The Book You Just Can't Finish

[danlo]

That might have something to do with the fact that F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote it.

can't be prefect all the time!

(LF if you skip in LOTRs you miss the whole point!)

[SoulBiter]

I cant say that I have ever given up on a book before I finished it. The only series I ever gave up on has been Robert Jordans Wheel of Time. I got through the first 6 books and then decided the story was going no where. He is on what? Book 11 now?

Lord of the Rings is perhaps the only set of books besides TC that I have read over and over and over.

[Cate]

Me too on LotR. If it doesn't grab me hard on the first chapter, I know it's gonna be one of those......
For me, all of the Chronicles were grabbers. I didn't want to skip one word. I loved/hated finishing each one.

Stephen King is usually a struggle for me to read, even though it's a great story. The easiest of his for me were Rose Madder (my favorite and a keeper), and the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
It was like he was more settled or more calm while writing those. Sometimes it seems like his mind was all over the place in some of his novels. Great strories though.

[MsMary]

Syl, I have to second you on the Dickens. I have no patience for Dickens. But I love Joyce.

Another book I had trouble with was Moby Dick.

And, speaking of things you had to read for school, my 8th grade teacher made me do a project on Willa Cather - I had to force myself to read her books - dry as the prairie dust - I don't like her writing to this day.

[High Lord Tolkien]

Book of Lost Tales I and II in the Tolkien History of Middle earth series.

I started them both several times but I just can't finish them for some reason.
I lose interest.

I laughed seeing Mists of Avalon mentioned. That book for me too.
Great reviews and a topic I love....but I can't get past the first few chapters.

[Linna Heartbooger]

Crime and Punishment!

I barely get through 100 pages each time I try. (2x only so far)

Too "real," maybe.

[aliantha]

Thought about mentioning my experience with The Brothers Karamazov. Then checked the first page and realized I already had.

I can add one to my list -- The White Goddess by Robert Graves. I got a little over halfway through and realized I had almost no idea what he was talking about. Then I learned that the book's thesis has pretty much been debunked anyhow. So I quit.

[ussusimiel]

The Silmarillion (and I've read LOTR as often as TCTC), Moby Dick (I'll finish it someday) and, whisper it, The Gap Series. I finished the fourth book (I think) and couldn't bring myself to read the last one

Can't believe somebody didn't like 'Dubliners', some of the most perfect short stories ever written (I'm not biased or anything).

u.

[Edit: meant to say Desperation by SK. More like desperate. Only one of his books I started and couldn't finish ]

[lorin]

I am working on a book I just can't seem to finish, but it is for a very different reason. The book is Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes. I am devestated by the book. I cannot believe what these men went through in Vietnam. I am heart broken by the futility of their sacrifices. Every time I try and go back to it I cry because I know these people and they are real and it is so sad.

Devestating story.

[Menolly]

Gardens of the Moon.

It is on my nightstand, and I keep giving it a try, but I have been doing so for four years now...

[ussusimiel]

Gardens of the Moon.

It is on my nightstand, and I keep giving it a try, but I have been doing so for four years now...

I just finished it just last week due in no small part to Fist's advocacy.

I found it off-putting first time round. It's almost like the story is being told back-to-front. There's no real attempt made to make you like the characters, you have to surrender yourself to the story and let people's actions tell you what they are like. Huge backstory that is you only get glimpses of. Frustrating but it eases as the story unfolds.

u.

[Orlion]

At the moment, I'm struggling with Endymion. It's soooo ho-hum.

Other than that, I tend to finish all the books I've started... except for Neuromancer.... have not been able to get past the first few pages.

[Avatar]

What? Neuromancer rocks.

--A

[Cameraman Jenn]

I had trouble with Endymion too, Orlion. "120 Days of Sodom." I wanted to read it to see what all the fuss was about and got too disgusted to finish. Sick sick SICK, gross, horrible, painful, awful vile book.

[sgt.null]

Black House : Stephen King and Peter Straub

julie got it for me one Christmas. i struggled to get half way through, set it down and have avoided it ever since. i won't even move it from it's place on the shelf.

just so ponderous, did not enjoy - can not understand why.

[Cagliostro]

I hate to admit it on this forum, but Against All Things Ending has become that way for me. I just can't seem to get through it.

Everything else I've had a system for getting through it, but as I have so little time to read these days, I just haven't been. In fact, I should probably cancel my subscription to Entertainment Weekly as those have piled up in my bookbag as well.

[sgt.null]

send the ew's my way lol.

i read usually when julie is watching tv...

[Avatar]

Yeah, Black House wasn't as good as the Talisman. He tried to hard to make it part of Roland's world maybe.

--A

[sgt.null]

av : i was wondering if it was Straub that was holding me back? i have never read any his books, though I would like to give Ghost STory a shot...

[Cameraman Jenn]

Peter Straub is ok as a writer. Textbook horror mostly but with an edge of dark sarcastic humor in some. However, he's awesome in general because he's a self proclaimed fan of Fantasy Bedtime Hour. I know this first hand because when I met him, his friend told him I was that girl that made the show about Steve's book and the next thing I know he's gushing about how brilliant and funny I am and actually referring to scenes from multiple episodes of FBH. So basically I think Peter Straub is a GREAT guy!!!