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Original poster

Great books that you have never finished reading

99 replies

belgo · 06/01/2011 14:44

Three books that I just cannot finish:

Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Freakonomics
Politics of Breastfeeding.

The second two I feel contained so much information that I just could not digest any more, but I certainly took a lot out of both of those books.

I don't know why I never finished the Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it was great.

Which books have you never finished reading and feel vaguely guilty about it?

OP posts:
wildfig · 06/01/2011 16:48

Birdsong. Started it three times now, and can never get beyond the first third.
Also, Wolf Hall, and The Time Traveller's Wife.

lifeinagoldfishbowl · 06/01/2011 16:57

The Historian - I think I got to the last 60 pages then just haven't finished it - this was at least 3 years ago and I know I couldn't read the whole thing again to get to where I got too, but I also couldn't just read the last 60 pages Hmm

Original poster
belgo · 06/01/2011 16:57

Yes Birdsong! Although I barely even started it before giving it to dh as a birthday present. he read it but then he reads anything and everything, including the cereal boxes.

OP posts:
Original poster
belgo · 06/01/2011 16:57

The Historian is another unread book on my bookshelf - again I bought it and gave it to dh and have never read it myselfBlush

OP posts:
lifeinagoldfishbowl · 06/01/2011 17:18

It was a great book Belgo and I thoroughly enjoyed it - did need to concentrate a bit though - just wish I'd finished it :)

Cakesandale · 06/01/2011 17:25

Wolf Hall is quite good but I think it is the lack of speech marks and stuff: it makes it really hard to find your way around.

I have just given up on The Distant Hours - it was reasonably enjoyable but I just wasn't getting on with it, and decided to let it go.

Also - Birdsong here as well.

These days i feel like time is too short to waste on a book that is too hard, or a bit boring.

Original poster
belgo · 06/01/2011 17:42

That's the thing, none of these books are boring, but it's just hard to maintain the emotional input to finish them right to the end.

I did however manage to read all four Twilight books in as many monthsBlush

OP posts:
melezka · 06/01/2011 17:46

It took me a few goes to manage Birdsong (like Wuthering Heights). But I'm really glad I did - it did something to my perception of time. Seemed to put me actually into an earlier, slower time thing. Was great.

When I was a teenager I loved Tolkien but I found all the more obscure ones - well, not very popular for a reason.

DurhamDurham · 06/01/2011 17:50

Wild Swans...I tried I really did. Twice. But I kept falling asleep. I lent it to a friend and told her it was brilliant and worth the effort (hoping she would think I was intelligent and interesting)

MardyBra · 06/01/2011 17:50

Lord of the Rings. Actually scrap that I don't think it's a great book.

flybynight · 06/01/2011 19:49

Any biography or autobiography ever. Even if I'm enjoying them, I never finish them. Maybe its because I know how they end.

ZCompton · 06/01/2011 23:32

Hello, well did finish Birdsong and it left me cold...as do all his books actually. Time Traveller's Wife was all but unreadable IMO; I did try but couldn't get past how badly written it was and how bizarre the premise was

mdavza · 08/01/2011 13:35

Couldn't finish Birdsong as well, just found it too boring.
I couldn't finish War and Peace, I tried, I really did! Even tried skipping the 'War' bit....arrrrgghhh, later in life? I loved Anna Karenina so was a bit disappointed at my own lack of sophistication. Wink

I could not (shock, horror) finish 'The Girld who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.' Don't know if that qualifies as a great book.
I also can't seem to finish anything by V.S. Naipaul.

Original poster
belgo · 08/01/2011 13:38

I think I will be taking Birdsong off of my list of books to read!

OP posts:
ZCompton · 08/01/2011 15:26

I would, belgo,it's a big fat bore.

mdavza - I read the first 2 Stieg Larssons (I can't remember which one Hornet's Nest is' and gave up.

I also couldn't finish The Book Thief. Unbelievably cheesy and awful

MayorNaze · 08/01/2011 15:38

the childrens book

i tried to get into it but really couldn't

hitch-hikers guide as well

was too nerd cliched and weird for the sake of weirdness

am sure there are loads...Blush

oh yes, i always say this one and am surpirsed no-one has lynched me yet

behind the scenes at the museum

ZCompton · 08/01/2011 15:41

Well i finished behind the scenes MayorNaze but I do get why you don't. It's all a bit magic-realist-wannabe-Anglea-Carter and try-hard. Her crime novels are a bit better...I say that, i only read the first one but I did like it

GabbyLoggon · 08/01/2011 15:54

CATCH 22 good book, not for me "Gabby"

littlerach · 08/01/2011 15:58

I couldn't finish Behind the Scenes (or get oast the first few pages) either Mayor Smile

Also Anna Karenina. I have tried 4 times. I really want to read it and enjoy it.

I have read Birdsong though Smile

melezka · 08/01/2011 16:20

Still sticking up for Birdsong - and Belgo you are kind of there...in the place as it were - aren't you? A bit?
And Anna Karenina is worth it too...
But I'm afraid I did throw The Book Thief across the room Blush

WillieWaggledagger · 08/01/2011 16:23

sea of poppies has been on my bedside table for several months

finished wolf hall and enjoyed it

mayornaze I started the children's book at Christmas and now halfway through but now back to work and I'm losing momentum

MayorNaze · 08/01/2011 16:25

littlerach!! :)

i think i have read birdsong but i really can't remember...Confused

MayorNaze · 08/01/2011 16:28

its about war isn't it? fairly certain i have actually.

i think if i could read a huge chunk of it all in one go i could get into the childrens book - i did really want to...

i try behind the scenes every couple of years but no go...

anna karenina i have no desire to try but i tried lolita over the summer and found it very tedious.

MayorNaze · 08/01/2011 16:29

i have just returned the autograph man by zadie smith to the library without finishing - i LOVED white teeth but this was very meh unfortunately :(

i do read and finish lots of books, honestly...Blush

FreakoidOrganisoid · 08/01/2011 16:38

Cloud Atlas is meant to be a really good book but I've started it many times and never finished.

Took me about 3 goes to read The Book Thief

Have also never read the Bible