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Original poster

What books could you not finish?

281 replies

almondfinger · 15/08/2018 21:17

I am having the most miserable of summer reads.

Do not say we have nothing - FFS, I persevered and it got a bit better and then reverted to tedious. Have way in I had to put it down.

Then I picked up A brief history of 7 killings - Every time I pick it up I fall asleep. The patois is difficult but when it gets to the CIA agents told in English I cant read that either. So far their have been so many killings I have lost count and it's far from brief.

I had to go out yesterday and buy some new books to look forward to. Tell me some of the books you couldn't be arsed with so I can avoid.

OP posts:
Growingboys · 17/08/2018 08:14

Wolf Hall for sure. I tried so hard but it was torture and life is too short. I later read an interview with the woman who wrote it and thought how unlikeable she was so I felt vindicated.

So many others. I persevered with The Goldfinch and got there in the end.

All the light we cannot see went to the charity shop before I got to the end.

The Slap was tedious and I barely got halfway.

Reservoir 13 gosh this was boring and went in the bin before I finished it. Jon McGregor's a serial offender as If nobody speaks of remarkable things was also a struggle.

TheHalfBloodPrincess · 17/08/2018 07:09

I’m a huge lotr fan but I have never finished the Silmarillian.

I’ve started it about 20 times but just don’t get on with it at all.

FinallyHere · 17/08/2018 07:00

I loved we are all completely beside ourselves. Only read it for Bookgroup, where liking it definitely put me in a (very vocal) minority.

BitOutOfPractice · 17/08/2018 05:30

I’ve just given up on The Essex Serpent. I wanted to love it. Found that I was yawning every time I picked it up and I really didn’t care about any of the characters

SusieQ5604 · 17/08/2018 04:48

I've never heard of The Slap. I can't believe so many of y'all hated Confederacy Of Dunces...I'm from the state where it's set and I thought it was hilarious. But it's a New Orleansy kind of thing.

I loved Wolf Hall!

I also used to punish myself by slogging thru to the bitter end of books I hated...but now just stop and give them away.

Also hated Gone Girl and The Woman in Cabin 10

SusieQ5604 · 17/08/2018 04:40

Also The Goldfinch!

SusieQ5604 · 17/08/2018 04:38

Also Lord of the Rings! And Hunger Games

SusieQ5604 · 17/08/2018 04:37

Anything by Dan Brown. His writing is just awful.

Seniorschoolmum · 17/08/2018 04:18

A Suitable Boy. The people who gave it an award must be a different species to me.

OhTheRoses · 17/08/2018 03:57

Anna Karenina. Something by Elizabeth Bowen.

LighthouseSouth · 17/08/2018 01:02

I loved Crimson Petal but I dd see the TV adaptation first. That was brilliant, which probably helped with the book - characters firmly in place in my head already.

Deadringer · 17/08/2018 00:30

Oh and girl with the bloody dragon tattoo. I didn't get past the description of the tattoo. Can you guess I hate detailed descriptions.

Deadringer · 17/08/2018 00:28

The Hobbit. People keep calling to the Hobbit's door and we get a detailed description of their features and their clothes. I know it's relevant, because they are all sorts of different creatures, but it was just so detailed and dull. It got to the point where I said if another fucker knocks on that door I am done. And they did.

tobee · 17/08/2018 00:26

Crimson Petal and the White. Got through the first 50(?) pages and thought "wow, a really fabulous read, very entertaining, marvellous!" Then suddenly pffft it lost its charm. Might try again one day though.

itwillbealrightpromise · 17/08/2018 00:14

It's been mentioned upthread, but Wuthering fecking Heights. Just could not be bothered with it, but Jane Eyre is one of my favourite novels, so am clearly more of a Charlotte than an Emily.

I never finished One Day by David Nicholls. It's very well written, but I couldn't warm to either of the protagonists at all. I've seen the film now, so I've spoiled it for myself anyway.

FrameyMcFrame · 17/08/2018 00:08

Midnight's Children

PixelAteMe · 17/08/2018 00:05

The Satanic Verses. Tried twice, and never got beyond page 90. Tedious.

The Autograph Man. Also gave it a second try and gave up after about 100 pages. Tedious.

We are All Absolutely Beside Ourselves. Skipped large chunks/speed read in the hope that the story would take off. It didn’t.

LighthouseSouth · 16/08/2018 23:58

@Sillybilly1234

Hey sis, I didn't know you were on here Grin

It was more than 30 years ago, let it go.

heatherblue · 16/08/2018 23:52

God loads of books I've loved here. Adored Secret History and The Goldfinch, devoured Wolf Hall, loved Cloud Atlas and subsequently read everything else by David Mitchell. I've read all the Tolkiens. I couldn't get on with Bonfire of the Vanities and abandoned it half way through. I once attempted something by Stieg Larsson and couldn't get beyond the first couple of pages.

SophieSellerman · 16/08/2018 23:38

Quicker, that made me laugh. I had the same reaction. My English 'A' level teacher was very cross with me. Bollocks is the only word for that book.

Sillybilly1234 · 16/08/2018 23:21

A Thomas Hardy book. So dull I can't even remember the name.

Quickerthanavicar · 16/08/2018 23:16

I cheered when people died in Wuthering Heights, had to read it for Uni. Absolute bollocks.

mastertomsmum · 16/08/2018 23:11

White Teeth, a Tale of Two Cities

Quickerthanavicar · 16/08/2018 23:11

The Goldfinch

StepsRoadmum · 16/08/2018 23:10

Catch 22 - have tried 3 or 4 times but get half way through and just can't do it.

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