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Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Ever forced yourself to read a book?

35 replies

celandine · 27/02/2004 09:58

Go on...admit it, have you? Even though it's REALLY boring and just not gripping you at all? I'm currently doing this with a Susan Howatch book called 'High Flyer' and so far I'm just past halfway and I started it at Xmas! I really want to finish it cosa there's so many other books I want to read, but I keep putting it off. The frustrating thing is that it's part of a series and I loved the previous ones, so I want to finish it.

I've also done this with the classics, i.e reading them because I feel I ought to, not out of enjoyment. I really didn't like Thomas Hardy but forced myself to finish Tess of the D'urbervilles. And I do it when I buy some modern stuff on offer (3 for 2 kind of thing) and then just can't get on with them e.g. Douglas Coupland 'All families are psychotic'

Am I all alone in this literary masochism?

OP posts:
Agy · 27/02/2004 12:45

If I've bought it I feel I have to finish it or its a waste of money (tight git)! Lord of the Rings is the exception, just couldn't read past first few pages! One day I will though. Loved The Hobbitt but I think that's actually a children's book!

dinosaur · 27/02/2004 12:37

I am a lazy cow and find it very hard to force myself to read things if I'm really not enjoying them. I got halfway through "Crime and Punishment" and then gave up.

sis · 27/02/2004 12:35

I read the Lord of the Rings when I was about 20 and didn't like it from start to finish and the experience helped me decide to stop reading a book if I didn't like it after a couple of chapters.

CountessDracula · 27/02/2004 10:30

"If This is a Man" by Primo Levi

Not because I found it hard to read but because it was so traumatic and harrowing. (it is the autobiographical account of an Italian Jewish Chemist's time in Auschwitz for those of you who don't know it)

I read a lot of it in tears and had to have several breaks. It really is a book that everyone should read IMO. His other stuff is good too esp "If Not Now, When?"

Eowyn · 27/02/2004 10:20

I have found The Silmarillion by Tolkien the hardest book ever to get thru, brilliant story (if you're interested) as it is the whole history of middle-earth before Lord of the Rings. But the driest read Ever. Have managed it twice now but until you're near the end very difficult, but so good. I'm a bit of a fan.

wilbur · 27/02/2004 10:17

The Mill on the Floss for A-level. Just not my thing and I never really got what happened.

Crystaltips - I had to force myself through that chapter about Mussolini at the beginning of Captain Corelli, but then it got truly wonderful. Give it another go!

twiglett · 27/02/2004 10:15

message withdrawn

Northerner · 27/02/2004 10:13

If a book doesn't grab me I give up I'm afraid!

crystaltips · 27/02/2004 10:12
  • PS I love you - too chatty for me
  • Death of Vishnu - too disjointed
  • captain Correllis Mandolin - Started twice and NEVER finished !!
Bron · 27/02/2004 10:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.