Last of the Mohicans – painful

0
Reply
Marilyn

I know I’m weird, but that is one of my favorite books.

0
Joyce

@Marilyn you are not weird – you have intellectual stamina!

1
Tanya

The Shack

2
Reply
Brooke

Anna and the French Kiss

1
Reply
Amanda

Gone girl

2
Reply
Shawntay

It by Stephen King

2
Reply
Sharon

afraid to say, the Poisonwood Bible

1
Reply
Leah

Hahaha, love that book!

2
Nancy

Me too!

2
Paula

The shack, Handmaids Tale

1
Reply
Shannon

The shack! Ugh that book…

3
Leah

I didn’t finish The Shack, either, though many of my friends loved it. Not my theology.

3
Karla

The Glass Bead Game

0
Reply
Angela

The Hobbit..

0
Reply
Kelly

Goldfinch

3
Reply
Suzi

Me too – and I was 2/3 of the way in.

1
Kathy

It took me five years to read Lolita. I’m a completist; I usually refuse to give up completely. I’ll have to think hard to remember a book I’ve never finished.

1
Reply
Shannon

The Shack, and The Book Thief, just couldn’t

0
Reply
Barbara

Try The Book Thief on tape, much better.

0
Leah

Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini. My daughter and I agreed to read each other’s favorite books. She gave me inheritance, I gave her White Oleander. She had the easier time of it, I’m sure. I have no doubt that Inheritance is a great book, fantasy is just not my preferred genre.

0
Reply
Suzi

Poisonwood Bible and The Sound and the Fury (exceptionally painful to me). ?

0
Reply
Nancy

I loved the Poisonwood bible! I love that what one person can’t stand, someone else loves! ?

2
Leah

@Nancy me, too! I loved Poisonwood Bible. I’ve read it maybe five times. I cry every time. I think the Mom is so brave.

2
Marilyn

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce and Ada by Vladimir Nabokov

0
Reply
Suzi

Oh Lordy – James Joyce is difficult, but I want to like reading him so badly…I even worked with a woman who was in the “James Joyce Society”.

0
Barbara

Need guides to help with Joyce, among others.

0
Mazliza

The Last of the Mohicans. I found it very boring.

1
Reply
Christiana

The One

0
Reply
Sonja

The Hobbit. I had just finished The Once and Future King and expected it to be similar, but I got bored and quit.

1
Reply
Kimberly

I didn’t like Hobbit either!

1
Kristina

The One and Only by Emily Giffin. Terrible terrible TERRIBLE!

0
Reply
Bonnie

The brief wondrous life of oscar Wao, too many Spanish words that weren’t translated, I got tired of googling for the translation.

1
Reply
Terry

The Man Without Qualities by Robert Musil. How anyone can make pre-WW1 dull is beyond me.

0
Reply
Roxanne

To Kill A Mocking Bird

1
Reply
Gail

Oooohhh nooo! That’s my favorite book ever!

0
Roxanne

I grew up in Castro Valle,Ca as one of 4 black families. Our class watched the film and it caused me great unease. I know it is a classic and should be in my catalog of READ pieces…but i just cannot get through it.

0
Roxanne
0
Patti

My youngest is named Scout… I always loved the little girl’s character!

0
Gail

@Roxanne, I totally understand.

0
Miriam

Into the Water ?

0
Reply
Sallie

Oliver Twist

0
Reply
Patricia

oh no! I was gonna read it next

0
Krystal

I LOVE Oliver Twist!

2
Sallie

@Krystal Was not for me.

2
Sallie

@Patricia Didn’t work for me (at all) but you might like it. I tried several times, but just didn’t care for it.

1
Krystal

Patty, if you’ve read other Dickens books (and enjoyed them) then you’ll probably like Oliver Twist. I’ve only read A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist, but I love both.

Sallie, that’s fair. I know that Dickens isn’t for everybody.

1
Patricia

Great expectations is one of my fave books !! But I didn’t like the chimes by him so idk ? he’s an amazing writer tho even if I don’t like all his stuff

1
Krystal

You could always start Oliver Twist, and then if you don’t like it, you don’t have to finish it. I think it’s worth a shot. If you like any movies made based on it (I love Oliver & Company the Disney movie, for example), you’ll probably like the book, then.

1
Sallie

Patty Lovell Interesting. I liked Great Expectations, Tale of Two Cities, and Christmas Carol, thought Chimes was ok-ish and got through David Copperfield with no problems either. Also liked Cricket on the Hearth and Curiosity Shop.

2
Patricia

@Krystal omg I didn’t realize Oliver and company was based on Oliver Twist lmao I never clued in!!!! <33

1
Patricia

Sallie Williams-Tyrrell what’s your favorite Charles dickens book ?

0
Krystal

@Patricia I don’t think I realized it until I read the book in middle school, so don’t feel bad. Haha

1
Sallie

@Patricia Been a while but maybe Great Expectations by a smidge…

1
Amanda

The second book of Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty *Trilogy* (that is now 4 books)

0
Reply
Kathy

Ugh. agreed. I had to force myself to finish the first, and I didn’t even try to start the second.

0
Amanda

All I remember was the cat, that ended it.

0
Patti

The one and ONLY book I have actually thrown in the trash. Was in the “classics” section in the bookstore. Should have been in the Hardcore Porn section. Still mortified I made it as far as I did in the book out of morbid curiosity.

0
Amanda

Also :
After by Amy Efaw

0
Reply
Roch

A Tale of Two Cities. I tried so many times but failed. Ugh

1
Reply
Rosemary

That one is a toughie.

1
Krista

The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I’ve picked it up so many times only to put it down and start something new. Its not a bad book either. I don’t know what my problem is.

2
Reply
Patricia

I really liked it !

2
Krista

I know! A lot of people do. Some day I’ll devour it until the end. Maybe its just not my time yet.

1
Barbara

I listened to it on tape; much better.

1
Krista

Ill try it on audio book! Thanks for the suggestion!

0
Holly

Across Five Aprils

0
Reply
Megan

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

0
Reply
Terri

The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro

0
Reply
Regiene

Love in the Time of Cholera. I kept on falling asleep. I read the first chapter 4-5times. Years later, here I am… I bought the Spanish version and the Spanish audiobook in hope that I’ll be able to finish it at last. ??

3
Reply
Kathy

The Kite Runner

5
Reply
Fatima

Ohhh really? ?

0
Kathy

Fatima Zahra CHïdox , just could not handle the abuse. I simply could not do it. Everyone else in my group appreciated the writing.

2
Gail

I hated that book.

2
Beth

1984

3
Reply
Eli

What???

1
Angelica

Wuthering Heights

2
Reply
Betty

Moby Dick

4
Reply
Patricia

that’s the most popular one to mention on this thread I think lol. I don’t blame you, it’s pretty dry

0
Jenn

Moby Dick, War and Peace

0
Barbara

Finished it because l had to for school. Now, many years later l still don’t think l’ll like it.

0
Louisa

I read Moby Dick because it was assigned. The writing is almost superhuman and overall, I thought the book magnificent — breathtaking — possibly the greatest I have ever read. That was in college and I certainly intended to read it again, several times. Now that I’m a great grandmother, I keep thinking I’d better get around to it ~

0
Betty

Thats the way I felt about War and Peace!

0
Muffy

The Alchemist

1
Reply
Fatima

Ohhh! I liked that book ?

0
Ayu

I loved it.

1
Birdee

Loved that book!

1
Patricia

the Canterbury tales (I read it but I skimmed a lot of it lol)

2
Reply
Kimberly

I liked it ?. Glad we’re all so different.

1
Gail

Angela’s Ashes..just tooo sad. I tried twice. It’s my sister’s favorite book.

1
Reply
Leslie

Try the audio…

1
Mindy

Atlas Shrugged

4
Reply
Amanda

I couldn’t even start the Omnivore’s Dilemma after my mother started talking about why she couldn’t finish it.

0
Reply
Susan

This doesn’t really count, because I didn’t even try. 3 chapters in I said “I hate this!” And stuffed it into the bag for Goodwill. It was called “The Small Backs of Children” & nothing about the synopsis led me to believe that it would include graphic descriptions of sadomasochistic 3 ways with lesbian prostitutes. Just, never mind!

4
Reply
Gail

Sounds horrible!

0
Susan

Seriously was! It started with a little girl running from a war zone & being taken in by a solitary female farmer, which was fine. Then switched to that ugliness. I don’t even know why.

0
Deanna

This totally counts. Reading 1 page is an attempt. You got through 3 chapters. This sounds horrible. I hope you found a good read to erase that memory.

2
Krystal

Angels & Demons.

1
Reply
Jill

Agree.

1
Krystal

It’s weird, because I think it’s written well, but I also think it’s written kind of pretentiously, which makes me not want to read it.

0
Ray

The dark tower it gave me a headache

0
Reply
Laura

mistborn by branden sanderson

0
Reply
Kimberly

Murder on the Orient Express, Handmaiden’s Tale,

1
Reply
Patti

I’m listening to Handmaidens Tale. Seems like it would be an incredibly boring read. I only listen to it when I can’t sleep. ? Knocks me right out! ?

0
Kim

Water for Elephants. I tried twice.

0
Reply
Kari

Agree

1
Karen

catch 22

3
Reply
Patti

I attempted to read this in college. Didn’t have a clue. Was totally confusing!

0
Barbara

That’s the point. That’s how the army is run.

1
Rosemary

One Hundred Years of Solitude

2
Reply
Emery

Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay.

1
Reply
Julie

I beat myself up a bit for this one.

0
Eli

100 years of solitude…

0
Reply
Karen

The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie. I wanted to mail it back to him and say “try again”.

2
Reply
Tamzin

JK Rowings non magical book.

1
Reply
Linda

Wolf Hall

1
Reply
Marie

Too many to count… right now I’m stuck on the audible version of Leonardo Da Vinci.

0
Reply
Taylor

Dracula

0
Reply
Sarah-Béatrice

Great Expections

1
Reply
Ayu

Negeri Lima Menara, an Indonesian book.

0
Reply
Kourtnie

The Circle. I get to the middle and it just drags lol

0
Reply
Hannah

The girl with the dragon tattoo

2
Reply
Patti

I’m there with ya’. I don’t know if it’s because it’s translated, or what…but I struggle to work through it!

1
Julie

The Shack….movie was good, but the book was AWFUL

4
Reply
Susan

My SIL made me read it. I didn’t care for it either.

1
Paula

Agree with you, @Julie!!

1
Rosalie

Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. I hope to give it another try someday.

1
Reply
Suzi

I loved it – thought it was so beautiful, especially when you consider it was written by an 18 year old!

1
Claudia

Anna Karenina. I tried 3 times.

0
Reply
Rae

Age of Innocence

0
Reply
Trish

Under the volcano

0
Reply
Jean

I keep trying to real Grapes of Wrath, but can’t get beyond the truck ride.

1
Reply
Leah

Oh my goodness! I would keep at it: this is truly an amazing book. Made me cry.

1
Jen

Anne of Green Gables

0
Reply
Karen

Gasps out loud at the sacrilege!

1
Jen

Right?! And I’ve been trying to read it since it was first recommended to me when I was 8!

1
Gail

My favorite memory of my daughter is when we read this book.

0
Michaelann

I read the Crime, but never got through the Punishment.

4
Reply
Barbara

Think Colombo

1
Gayle

James Joyce’s Ulysses – bored me to tears, it was like slogging through hip-deep mud of the mind.

2
Reply
Barbara

Need a guide or a class. To complicated to do alone, says l.

1
Aimée

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

1
Reply
Louisa

That one is definitely worth the read — and the read again.

0
Holly

The Confederacy of the Dunces

2
Reply
JuLee

Yes! Me, too. And so many people love it …

1
Julia

Me, too!

1
Holly

To each their own but we tried, right?

0
Julia

Anything by Hawthorn

2
Reply
Patti

Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

2
Reply
Gail

Same here!

1
Patti

Must have been a bad translator, then bad editor. ?

0
Julie

White Teeth and Wicked.

0
Reply
Julie

Shantaram

2
Reply
Karen

Same

1
Nalin

You may want to read Shantaram – part-2 – the mountain shadow — it’s an awesome book !

1
Susan

What??? There’s a part 2??? I loved Shantaram!

1
Nalin

Yup it was published in October 2015 — it is “Mountain Shadow” by Gregory David Roberts and provides resolution to many of Shantaram’s open endings and further stories of characters who we thought had vanished after a brief mention

1
Susan

Thanks, Nalin. My TBR list is enormous now!!!

0
Barbara

Moby Dick, but I may try again.

1
Reply
Fatima

One hundred years of solitude

1
Reply
Patti

Sounds like a very lonely book! ?

0
Fatima

It felt like i was reading it for 100years and yet i couldnt finish it

3
Nellie

Same for me. Lauded as one of the best novels of all time. I got frustrated with the constant warring.

0
Fatima

Exactly!

1
Lindsay

I think I read five pages. It’s on my bucket list to try to get through a bit more…

0
Fatima

@Lindsay good luck. it’s not that bad tbh just not my type of books

1
Joanie

The Poisonwood Bible

1
Reply
Leah

Best.book.ever! (Isn’t it fun, we are all so different? ?)

4
Nellie

@Leah one of my favorites too.

1
Louisa

I hope you’ll give it another chance — it’s on too many top ten lists to skip.

1
Susan

That’s the first book I’d read cover to cover in time for book club!

1
Julie

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk. The first story disturbed me so much, I’ve never been able to read another word by him.

2
Reply
Patti

What’s it about?

0
Julie

Read the part here under Guts.”

0
Julie

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_(Palahniuk_novel)

0
Alisa

omggg that book messed me up so much. i still think about Guts and the “pearls” he brings up when i’m near a pool ? clearly some vivid storytelling if i still remember years later

0
Amanda

I struggle to read anything by him. He does this wonderful job at storytelling, but the topics are nightmarish in a way that never leaves you. *shudder*

1
Patti

@Julie ugh. No way. LOL. I’ll skip that book! ?

0
Mturi

The ILIAD by Homer

0
Reply
Suzi

So true!

1
Cheli

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. I thought it was going to be good but I hated it and stopped reading it about 1/6 of the way in. Later someone compared it to Dickens and I thought, aha, no wonder. (I hated Dickens too but did finish Great Expectations because it was for school.)

2
Reply
Anjum

Midnights Children

0
Reply
Brooke

The book thief, the bronze horseman

1
Reply
Brett

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Found it a total bore. Also started Dante’s Divine Comedy but found that a bit tedious too.

1
Reply
Mary

Moby Dick.

1
Reply
Jen

Godel Escher Bach

2
Reply
Lindsay

A Good American.

0
Reply
Janet

The Dress Lodger

0
Reply
Christine

Blind Assassin

1
Reply
Jaimie

She’s a different kind of author.. I’ve read 2 of her books & struggled through both.

0
Eleanor

I’m reading this now and really enjoying it! Although I remember struggling with it when it came out! Sometime you have to be in the right mood to click with a book.

1
Erica

A Gentleman In Moscow

1
Reply
Ellen

Me too! I keep hearing how amazing it is on here but I’m struggling at about 100+ pages.

1
Ruby

Gone girl

0
Reply
Alexandra

The help

0
Reply
Thida

The Girl on the Train

1
Reply
Jaimie

That was a hard one to get through…

2
Kelly

Everything is Illuminated. I tried but I hated every minute of it.

0
Reply
Susan

That was the first book most of us in my book club hated so much we didn’t finish.

0
Mwanja

Lord of the rings

0
Reply
Tollibab

démons et merveilles, from lovecraft

0
Reply
Lindsay

The Bible.

4
Reply
Marie

same

1
Lisa

Crime and Punishment

1
Reply
Michele

The House of Leaves

0
Reply
Jaimie

I just got this & am excited to check it out. The writing style does look weird from just flipping through it though..

0
Michele

Yeah it’s like too much for my ADD brain lol.

1
Jason

I started this one recently as well. It’ll take me awhile to get through because I mostly listen to audiobooks. I read a few pages of it each night.

1
Gabbie

Never happened. I always grit my teeth and finish it. Bookworm’s code of honour. (I once had a counsellor who said I approach books with more honour than people. I still haven’t worked out why this is a bad thing.)

5
Reply
Nicole

I used to think I had to. Now I know life is to short… it’s okay to give up! lol

1
Linda

Silmarillion *blush*

1
Reply
Susan

I commend you for trying.

1
Ąîñ

Children of Midnight by Salman Rushdie

1
Reply
Tilda

Foucault’s pendulum. It’s just imposible.

0
Reply
Barbara

To every season there is a book. Hate it now. Love it later. Life changes us.

5
Reply
Tee

Anna Karenina

2
Reply
Kim

It was tough to finish for me too. At least seventy-five percent of it was extremely tedious.

1
Birdee

I just had to quit on that one too. I really wanted to finish…

1
Atikah

non-fiction books ?

1
Reply
Daynah

The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve started it, just can’t get through it.

0
Reply
Michelle

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

3
Reply
Amina

Women in love by D.H. Lawrence .

0
Reply
Kelly

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton. I was so looking forward to it, but… nope.

2
Reply
Marzio

The Count of Montecristo.
Stunning start, wonderful main character. Then, Dumas did all he could to just drag the story and exploit the success he was having (it was a serial romance).
Only time in my life I believed the full version it’s not the one to be read.

2
Reply
Kevin

Don Quixote

2
Reply
Erin

Mists of Avalon

1
Reply
Jessica

Game of thrones

1
Reply
Terry

The Boys in the Boat.

2
Reply
Donna

and I loved it to pieces. go figure, right?

0
Pete

One of the cat books by Rita Mae Brown.

1
Reply
Khawla

Lord of the flies

4
Reply
Leah

Did you just not like the direction the plot was going? I ask, because, like many, I read this in high school, and not many books have remained as vivid as this one. It speaks to the need to tame and socialize children (boys in particular!). And the ending: whoa!

2
Khawla

Well I couldn’t make myself read more than the first 4 chapters which I read 3 times , mainly because I didn’t find it much interesting and partly because of the slow paste of the evolution of the plot and because how the other kids kept making fun of Biggy although he came up with brilliant ideas for them to survive and surely was the most mature and intelligent one out of them , I just couldn’t be patient to finish it then judge , but maybe I’ll start reading it some time later this year , also sorry for the late reply.

0
Leah

@Khawla I don’t think your life will be bereft if you do not read it… It just has interesting pacing that builds to a stunning climax that is vivid and impactfulful!

1
Khawla

With that being said, I can’t help but give it another chance , thank you.

1
Leah

@Khawla well, thanks!

1
Tricia

Wicked

1
Reply
Jonalyn

Harry Potter 🙁

6
Reply
Barbara

Me too!!! Tried the books and the movies…no go.

1
Ubaid

the alchemist

1
Reply
Cherise

And this ^^

1
Ubaid

I tried my best but couldn’t connect at all and left that book just like that

0
Leah

I loved this book. I found it transformational.

2
Ubaid

that’s quite a possibility, not everyone can connect with the same book the same way, good part is, in your case it helped you

0
Cherise

I heard so many people say it was life-changing – I tried it and found it to be patronising and dull, but that is the beauty of literature – we each have our own tastes and the ability to take different things from the same text 🙂

1
Ubaid

on the contrary I loved and still love art of war by Sun Tzu

0
Leah

@Ubaid oh yes, of course. I’m so glad that there are so many books, so many possibilities to connect and to feel understood!

0
Cherise

Orlando by Virginia Woolf and The Lord of the Rings trilogy

3
Reply
Marie

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. ugh.

2
Reply
Betty

Must say that was one of mine, too. Those footnotes, OMG.

1
Jillian

War and Peace. Got to the 350 page mark and couldn’t pick it up again. Also, the Source by James Michener.

1
Reply
Electra

Harry Potter series ?
Although my KIDS loved them

3
Reply
Donna

The Girls by Emma Cline. Also Toni Morrison’s Beloved

0
Reply
Suzi

I finished The Girls but didn’t love it…it was just okay.

0
Chris

This thread makes me chuckle, because of the big variety of opinions on different books. Aren’t preferences interesting? I am also chuckling because in a group focused on reading, the list of books people could not finish continues to get longer!

Most recently stopped for me: The Bookseller of Kabul. It didn’t even grab me by the first fifth or so.

6
Reply
SyedQuestion author

Yes. This was exactly why I started this discussion. I am also having fun going through the comments. So many of my favourites have been mentioned in the comments, along with so many popular titles.

2
Lacey

Based on this thread I was also thinking about how books sometimes fit differently into different phases of life. I know there are books that I loved in my twenties that I would probably think are a little shallow as a 40 yr old. But also they hit us differently if we are going through a major life change/event, or if we have traveled somewhere that we want to know more about, etc.

5
Roxanne

Chris is interesting. I read the Kite Runner, but only because my local book club was doing so. It was a tough read but great for discussion.

1
Antje

Gone with the Wind, The City and the City are two that come to mind.

0
Reply
Dawn

That’s funny. I listed Gone With the Wind in response to that question about books you couldn’t put down…

1
Sarah

The Swan Thieves

0
Reply
Susan

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel by Amor Towles. I loved the main character and learned some interesting information about Russian history through the Count’s experiences. But, the writing style was so slow, detail oriented and downright tedious to me, I just had to give up. There are too many wonderful books on my list to waste time!

6
Reply
Chelsie

1Q84. I’ve been reading it for almost 6 years now….

3
Reply
SyedQuestion author

Same! For about 2 years now! And I do not know why! I like the story so far! ?

0
Patricia

Harry Potter and the you-name-it….

1
Mary

The Freaking Hobbit and all the other ones. HATED it.

2
Reply
Cherry

Haha! I love Tolkien, but Madame Bovary…..I wanted her to eat dirt and die.

1
Patricia

What?? Can this marriage be saved? How can you dislike Tolkien?

0
Cherry

@Patricia she can. I detest Madame Bovary, which is a classic.

0
Patricia

Hi Cherry-Mary is my friend- 40 plus years. To find out thru social media that she hates books that were seminal for me – we’ll, I’m shocked!

0
Cherry

@Patricia too funny! I have a couple of 40+ year friends. They are the best.

1
Dawn

I read The Hobbit because my favorite cousin loved those books. But I only got about 30 pages into The Lord of the Rings and put it down and never looked back. I haven’t seen any of the movies either.

1
Cindy

Almost everything by Barbara Kingsolver

1
Reply
Morgan

this will be controversial, but the only book I’ve ever put down mid-way through is Love in the Time of Cholera.

2
Reply
Roberta

No controversy here. I have a hard time with “magic realism”.

1
Adrienne

Inferno Dan Brown

1
Reply
Smittyg

You should try the audiobook

1
Adrienne

I might do that. I haven’t tried that with any books yet. So it would be a new experience.

0
Smittyg

@Adrienne yeah there great if you have house work to do an just want to escape. Enjoy your next book ? ?

1
Kara

Infinite Jest. Also gave up on Manhattan Beach.

1
Reply
Betty

Loved Manhattan Beach!

0
Angela

Three Men in a Boat.

0
Reply
Gift

Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell

3
Reply
Carolyn

Moby Dick

6
Reply
Michelle

The Book Thief

1
Reply
Dawn

Oh, I loved that book.

1
Camila

Crime and Punishment and Rayuela ?

1
Reply
Carla

One Hundred Years of Solitude. 🙁

4
Reply
Jen

Ayn Rand. I’d tell you which one but I couldn’t even finish reading the title, I hated it that much. haha

6
Reply
Bonnie

Ann Rand is a litmus test for the kind of person you are.

1
Chris

I finished Atlas Shrugged! I was determined to be able to talk with a friend who read the book and wanted to talk about it.

0
Bonnie

Did you like it or agree with it?

0
Chris

lol You know, litmus tests shut down dialogue and attempts at understanding.

2
Terry

@Bonnie I worked in bookstores for years and years. People were evangelize about Atlas Shrugged in the aisles. I alway said “if you walk into my store and ask for Atlas Shrugged, I judge you.” It was true. Very few books could make me lose interest in a customer faster.

1
Bonnie

Agree.

0
Barbara

I loved them in college, but they were mainly love stories then. Didn’t understand the whole of it till much later.

0
Gloria

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?

0
Reply
Lori

Le Miserables

0
Reply
Elaine

The Invisible Man

0
Reply
Peggy

Pop Goes the Weasel by James Patterson

1
Reply
Lori

Gerald’s Game by Stephen King. I love his books. I always read the entire book no matter what, but just couldn’t on this one.

2
Reply
Stacy

I liked that book, but the movie was HARDcore!

1
Lori

Haven’t seen the movie, would like too. Maybe it would be better for me. It was a good story, but I felt like it wasn’t moving on.

1
Stacy

The plot is definitely a bit roundabout.

1
Josie

Infinite Jest

0
Reply
Jacqueline

Gravity’s Rainbow

0
Reply
Shagun

Catch 99

0
Reply
Mikayla

Outlander

1
Reply
Rachel

I just got about 60 pages in and just have zero interest

1
SyedQuestion author

Okay. Since nobody here has mentioned it yet, mine was A Clockwork Orange. Did anyone else not like it? Gave me a headache.

0
Reply
Nicole

Can’t comment, haven’t read it.

0
Nicole

Didn’t like the movie though.

0
SyedQuestion author

@Nicole Same! Don’t understand why people like it at all. ?

1
Susan

You’re not supposed to “like” it. It’s supposed to make you think. I saw the movie when it came out; I thought it was an excellent movie, but I never wanted to see it again OR read the book.

3
Rachel

I actually enjoyed the book

0
Nicole

“The Secret History” After reading 125 pages, I gave up. Just didn’t care about what was going to happen.

1
Reply
Joanie

I loved this book

2
Nicole

I got it because it’s a bestseller. But the story just didn’t pick up for me.

0
Joanie

@Nicole it’s starts out slow but the twists are good. I loved the Goldfinch as well

1
Nicole

Did you read The Little Friend?

0
Joanie

@Nicole no, I haven’t read that one yet.

1
Nicole

same author.

0
Joanie

@Nicole I know of it but haven’t tackled it yet. I’ll put it on my list

0
Nicole

Let me know if you ever read it.

0
Jason

I listened to the Secret History audiobook. Tartt narrates it herself and I enjoyed every minute of it, almost as much as The Goldfinch. The Little Friend is next for me.

1
Nicole

I also tried SEVEN TIMES to read The Hunger Games. Just couldn’t get into it!

2
Reply
Shruti

Outlier by Malcom Gladwell

1
Reply
Deborah

Yes..it’s nonfiction and it has some good thoughts but…..Journal of Solitude by May Starton

1
Reply
Yuki

Artemis Fowl

1
Reply
Rachel

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Although I still say I’ll finish it one day. I got to about 100 pages from the end.

0
Reply
Rachel

But it took me 2 separate tries a year apart to get that far

0
Leslie

Now, after my best friend and my youngest son had both praised Murakami, I had to read him, and not one, but about ten books. And I must say: I was not impressed. His writing and my reading simply did not match. I gave nine of the ten books away for free, wouldn’t even ask a euro for them, but I did keep the tenth one: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles, which I still intend to read again.

0
Thania

Emma

0
Reply
Dawn

A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe. And The Poisonwood Bible.

1
Reply
Daniel

Game of Thrones. I tried twice with the book (page 50 and page 200 respectively), once with the audio book, and lasted about 4 episodes of the TV series. Never cared for the characters.

2
Reply
Jen

oooh I have another one. Infinite Jest. I found it impossible to get past page 50. And a waste of precious life to try. I mean honestly, it is one of those books I have heard people say “going to attempt to…” and “have been trying to…” about over and over and over again. And I am thinking…why bother? Seems like one of those books people like to have on their shelves and claim they have read. But rare is the person who has actually read it.

2
Reply
Jason

Infinite Jest is the best book I’ve ever read. The first hundred pages or so are slow. Once you’ve finished it, the beginning makes more sense. It’s not an easy read at first, but it gets better. The audiobook is also amzazing. It’s probably the best performance I’ve ever heard. IJ is the only book I’d take the time to read or listen to more than once. Give it another shot. ??

1
Martha

Harry Potter, A Wrinkle in Time, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Devil in the White City.

1
Reply
Sarah

Leo Africanus, by Amin Maalouf

0
Reply
Savita

Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter series. Tried very hard, multiple times, but just couldn’t get past the first hundred pages.

0
Reply
Lindsay

If you’re not in love with the Harry Potter books from page 1, it’s just not meant to be. I found LOTR harder to get into and prefer the movies.

0
Chris

The Simarillion by Tolkien. Must have tried 50 times.

0
Reply
Nicole

The Bible

3
Reply
Leah

The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. My daughter’s favorite ever series

0
Reply
Magda

Moby Dick. I admit!

3
Reply
Susan

Middlemarch ?

1
Reply
Laura

mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I tried 2 times and even with audio and I got so fed up I gave my entire series away! It was like reading a text book! I had to take notes of every character and I couldn’t care less about the metals.

3
Reply
Daniel

I got through the first two. It was the third in the series that tripped me up. Time had passed both in the books and in life. Didn’t remember a thing from the previous two books. Couldn’t figure out what was happening in the third. Sold mine to Half Price books.

0
Juliana

I have been reading off and on, “Code Name Verity” and I just can’t get it finished, because it just isn’t holding my attention when I read it. I have been told to read it all the way through, that it will be worth it, but I cringe whenever I see it on my shelf.

0
Reply
Ergene

Beloved except I didn’t really try

1
Reply
Jaimie

That was a WEIRD book!!!! There was a part about um beastiatilty against cows… I had to take a long break after that!!!!!

1
Muffy

Sanctum lol. I tried really hard since I read the fiest book in the series but uhgg I just can’t read the second.

0
Reply
Leave a Answer Cancel

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Loading Please wait
Log in
Register
Categories
  • get the book
  • questionnaire
  • recommend
  • review
Genres
animal art biography business chick lit classics comics contemporary cookbooks crime detective fantasy fiction gay and lesbian graphic novel historical fiction history horror humor and comedy kids languages manga memoir music mystery nonfiction novel paranormal philosophy poetry psychology religies religion romance scary science science fiction self help spirituality sports suspense thriller travel young adult young adults
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

2019 © TheBookSwarm