Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

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

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:
captainfarrell · 01/03/2015 22:01

Oh god madrigals yes The slap was awful, i kept trying but gave up half way!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 01/03/2015 22:01
Grin

Didn't you recommend, 'Fahrenheit 451' to me?

Messygirl · 01/03/2015 21:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CoteDAzur · 01/03/2015 21:57

I was on top of an Italian mountain reading Into Thin Air and freaking out about leaving DD with her ski class in bad weather conditions with practically no internet access.

I'm glad you enjoyed Ready Player One. Is this really the 1st book ever that I recommended and you liked? If so, I think the blackboard now says:

Remus..... 2 (This Thing Of Darkness, Into Thin Air)

Cote........ 1 (Ready Player One)

CoteDAzur · 01/03/2015 21:53

I found it: "Cote I think you might have succeeded in recommending a book that I enjoyed!"

I can now die happy Grin

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 01/03/2015 21:51

Did you miss my review on the 50 Books thread? I wondered why you hadn't been there gloating! Grin

CoteDAzur · 01/03/2015 21:51

When did you read Ready Player One, btw? I didn't see you review it on 50 Books Challenge.

CoteDAzur · 01/03/2015 21:50

What? Wait... Does that mean there are now three books that we both like? Shock Grin

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 01/03/2015 21:48
Grin

I was so glad I enjoyed, 'Ready Player One' btw. Didn't want to have another post-Dune-esque conversation!

CoteDAzur · 01/03/2015 21:45

Grin Gawd, it was really awful. Love is what they call "Delirium", because it makes people act irrationally or some such. Isn't that so original? Hmm

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 01/03/2015 21:42

You are forgiven! I didn't end up checking it out, and probably won't now I've seen your reaction to it!

CoteDAzur · 01/03/2015 21:41

Sorry Remus - I looked it up now and it turns out that I've read about it on one of your threads where someone else recommended it to you and you said you would check it out.

captainfarrell · 01/03/2015 21:37

50 shades.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 01/03/2015 21:18

Cote - I have never heard of Delirium. You've got somebody else to blame for that.

DuchessofMalfi · 01/03/2015 20:52

noo - you're not alone. I tried to read it but gave up years ago. Last year tried the audio book thinking that would be easier. Got two hours into it and could not take any more. Enough. That book has beaten me. I'm never trying to read it again.

nooyearnooname · 01/03/2015 20:48

Bloody Captain Corelli and his sodding mandolin. I tried with it for weeks, figuring 50% of London underground commuters couldn't be wrong back in 2001 or whenever it was. Gave up in the end. Utter drivel

CoteDAzur · 01/03/2015 20:40

Remus - re "Dune... I have never quite forgiven you, Cote"

Hey, you made me read Delirium - arguably the silliest piece of dystopian YA sci-fi crap book ever (and I use the word "book" loosely here). I recommended you to read a book that is #1 on 99% of all "Best Sci-fi Ever" lists. Not my fault that you didn't get along with it Smile

XLIX · 01/03/2015 18:15

Anything by Anne Rice. My friend and I were discussing this subject last night and she reminded me how often I cursed Ms.Rice up and down as I disliked her books.

Also did not get past 3 of Harry Potter and could care less.

IrenetheQuaint · 28/02/2015 22:00

Oh yes Saturday is utter shite. But I did manage to finish it, whereas Midnight's Children and LOTR... no chance. Actually I hate all magical realism... it's just cheating, innit?

I have failed with NW3 as well. Need to give it another go but somehow I can't bring myself to pick it up.

ThenBellaDidSomethingVeryKind · 28/02/2015 21:50

And yes! The Book Thief! Finished it, but thought it was shite. I thought I was the only one ...

ThenBellaDidSomethingVeryKind · 28/02/2015 21:48

Tried three times with Captain Corelli's Madolin. Fail.
Gone Girl - tried twice. Fail.
The Slap - tried once. Fail.

flightywoman · 28/02/2015 21:37

3 pages in and no mention of Saturday by Ian McEwan? Fucking hell that was pretentious wank and no mistake!

I also LOATHED Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd, even though I loved Any Human Heart and Restless (though the latter is TOO SHORT).

The Slap left me feeling soiled, everyone was utterly hateful. I had it with me on a travelling holiday and had to carry it around as I didn't want to leave it for anyone else to have to read it in the absence of anything else!

When The Dead Cry Out by Hilary Bonner is very very bad - the central character is ridiculous, the dialogue clunky and the crime is solved 2/3 in so the last part is completely redundant. It was unremittingly shit.

The Kite Runner - self obsessed wank. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU.

And The Bookseller of Kabul - stop taking what little these people have and then droning on about how little they have and how generous they are. Do something for them FFS.

Mind you, I also take against books that I haven't read, and on that list are Birdsong, Life of Pi, Vernon God Little, NW3, Caitlin Moran, The Secret Life of Bees, Eat, Pray, Love, ...loads to avoid.

Lovelise · 28/02/2015 21:31

Galileos Daughter, finished it but ZZzzz

roundtable · 28/02/2015 21:04

Sons and Lovers, is that the one where she has an orgasam breastfeeding her baby?

I remember reading that in my late teens and thinking my word, this is so written by a man. I hadn't had a baby yet so didn't know what it felt like but it was ridiculous.

Thomas Hardy is another one who had strange woman ideas.

heartisaspade · 28/02/2015 19:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.