Midnight's Children. It's taking me weeks to read!

[MrsMuddle]

I thought there would be threads in the archive about Midnight's Children, but I can't find any. Surely I can't be the only one who persevered!

I started this in July. I'm really really enjoying it, but despite reading it every night in bed and on the train, I've still got more than 100 pages to go. It's the most challenging book I've read for ages.

Anyone else take ages to read it?

[Dragonbutter]

so far, i've read the prologue.
can't seem to get through the first chapter.
i'm a bit thick though

[amateurmum]

I loathed it - one of the few books I could not finish.

So self consciously. look-at-me clever.

Glad you're enjoying it though - I have a friend who loved it and persuaded me to read it so maybe I'm missing something...

[strawberrycornetto]

It took me ages but it was worth the effort!

[eandz]

ok so the story is good, but the writing is horrible and i think it's worth reading just on principle but my god it's tedious! ugh!

[Dragonbutter]

but for writing to be good surely it has to be readable?

[MrsWednesday]

Same here! I was supposed to be doing it for my book club but we've all given up. I've read 156 pages (I'm counting every one which isn't a good sign) and I do think I may have to admit defeat.

[eandz]

and his other stories/short or novels are hideously written too. it's something in the tone of writing it drags on and on and on and on. i feel like banging my head against something whenever i have to read anything of his.

and the weird thing is, the stories themselves could be amazing. they have everything, mystic appeal, a little bit of edge and enough stuff to make the reader want to get to the end if the language used wasn't so slow. i could go on and on and on about how weirdly written all his stuff seems to be.

he looks a little crazy too.

[eandz]

i swear, it's just the weirdest thing.

[amateurmum]

Oh yes, eandz, I completely agree with the banging head.

Tt is not clever to be that impenetrable - it is just showing off!

I'm impressed that you read more of his writing though - I couldn't face any others. What persuaded you?

[MrsMuddle]

Glad it's not just me. I agree the style of writing and lack of punctuation makes it a very odd read. I think that's why I'm taking so long - I'm having to re-read swathes of it to get the meaning.

However, it is a great story, as eandz said.

I won't be rushing to read any more of his writing though. Life's too short.

[eandz]

midnight children- my dad tried forced me to read it. just because.

the short stories and some of this other work i was forced to read as a part of a course at university. i wasn't happy with the course, although she was my favorite professor.

[MrsMuddle]

FINISHED IT!

Seven weeks. I feel the same sense of relief that I used to feel when I finished my exams.