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Original poster

What is the most tedious book you have ever read?

368 replies

Figmentofmyimagination · 26/02/2015 20:12

I am going out on a limb here for my first thread - I am struggling through The Well of Loneliness by Radcliffe hall. Aargh. I read it out of "historical interest" because I was interested by her boldness and by the obscenity trial etc but bloody hell she should have got herself an editor. The writing is truly dire. I am not sure I am actually going to make it to the end.

OP posts:
WidowWadman · 26/02/2015 21:20

Zusuki Tristram Shandy is one of the best novels ever ( once you get into it).

Meanwhile I tried so much to love LOTR and I just can't bear it. Never managed more than 80 pages. Dull and wtf is the poetry for?

Also, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Bland "hero", gratuitous violence, dull contrived plot. Why on earth was it so successful? And no, she isn't a feminist icon, just a very vulnerable person perpetuating the violence she encountered. Understandable but really not cool.

MrsHenryCrawford · 26/02/2015 21:19

The life of pi-total drivel
Anything by ben orki-never got more than 30 pages in.
Agree with middlemarch
One day is utter rubbish

Moln · 26/02/2015 21:17

There are several books mentioned that I've enjoyed. I'd love to understand how this different occurs and how other find something great in a book I've found awful.

Generally if I find a book tedious (such as Wolf Hall and The Historian) I know if I hand it over to my mum she'll enjoy it.

funnyossity · 26/02/2015 21:16

The Davinci Code. Although that probably doesn't count as adult fiction.

I can't much beyond the Introduction to Don Quixote but when I finally make it (although life will probably prove too short) I'm sure I'll appreciate it.

Laquila · 26/02/2015 21:14

Three of my favourite ever books are on here!! I must have terrible taste :(

The only book that's ever made me furious at myself for persevering with it was Shantaram by Gregory someone. DREADFUL.

ThursdayLast · 26/02/2015 21:14

And yes to the Hundred Yr Old.
The next one is even worse.

Moln · 26/02/2015 21:13

Oh yes Never Let Me Go. A whole load of nothingness!!

Also A Girl is a Half Fomed Thing, I managed about two pages before it went into the recycling

ThursdayLast · 26/02/2015 21:13

But I loved The Time Travellers Wife!

babybythesea · 26/02/2015 21:13

Yes to The Hundred Year Old Man. And Heart of Darkness.
And my new nomination is Peter Scott's The Eye of the Wind.
I love wildlife so an autobiography of someone so influential should have been brilliant. And it kind of was when we finally got to the wildlife and conservation stuff. But he was a keen sailor, and before I got to the wildlife I had to read detailed descriptions of every race he'd ever sailed in, the boat he raced, the ropes he pulled in order to carry out which manoeuvre. Death by boat race.

Mrsmorton · 26/02/2015 21:13

Wolf hall. Fuck me. It was worse than homework! Couldn't do the hundred year old man but am
Now listening to the audiobook which I am enjoying a lot.

I loved Room!! And I am pilgrim!!

ThursdayLast · 26/02/2015 21:12

I agree with The Goldfinch. And I'm currently 2/3 through The Mountains Echoed and not loving it so yes yes to that too.

I never managed to get through The Life of Pi.
And most chick lit these days - I don't know how I used to devour it, my bullshit radar has obviously refined itself.

Piratesloveunderpants · 26/02/2015 21:12

Ghost of the Mary Celeste.

Can't even remember who wrote it and I've just finished it. It was soooooo slow and disjointed and it just ended....no closure, pissed me off.

IMurderedStampyLongnose · 26/02/2015 21:11

The Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriever.I will never ever read one of her books again.

Raahh · 26/02/2015 21:10

'Portrait of a Lady'- I had to read it at university. Even one of the lecturers said it takes 125 pages to get going. It made me cry.

TheWordFactory · 26/02/2015 21:10

Cold Comfort Farm.

I'd heard it was hilarious! Shock

Crumblevision · 26/02/2015 21:10

Sister by Rosamund Lupton, and 50 shades. Admittedly I only read the rudey bits of 50 shades but they were both unbearable tripe!

Original poster
Figmentofmyimagination · 26/02/2015 21:08

Can't believe poisonwood bible! I love that book. It's one of my desert island all time favourites.

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 26/02/2015 21:07

Middlemarch. It was awful. And yet some say it's the best novel ever written. I only read possibly around 50 pages. Totally dire.

thoth · 26/02/2015 21:06

Dune. Good Lord! I will never get those hours of my life back, sigh.

(sorry Cote!)

StayGoldPonyBoy · 26/02/2015 21:05

Aw I loved Room and Never Let Me Go.

Took me years to read Under The Dome by Stephen King because I was determined to finish it but could only manage a handful of pages at a time. Hated A Girl is a Half Formed Thing. I couldn't get into the flow of it.

BankWadger · 26/02/2015 21:03

Pinkerton's Sister. By I forget who.

No one's ever heard of it because I'm the only person foolish enough to have ever read it. Imagine my surprise when I saw the follow up book in the book shop a year or two later.

GinnelsandWhippets · 26/02/2015 21:03

Wolf Hall, the magpies and I am pilgrim. At least with wolf hall I could see it was well write, just couldn't get into it. But ghe other two were just utter drivel.

Zusuki · 26/02/2015 21:02

Tristram Shandy. Urgh. Just urgh.

I couldn't finish The Time Travellers Wife or The Cloud Atlas.

I wasted hours of my life reading various Martin cunting Amis' novels as a younger woman.

Oh, and Fifty Shades. I hate myself for it.

Canyouforgiveher · 26/02/2015 21:02

Never let me go by Isiguro. Dreadful.

Becca19962014 · 26/02/2015 21:02

Puremorning, when I saw the title I thought of wolf hall as well!