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Original poster

Which book/books have you really tried hard to read,but failed ?

281 replies

Mirage · 29/06/2007 23:42

Mine are;
Ulysses(sp)
Wild Swans

OP posts:
bagsundereyes · 01/07/2007 10:07

Ulysses, obviously. It's still sneering at me from the bookshelf.
And though it seems like exactly the sort of book I'd love - White Teeth. Just doesn't push the buttons.

NotQuiteCockney · 01/07/2007 08:02

I like Pratchett ok, I do laugh a bit, I will read it if I'm ill or something, but I don't actually like it. (I prefer Tom Holt in that line.)

UnquietDad · 30/06/2007 21:51

People either "get" Pratchett or they don't. I remember Christmases where i was convulsed with laughter at his latest, had to put the book down and take deep breaths... Read the paragraph out to sister/brother/mum to stony silence. Or to "yeeees, I suppose it's funny if you like that kind if thing."

pollywollydoodle · 30/06/2007 21:06

satanic verses OMG how tedious!(But loved Shalimar the clown), captain corellis mandolin ,the god of small things and that dave eggars book a staggering book of genius or something (that got given away and that hardly ever happens to books in this house

strangely though i loved wild swans,blind assassin and we must talk about kevin and ulysses (ok only joking about the last one!)

DaddyJ · 30/06/2007 17:35

'The Satanic Verses'
Wanted to know what the fuss was about.
Struggled from start, conceded defeat after 2 pages.

Anyone else read it and can explain plot?

Flamesparrow · 30/06/2007 17:31

< I like>

Califrog · 30/06/2007 17:30

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Califrog · 30/06/2007 17:29

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Flamesparrow · 30/06/2007 17:29

Pratchett is a very select thing - if you're going to like them, then you will from the first book (best not to pick some of the later ones as they can be hit n miss), but if you don't like the first one, you never will.

Califrog · 30/06/2007 17:26

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QueenofBleach · 30/06/2007 17:23

Cloud ATlas was dire and a friend lent me his next one, which was alos dire

Flamesparrow · 30/06/2007 17:17

Jane Eyre - Yes, I know loads of people love it. I have NEVER made it to the end (one day I will because I am bloody stubborn).

Lmao @ Silmarillion... got that here somewhere too

booge · 30/06/2007 17:14

Captain Corelli and Sophie's World come to mind.

BecauseImWorthIt · 30/06/2007 17:05

So glad it's not just me!

Captain Corelli - have tried 3 times and am not going to try again. Pretentious writing
Donna Whatsit's first book - tried twice with that and just couldn't get into it
Cloud Atlas - didn't get it and it just didn't draw me in

Desiderata · 30/06/2007 16:58

I'm with you on the Little Friend, Dior. It's the only book (as I recall) that I couldn't finish.

Dior · 30/06/2007 16:57

Message withdrawn

QueenofBleach · 30/06/2007 16:50

The Kevin one, Secret River, life is to short for both, have always said that one day I will read Ulysses and is standing by ready and waiting by my bed.

gess · 30/06/2007 14:48

Virginia Woolf to the lighthouse, although i didn't try that hard- just decided it was unreadable!

I love Norwegian Wood! Love all Murakami- although Wild Sheep Chase is barking.

NKF · 30/06/2007 14:46

Lord of the Rings. Have started it about 10 times. Can't bear the film either.

lexcat · 30/06/2007 14:45

sorry have not read all this thread but can I recommened going back to Wild swans. First time only managed 1/2 got bogged down with all the history. Then the book was lent to freinds and family all loved it. So I tried again and it is a great story in fact one of the best i've read. I have since read it about 2or 3 times more and still think it a great book.

NKF · 30/06/2007 14:43

The Da Vinci Code. Midnight's Children.

suedonim · 30/06/2007 14:42

Ulysses doesn't count, does it? I mean, no one in the whole wide world has ever actually got to the end, surely?

It took me five shots at 'We need to talk about Kevin' to finish it and I only did so because Mumsnetters urged me on. I have Strange and Norrell on the bookshelf behind me and now I'm not sure whether to even bother to start it. Mumsnetters also tell me that 'Labyrinth' by Kate Mosse is pretty dire.

I get to the end of virtually every book I start, I'm more of the mind that I won't even start it if I don't think I'll finish it.

lossofinterest · 30/06/2007 13:21

everything

WendyWeber · 30/06/2007 13:20

Oh I like most of his stuff, NQC - just that one doesn't reach the right part of my brain (if my brain has a part like that)

(However you'll be glad to know that I did read Catch 22 with ease, and enjoyed it )

NotQuiteCockney · 30/06/2007 13:18

The Night Watch was ok, but not that good, imo.

Bill Bryson annoys me greatly.