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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:
NotQuiteCockney · 30/06/2007 12:15

I think I've read The Ginger Man (Donleavy phase was ages ago), and I liked How the Dead Live.

Silmarillion is surely one of those famously unreadable books, like Gravity's Rainbow? I remember I was mad for Tolkein when I was 8 or something, but even then I couldn't manage to read more than a line or two of Silmarillion.

bakedpotato · 30/06/2007 12:16

oh god yes The Shipping News

policywonk · 30/06/2007 12:16

Quattro - well, I quite like the Burchill sometimes - her journalism - some of it... (trails off)

Surprised at all these people who don't like Jonathan Strange. I thought it was aces.

NotQuiteCockney · 30/06/2007 12:16

(Oh, and read White Teeth, Donna Tartt's second (nowhere near as good as The Secret History), and the Shipping News.)

NotQuiteCockney · 30/06/2007 12:16

PW, I am struggling with Jonathan Strange, there's a thread on it.

satine · 30/06/2007 12:17

Ulysses, Anna Karenina and Chocolat.

Mind you, I'm often so knackered by the end of the day that I struggle with even pretty 'easy to read' books.I've read the same four or five pages of one book for about two weeks now!!

policywonk · 30/06/2007 12:17

Hated the Shipping News, but did finish it.

Wisteria · 30/06/2007 12:17

I'll try them again - I have an annoying habit of refusing to be beaten but I think it depends what mood you are in when you read some books; would urge others to try TTW again as it really is a superb book when you get into it.

policywonk · 30/06/2007 12:18

Will go find thread and see if I can be of assistance

Chirpygirl · 30/06/2007 12:19

I keep The shipping news by my bed as it is the only book I have ever found that actually does send me to sleep!

Wisteria · 30/06/2007 12:20

PW - which Julie Burchill was it? I read Sugar Rush because my daughter's English teacher wants them to do it for Yr9 and asked me what I thought.
I loved her writing for the NME and found this easy to read but a little OTT, personally I wouldn't fancy teaching it to yr9s although I can see the benefits.

MarsLady · 30/06/2007 12:20

Cloud Atlas

Corrections

Orlando

NotQuiteCockney · 30/06/2007 12:21

Cloud Atlas was great!

fannyannie · 30/06/2007 12:21

Catch 22 - tried 5 or 6 times before finally giving up on it.

NotQuiteCockney · 30/06/2007 12:21

Woah, you didn't finish the Corrections, either?

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 30/06/2007 12:21

Lord of the Rings.

NotQuiteCockney · 30/06/2007 12:21

Ok, I quit, you're all freaks. How can you not enjoy Catch 22?

policywonk · 30/06/2007 12:22

Had a look at the JS thread, closed it quickly. It was frightening.

Wisteria - it was 'I Knew I Was Right', I think. It really was stupendously bad.

Ulysees · 30/06/2007 12:22

The woman in White, really wanted to read it but couldn't get into it. Supposed to be a brilliant book too.

fannyannie · 30/06/2007 12:22

NCQ - I loved The Secret History - its one of the few "proper" books I've actually since re-read since having childrn (don't have time for much reading so a bit of a miracle I've managed to complete it again LOL).

fannyannie · 30/06/2007 12:23

I know Catch 22 is supposed to be really good - that's why I kept trying - but just couldn't get into it,

Ulysees · 30/06/2007 12:23

Mirage you spelt it right, I changed my way of spelling it

MarsLady · 30/06/2007 12:23

NQC.... no! Wanted to jump under a train instead!

NotQuiteCockney · 30/06/2007 12:24

Oh, the Corrrections is a bit depressing, I'll grant you that, but funny, too.

MarsLady · 30/06/2007 12:25

It is on my list to attempt again. It's been several years, but if it doesn't work.... off the charity shop it goes! (and I don't like giving away books)

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