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

[Mirage]

Mine are;
Ulysses(sp)
Wild Swans

Hotel du Lac, Anita Brookner

Turgid rubbish

The Island,gave up half way through.Crapola!!

I loved Secret History too.

Another I failed to get through: that flipping Tractors in Ukrainian thing. There is a large and vocal minority in the chattering classes of Sheffield who think Marina L is some sort of genius. I thought it was awful - couldn't get beyond the first 50 pages. Didn't even realise it was supposed to be "funny"!

Affluenza. Just thinking about it winds me up. I finished Cloud Atlas, but thought it was too clever by half and not worth the hype. That Freud one - Interpretation of Murder? I've only just started that but got sidetracked, so haven't given it a proper go.

Otherwise, Gravity's Rainbow (just can't be bothered) is my nemesis. I do aim to read it one day, maybe.

I aim to never read: anything by Will Self, Ulysses and any more pop psych. Life's too short.

Wild Swans, yes.

Currently The Night Watch -

"THE No. 1 BESTSELLER"

"SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER & THE ORANGE PRIZE"

(must just be me then )

The Time Traveller's Wife I managed to finish but didn't get it. Silly book.

Also that Bill Bryson book that's supposed to explain difficult stuff so dumb-brains can understand it - I'm even more of a dumb-brain than I realised!

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

Bill Bryson annoys me greatly.

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 )

everything

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.

The Da Vinci Code. Midnight's Children.

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.

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

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.

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.

Message withdrawn

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

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

Captain Corelli and Sophie's World come to mind.

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

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

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.