Which books should I keep and which should I donate?

[Liquoricelake]

I'm trying to cull my book collection as I'm running out of space and need to make room for new books. There are some on my shelf that have been there for too long and I'm looking at donating some to a charity shop. I've started some of these and put them back down, but others I haven't looked at all. I'd appreciate it if MN could help me decide which deserve a second or even third chance.

The books are...
The Secret History by Donna Tart
The Children's Book by A.S Byatt
SPQR by Mary Beard
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
The Nightwatch by Sarah Waters(I've tried twice now)
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie(Tried once and gave up)
We, The Drowned by Carsten Jensen
Cousins by Sally Vickers
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield
The Silent Boy by Andrew Taylor
The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly
Appletree Yard by Louise Doughty
The Light Between Oceans by M.L Stedman.
And Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey.

Thank you in advance and apologies for the length of the list.

Oh god, there's lots there on my shelves too, waiting to be read.
However, I loved Oscar and lucinda, and was gripped by the end. Although it was a long time ago and it might not stand up to a re-read now I'm older and wiser!
I thought Appletree Yard was awful and don't get why it got the attention it did. I read it quickly though, didn't take me long to whip through it.
I'm doing the same as you, reading some of the things that have sat in my shelves for ages so I can get rid of them. I'm deliberately opting for the thin, quick-looking reads though, so I can feel satisfied at the number I am getting through!!

Oh, I've read the Sarah Waters. I don't like her. I've tried. I read Fingersmith, and The Nightwatch, and The Little Stranger. The Little Stranger was ok but didn't like the other two at all. Not sure why. Writing style didn't appeal maybe? Fingersmith especially felt like a really badly written rip-off of Dickens. Nightwatch marginally better. But I'm not bothering with her again!

Definitely keep The Secret History- it's brilliant! I also enjoyed Americanah and The Nightwatch.

The Nightwatch by Sarah Waters(I've tried twice now). Twice would be enough for me to bin. I prefer Sarah Waters dramatised to reading. The little Stranger is coming out as a film in Sept. I no longer feel guilty that I sometimes prefer to watch rather than read.

Appletree Yard by Louise Doughty. I havent tried this one but liked the BBC dramatisation. But I did get another one of hers out of the library. Got it home and it looked so dull - straight back to the library.

Not sure about the Mary Beard one - love her but that one seems out of line with the rest of your list!

The Secret History by Donna Tart
The Children's Book by A.S Byatt. LOVE this. Please try again. It's one of those I've read over again many times

SPQR by Mary Beard. Not Read but meant to.

The Nightwatch by Sarah Waters really didn't work for me. Loved fingersmith but struggled with this

We, The Drowned by Carsten Jensen felt bored reading this

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield enjoyed it

The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly a quick read on tube / when tired. Keep it and give it another go

Appletree Yard by Louise Doughty. Good modern pulp fiction. Don't expect too much and go with the flow - it's enjoyable

The Light Between Oceans by M.L Stedman. Keep trying to read this but can't get into it, but it's still on my shelves as I think one day it will click!

And Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey. Didn't really move me

Hope this helps

My first comment is on The Secret History not AS Byatt who I find dreadfully dull

I loathed Oscar and Lucinda. SPQR, Jonathan Strange and The Secret History are all great.

Anything you've tried and failed with, get rid. No point forcing yourself to try something you're not into!

I loved The Secret History when I read it.

I found Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and Oscar and Lucinda both a bit slow to get into, but I enjoyed them once I did get into.

I’ve never read The Nightwatch but personally, if I’d given up on a book twice already I wouldn’t feel inclined to give it a third go.

If I'm having trouble starting a book, or keep putting it down, I open it randomly toward the back and read a few pages. Sometimes I'm so intrigued by happenings that I'm inspired to go back to the beginning and read through. But there are so many wonderful books in the world, if you're not grabbed, cull them and find something else.