Which books did you initially struggle with...

[singsinthebath]

.... but eventually came to love.

For me it was Captain Correlli and The Time Traveller's Wife - several false starts but once I got past a certain point I was hooked.

[funnysinthegarden]

oooh CC is great, I could not get into many Margaret Attwood (sp) novels, but love her as an author and loved Saving Grace....!

Am also looking at, from a distance, Anna Karenina..........one day when the kids are grown.........

[gaelicsheep]

I totally agree about CC's Mandolin. Both the initial struggle and the eventual love. I like the film but it didn't do the book justice at all - two completely different beasts. I really must re-read it.

I have the TTW in my hospital bag (ha, like I'll get chance to even open it).

[JeffVadar]

The Jewel in the Crown. I gave up after reading the first third of the book.

When I picked it up a few years later I carried on from where I had left off and absolutely loved it.

[Gibbon]

Life of Pi

Goodness the first half was hard work.

[steamedtreaclesponge]

We Need to Talk About Kevin. Hated it until I got about 2/3 of the way through and then it suddenly got interesting.

On the other hand, have never managed to finish Anna Karenina; maybe one day...

[Easywriter]

The Mill on the Floss
-a good but horrendously waffly tale. George Eliot(t - or however yer name is spelt) EDIT, EDIT, EDIT woman! For pity's sake.

[Fennel]

I still can't get past the first chapter of Bleak house, despite several attempts, and despite knowing that Dickens usually gets a lot better as you get into the story. I haven't given up, but it's been a few years now with no progress.

[funnysinthegarden]

Lionel S really puts me off WNTTAK. I doubt I will ever read it.

Now Bleak House on the telly, thats a different kettle of fish.

[Wheelybug]

I agree with most of these !

Captain Correlli - actually I don't think I ever came to love it but did get through it and it got better...

I did the Jewel in the Crown for A Level and hated it. Years later I decided to give it another go thinking it was because it was a study text but no, still didn't enjoy it

And Mill on the Floss - I Did read it all but hated every moment of it - its the book that puts me off classics.

I'm a bit stubborn in that I can't remember when I last gave up on a book even though I hated reading it. That said, I don't test myself too much these days but, to answer the OP properly (and not just list books I've hated) - it took me 3 weeks to read the first 200 ppages of Wolf Hall and 3 days to read the next 450.

[PansAndNoodles]

Omg I totally had to give up on the Life of Pi. It was like wading through treacle.

I must admit, if I struggle too much I give up. If it's so good then I guess they'll make a film

[helyg]

Captain Correlli for me too. I am on my third attempt (over about 9 years) and am sort of enjoying it this time.

[Sparkletastic]

I found 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' pretty turgid for the first 1/3 or so - too much Swedish business talk and not enough about the ultimately very interesting characters.

[BongoWinslow]

Middlemarch. Great but sends me to sleep.

Agreed we George Eliot! Less is more!

[mousemole]

The Girl with the dragon tattoo - 2 attempts and still not there

[Sparkletastic]

CC deffo hard to get into. Often the way with novels that are really hyped - you expect them to be amazing from the first paragraph so if they are in any way average or a slight let down the impact is magnified.

[Sparkletastic]

Snap mousemole!

[TheFoosa]

David Mitchell's Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

aboyt 2/3rds in but it was hard work, really had to concentrate

he's a great writer though

[funnysinthegarden]

aaaah, I read CC way before the film came out. Filums spoil books

[mousemole]

Sparkletastic - just been on holiday with friends and the husband was reading it - he says you have to get to page 120 so will have a go at getting to there....!

[funnysinthegarden]

have just realised my Faux Pas. Alias Grace, not Saving Grace. And to think I have been reading MA since the age of 14. Shame on me

[mixedmamameansbusiness]

Captain Corellis Mandolin - I actually put it back on the shelf for a year but when I picked it up again - WOW incredible and I am now a huge Louis de Bernieres fan.

Birds Without Wings and A Partisans Daughter also amazing. They make you want to google

[mixedmamameansbusiness]

Anna Karenina is a hard one..... but truly brilliant once you get your head round it.

[funnysinthegarden]

I think I am going to need a months holiday in Provence to crack that one. Tis my goal for about 20 years time......sigh

[funnysinthegarden]

love LDB. Read most of the CC/south american trilogy. Must go back to him