Sometimes we start to read a book that is very popular or critically acclaimed and it just doesn't do it for us. It never captures our imagination and we can't make it to the end. Here are a few of mine. What are some of yours?
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass
The Covenant by James Michener
Fifty Shades of Grey by You Know Who (I made it through 12 pages!)
Cheers,
Will aka penman5248
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What Well-Known Books Could You Not Finish?
Coco Pop
Someone cover verbal's ears and eyes.
Infinite Jest
Infinite Jest
Gravelly-Voiced Fucker
Quote by browncoffee
Someone cover verbal's ears and eyes.
Infinite Jest
I HEARD THAT!
If it makes you feel any better, I couldn't finish DFW's The Pale King.
Also on my couldn't finish list: Gravity's Rainbow, Don Quixote, the Alexandria quartet (didn't even get through the first one). Finnegan's Wake, but I think anyone who says they've read it is lying.
And Ulysses took me three tries.
Clumeleon
Heart of Darkness.
I swear, I've tried like 4 times. I'll do it one day.
I swear, I've tried like 4 times. I'll do it one day.
living dead girl
Quote by Ping
The Bible. Too many holes in the plot.
I think the bible was written by a bunch of drunk men around a campfire one night...
I couldn't finish A ClockWork Orange, I plan on trying again though
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https://www.lushstories.com/stories/monster-sex/-summer-of-the-tentacle-.aspx
Forum Kan-Guru
Quote by vanessa26
I couldn't finish A ClockWork Orange, I plan on trying again though
It does drag a bit in later sections... compared to the brilliant beginning, at least.
I made it to about p20 of James Joyce's Ulysses. Twice. Maybe I'll give it another go and see if I can make it to p30...
Primus Omnium
The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien (tedious and boring)
The Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller (not even a little erotic)
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (overblown christian allegory)
Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad (could not even get past the first chapter)
Ada or Ardor: A Family Chronicle by Vladimir Nabokov
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller (not even a little erotic)
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (overblown christian allegory)
Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad (could not even get past the first chapter)
Ada or Ardor: A Family Chronicle by Vladimir Nabokov
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Coffee Fanatic
For the first time...I am trying to finish Stephen King's Christine...it's taking me over a year...not willing to give up.
"Yeah, we all shine on, like the moon, and the stars, and the sun." John Lennon
Take a look at my new poem for the competition:
Active Ink Slinger
I haven't read very many of the more difficult classics. I don't need to attempt stuff like Finnegan's Wake or Ulysses to know that they aren't for me. I've only had three that I had to put down.
Silas Marner by George Eliot - This book is the worst. I used CliffNotes to get through it. It's incredibly dull and boring.
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis - I really liked the movie and wanted to read something controversial and challenging. It was very banal and tedious, even with the occasional graphic murder.
This is on my list and I agree. The world Tolkien created is incredible, no doubt, but after reading the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, this just didn't do it for me.
I read some excepts from this to see if it was as bad as people claimed. Believe the hype.
I really enjoyed "The End of the Tour," a movie about DFW right before he released Infinite Jest. I might try a sample sometime, but I'm fairly sure I don't have the patience for it.
Silas Marner by George Eliot - This book is the worst. I used CliffNotes to get through it. It's incredibly dull and boring.
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis - I really liked the movie and wanted to read something controversial and challenging. It was very banal and tedious, even with the occasional graphic murder.
Quote by Green_Man
The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien (tedious and boring)
This is on my list and I agree. The world Tolkien created is incredible, no doubt, but after reading the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, this just didn't do it for me.
Quote by Beffer
50 Shades of Grey! Uggghhhh!!
I read some excepts from this to see if it was as bad as people claimed. Believe the hype.
Quote by browncoffee
Someone cover verbal's ears and eyes.
Infinite Jest
I really enjoyed "The End of the Tour," a movie about DFW right before he released Infinite Jest. I might try a sample sometime, but I'm fairly sure I don't have the patience for it.
living dead girl
Quote by julie_slink
I haven't read very many of the more difficult classics. I don't need to attempt stuff like Finnegan's Wake or Ulysses to know that they aren't for me. I've only had three that I had to put down.
Silas Marner by George Eliot - This book is the worst. I used CliffNotes to get through it. It's incredibly dull and boring.
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis - I really liked the movie and wanted to read something controversial and challenging. It was very banal and tedious, even with the occasional graphic murder.
I really enjoyed "The End of the Tour," a movie about DFW right before he released Infinite Jest. I might try a sample sometime, but I'm fairly sure I don't have the patience for it.
Gosh, I love American Psycho not as much as I do the movie because Christian Bale really makes in 100 times better than it probably would have been without him
The book I found interesting, the way he wrote was a bit strange and little off key, Definately not following any rules of writing, which I quite like.
I'd love you to check out my latest
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https://www.lushstories.com/stories/monster-sex/-summer-of-the-tentacle-.aspx
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by vanessa26
Gosh, I love American Psycho not as much as I do the movie because Christian Bale really makes in 100 times better than it probably would have been without him
The book I found interesting, the way he wrote was a bit strange and little off key, Definately not following any rules of writing, which I quite like.
You finished it?
The movie is great. Christian Bale is incredible for sure. Side note: There is a sequel (which you've probably seen, knowing you) with Mila Kunis as the killer. It's laughably bad in the best possible way.
I couldn't overcome the monotony of it all. It felt like there were endless clothing descriptions every other page. I understand that some of that is necessary to flesh out his character, but sometimes, it's better to get straight to the point. Too many details, imo.
It's well-written, and I usually like strange, off-key writing as well, but in this case, I didn't find it enjoyable.
Active Ink Slinger
I tried to read Ulysses also. What was he on when he wrote that? Somebody else mentioned the Simarillion. I liked Lord of the Rings but that one was really dry as toast.
An old favorite story of mine: The Chaise Lounge
living dead girl
Quote by julie_slink
You finished it?
The movie is great. Christian Bale is incredible for sure. Side note: There is a sequel (which you've probably seen, knowing you) with Mila Kunis as the killer. It's laughably bad in the best possible way.
I couldn't overcome the monotony of it all. It felt like there were endless clothing descriptions every other page. I understand that some of that is necessary to flesh out his character, but sometimes, it's better to get straight to the point. Too many details, imo.
It's well-written, and I usually like strange, off-key writing as well, but in this case, I didn't find it enjoyable.
You are so right about the endless clothes descriptions, I didnt mind most but when it got to the point of being every other page or so, I did feel annoyed
And I recently watched the sequel ( its on hulu ) and it was hilarious and I oddly enjoyed it, but sometimes I enjoy bad movies.
I'd love you to check out my latest
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/monster-sex/-summer-of-the-tentacle-.aspx
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/monster-sex/-summer-of-the-tentacle-.aspx
Active Ink Slinger
Fifty Shades of Grey.
It was as if a teenage writer had written their first porn story, trying to be edgy. My mind and imagination felt numb.
Bridget Jones: Mad about the boy.
I have no idea what Helen Fielding was thinking while writing this tripe. Yes Mark died tragically. However Bridget as a woman in her 50 is the tragic figure. A woman of wealth trying to make it as a script writer and has a relationship with some 20 something social media influencer. All the while not really a parent to her two kids who are raised by a nanny. From a character view brilliant, funny 30s Bridget who came up with Fuckwittage etc Ends up cursing toy boy as "Farty fart." Of course she ends up with a minor character who is a dick to her in the book.
No just no. How I know who she ended up with, I skipped a lot of pages to find the passage. It was like totally predictable.
It was as if a teenage writer had written their first porn story, trying to be edgy. My mind and imagination felt numb.
Bridget Jones: Mad about the boy.
I have no idea what Helen Fielding was thinking while writing this tripe. Yes Mark died tragically. However Bridget as a woman in her 50 is the tragic figure. A woman of wealth trying to make it as a script writer and has a relationship with some 20 something social media influencer. All the while not really a parent to her two kids who are raised by a nanny. From a character view brilliant, funny 30s Bridget who came up with Fuckwittage etc Ends up cursing toy boy as "Farty fart." Of course she ends up with a minor character who is a dick to her in the book.
No just no. How I know who she ended up with, I skipped a lot of pages to find the passage. It was like totally predictable.
Forum Wordsmith
Dune, by Frank Herbert.
Just too damn long and slow, and I generally like epics. Not for me.
Also, Huckleberry Finn. Started it a few times, never finished. And I like Twain.
Just too damn long and slow, and I generally like epics. Not for me.
Also, Huckleberry Finn. Started it a few times, never finished. And I like Twain.
Life is short, break the rules. Forgive quickly, kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything that makes you smile - Mark Twain
Wouldn't you rather have a nice cup of tea?
Disappointed in so many of you.
I liked Gravity's Rainbow, Ulysses, A Clockwork Orange, Heart of Darkness... Christine was pretty slow and took awhile to pick up, but it wasn't awful. I finished it, and am a pretty big fan of King's. I also like David Foster Wallace's writing, though I haven't attempted infinite jest yet.
As for books I didn't finish: War and Peace... I remember being assigned to read Jane Eyre in university, getting about 30 pages into it, and then deciding to rent the movie instead. Also I've made a couple of attempts at reading Christopher Moore after someone described him as "like Douglas Adams" and I just can't do it. He's a fucking terrible writer, and should have a restraining order placed between him and any kind of word processor, type writer, note book or legal pad, the same way that pedophiles aren't allowed to go near schools and playgrounds.
I liked Gravity's Rainbow, Ulysses, A Clockwork Orange, Heart of Darkness... Christine was pretty slow and took awhile to pick up, but it wasn't awful. I finished it, and am a pretty big fan of King's. I also like David Foster Wallace's writing, though I haven't attempted infinite jest yet.
As for books I didn't finish: War and Peace... I remember being assigned to read Jane Eyre in university, getting about 30 pages into it, and then deciding to rent the movie instead. Also I've made a couple of attempts at reading Christopher Moore after someone described him as "like Douglas Adams" and I just can't do it. He's a fucking terrible writer, and should have a restraining order placed between him and any kind of word processor, type writer, note book or legal pad, the same way that pedophiles aren't allowed to go near schools and playgrounds.
Don't believe everything that you read.
Testing The Waters.
Tried Langoliers, The Stand, and one other that I can't even remember. Never make it more than a couple of chapters into anything by King. There's just something about his writing style that completely turns me off.
Despite still considering fantasy to be my homebase for writing, and being a DM for years, and still playing RPGs, I've never even opened the cover of Tolkien. I have no reason not to read it. I just haven't. I've looked at it on physical and digital shelves more than once, but never picked it up.
Always makes people stare at me like a cow looks at an oncoming train when they know me from my fantasy work.
Despite still considering fantasy to be my homebase for writing, and being a DM for years, and still playing RPGs, I've never even opened the cover of Tolkien. I have no reason not to read it. I just haven't. I've looked at it on physical and digital shelves more than once, but never picked it up.
Always makes people stare at me like a cow looks at an oncoming train when they know me from my fantasy work.
Good Will ---|--- You Serious?
Quote by Sweet_Reese
The Bible.....Revelations stops me as I dont want to know about the Apocalypse
You got as far as Revelations! More power to you. In my teens i resolved to read the whole Bible but always ground to a halt in Deuteronomy. All those endless and infinitely detailed laws. I was too fastidious back then to just skip Deuteronomy and Numbers and jump ahead into the historical action in Chronicles and Kings.
Advanced Wordsmith
The Green Berets. It is a signed copy that the author gave my father in law, who was one. I REALLY need to finish it.
I'm really getting sick of auto-correct's shirt.
Ungovernable
Have tried and tried Atlas Shrugged, without success. It has some quotes I'd love to see in context, but couldn't Ms. Rand come up with a better name than 'Dagny Taggart'?
I can't remember the last book I didn't finish (some kind of silly obligation I feel to authors), but I've had a few where my eyes have had to be marched at gunpoint over the final pages. For example:
Reservoir 13, Jon McGregor. I kept reading because I assumed something would happen. But nothing did, which is probably why it's critically acclaimed.
The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy. I wish God had made this book smaller.
Brooklyn, Colm Toibin. I just expected it to be better.
Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman, Stefan Zweig. Should have added 'But Feels Like a Lot Longer' to the title.
EDIT: Did not finish Pet Sematary, Stephen King. Just far too much build-up. Nowhere near as good as any of the others I've read of his.
Reservoir 13, Jon McGregor. I kept reading because I assumed something would happen. But nothing did, which is probably why it's critically acclaimed.
The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy. I wish God had made this book smaller.
Brooklyn, Colm Toibin. I just expected it to be better.
Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman, Stefan Zweig. Should have added 'But Feels Like a Lot Longer' to the title.
EDIT: Did not finish Pet Sematary, Stephen King. Just far too much build-up. Nowhere near as good as any of the others I've read of his.
Gravelly-Voiced Fucker
Quote by FirstBlush
Have tried and tried Atlas Shrugged, without success. It has some quotes I'd love to see in context, but couldn't Ms. Rand come up with a better name than 'Dagny Taggart'?
You're not missing anything.
Normal Adjacent
Quote by browncoffee
Someone cover verbal's ears and eyes.
Infinite Jest
I couldn't finish that one either.
Same with The Lord of the Rings
A Farewell to Arms
I couldn't get through any of Jane Austen's novels either.
I used to feel it was something lacking in me that I could not appreciate those books.
I'm older and have gotten over that.
Idk... Gryffindor?
Basically anything by Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, some other alliteration, I'm sure.... They all read exactly the same to me.
Dreamer
For me the one that I have never been able to read is 'Remembrances of Things Past by Proust. Have tried it in both French and English several times since my teens (probably five). I can't get past the first quarter of the first book.
Ayn Rand also leaves me cold.
Loved Tolkien except for the Simarillion.
As I get older I am very picky as to what I read time is too short to read thinks that don't appeal to me. There are so many great books out there.
Ayn Rand also leaves me cold.
Loved Tolkien except for the Simarillion.
As I get older I am very picky as to what I read time is too short to read thinks that don't appeal to me. There are so many great books out there.
My bookshelf includes 227 stories, which include 76 collaborations;
One Editor's Pick, Three Series Awards, Fifty-three Recommended Reads, and Eight Famous Stories are included. Go to https://www.lushstories.com/profiles/view/ChrisM/stories
Enjoy