Ever forced yourself to read a book?

Owen Meany , although it was worth it in a strange sort of way. I wasn't captivated by the book in the same way as other Mumsnetters were but could see its appeal.

Obviously some I was forced to at school - notably Emma although I loved all other Jane Austen. Since then I do tend to take the "I've started so I'll finish approach" even though it's sometimes very hard work. Have recently struggled through The Biographers Tale by AS Byatt which was irritatingly clever-dicky and pointless. Given to by my dad who then admitted he couldn't finish it and doesn't like AS Byatt. Cheers Dad.
The only two I've ever given up on were Ulysses and The Tin Drum.
A couple of great books given up on by others here though - Birdsong which is an all time favourite and Underworld which I also thought was great, although admittedly not easy.

I have to agree with marthamoo about Dickins. Never understood what the fuss was about - long dull descriptive passages, followed by conversations with totally 2-dimensional ridiculous characters. I had to read Oliver Twist for o level and then Bleak House for A level. The title alone is enough to put you off. The only way I got through it was being ill in bed for a week and given only it to read.
Other than that, I too am cheap, and feel the need to finish what I've started, like in restaurants.

Not any more! I did an English degree so I had to read a lot of books that didn't much appeal. James Joyce "Ulysses" is the one that springs to mind - I struggled through that and still hadn't a clue what it was about when I got to the end. Hated "The Mill on the Floss", never been overly keen on Dickens either. I know, I know, I'm a total philistine.

So these days, if it don't grab it don't get read! The one notable exception is Captain Correlli's Mandolin, which I started twice and gave up on. FIL kept nagging at me to persevere though so I did - and ended up getting hooked about a third of the way into it.

I didn't read Possession either...despite good intentions!

I just dragged myself through Trajectories by Julian Rathbone. I always feel compelled to finish every book I start however I really have too many books I want to read to bother with bad stuff. Trajectories is set in 2035 and I was hoping for some fantastic insight into an authors feelings about the future. I got all the way through and was sorely dissapointed. Anyway, I have now started Original Sin by P D James which was recommended and lent to me by a workmate. I is a Dalgliesh mystery. It is the first time I've read one of P D James' books. I'm up to page 40 and not feeling very keen. Should I bother to continue or get one with some of the tried and tested Bryce Courtney's that are begging for me to read them?

Suzy Wong-yes, not Wizard/demon stuff at all. I was hooked from the first page. Even read it instead of sunday papers this morning in bed-gripping!

'the little friend' was such a let down, though after 'secret history' i kept convincing myself that it would get better - it didn't. the same goes for 'the crimson petal and the white' , i have to admit i judged the book by the cover and the reviews, started brilliantly then tailed off....

Lavender,

On Green Dolphin Street is one of the books on my list of books I persevered with (probably because of previous experience of the author), and it retrospect regretted it. I didn't enjoy this one at all, and would not recommend it to anyone. As you say, life's too short!

suzywong - Northern Lights is definitely worth the effort. I found I had to really persevere with the first 100 pages of the first book, but most certainly worth it!

Am afraid there are half a dozen books on book shelf which have started but haven't finished...including:

1. The Flight of the Maidens by Jane Gardam
2. Other People's children by Joanna Trollope
3. On Green Dolphin Street by Sebastain Faulks

These are undoubtedly good books, it's just that I read about 80 pages for a couple of nights then have other things to do and then loose the plot, don't want to start all over again so start another one....hts, would never read a book if wasn't enjoying it as think you should do the things you enjoy and not what you think you should be doing as trying to prove a point,,,sure you're not but would only read what you love reading...life's too short

YES suzy - it's brilliant! nothing like harry potter, much bigger issues

miggy
I've got that hanging around, someone lent it to me, and I' m not keen on all this wizard demon stuff, is it really worth getting in to do you think then?

I cant do it. I read loads of books and if I have trouble getting into one I move on to another. I do however try it again at some other point and in general do end up reading all my books. I think it depends on what frame of mind I am in when starting a book as well!!

Just forced myself to start "northern lights"-philip pulman. Completely not my kind of book-don't like fantasy/childrens fantasy, wouldn't read h.potter etc, but ds loved it and am taking him to see the play so thought I should ,rather than not follow the play. I love it-its fab! read half last night in bed and will finish tonight-just shows how wrong you can be

Can't think of one recently, but the first book I forced myself to read and kept going to the bitter end despite being bored out of my brains was Watership Down at the age of 11. My best friend read it and seemed so grown up reading such a big book I thought I should give it a go after her recommendation. Since then our taste in books has differed so wildly, I never read anything she raves about

Yes. My middle son chose a book for me - based on the fact that he liked the cover! It was very unusual and difficult to assimilate, but I felt that I had to persevere so that I could tell him I had read it.

oo CD I'm with you on Primo Levi - just rereading If This Is A Man/The Truce for about the third time - it's one of my favourite books ever.

I never force myself to read books if I'm not enjoying them because I read for fun, full stop!

I'm a 'I've started so I'll Bl**dy well finish' kind of person too....which means I can have more than one book on the go at a time - put down one that really isn't doing it for me, and pick up something else.....Have to admit just could not finish 'Birdsong' thou' everyone else has raved about it......and 'scarlet and white' I just found a load of pretentious tosh

I have tried to read two books by Iain Sinclair but just can't do it

I read a lot and always feel I HAVE to finish a book, I hate being 'beaten'! but I found 'Underworld ' by Don de Lillo very difficult ( and 800 pages long) and I actually did give up on 'Cosmopolis'. I just re-read Pride and prej - fabulous!!!! I've had to teach books I dislike which is also hard since you can't pass on your negativity to kids as it would be unfair ( Cider with Rosie - pass the bucket!)

Snap celandine - I do this all the time. If I am really struggling with a dreadful turgid book, I just can't bring myself to give up on it. I keep thinking that there must be something of value and worth in it, otherwise it wouldn't have got published, and I struggle on to the end, and then feel completely cheated when it fails to improve! Am I the endless optimist, I even turn the last page expecting a little gem. The two recent books that spring to mind in this category are the books by Pamela Stephenson about Billy Connolly .. fascinating content, but the writing style and authorial voice just irritated me.

I really enjoyed Frank Skinners autobiog despite not being a bit fan of his

...and was evidently so distracted that I missed all the other typos...

I forced myself to get to the end of The Remembrance of Things Past. He didn't half go for long sentences, did Proust, one of them went on for two thirds of a page. I absolutely loathed Heart of Darkness too, but ploughted on til the bitter end. I have been forcced to come to the conclusion that I'm a complete philistine.

I'm with CD on Primo Levi, a wonderful, wonderful writer.

Just previewed and I'd written Remembrance of Thongs Past .