Any books worth persevering with? Why?

[Gentlemanwiththistledownhair]

So we have threads on what books we love and what we couldn’t finish. But are there any books out there that you really had to persevere with at some parts but you felt were completely worth it at the end? What was it that made you carry on when you didn’t know that the end would be worth it?

First one that springs to mind for me is Anna Kerenina. I ended up loving it, but it took me ages to get into the writing. I took it on holiday with me so had time to get to grips with it, which I think meant i stuck with it. (Also the fact I was a pretentious uni student who didn’t want to admit to my even more prententious then-bf that I had been beaten by a “classic”!)

Birdsong. Took me ages to get into it but now it's one of my favourite books.

Funny isn’t it?! Although it also means I’m really reluctant to put down a book i’m not enjoying in case it turns out great.

(Last example: Conversations with Friends. Total pile of navel gazing codswallop. I get that it was supposed to be like that, but it didn’t make for an enjoyable read!)

Looking for new interesting books, any recommendations?

Catch 22, I honestly must have read the first 50 pages about 100 times. Attempt 102, couldn't put the damn thing down

A respectable trade - Philippa Gregory. For most of the book it felt like I was reading it for homework, but loved the concept behind it and kept going. The story has stayed in my mind ever since.

Middlemarch has a slow first 100 pages and then gets superb.

Some I find you are just not in the mood for and deserve another go so I always try and give most books a good run. Also I feel like you can only really criticise something if you’ve read it all and can do so with authority!

Of more recent books, Cloud Atlas defeated me a few times before I read it through and ended up really enjoying it.

Completely agree with you, skirmish wrt to Cloud Atlas! Although I can't admit to loving it now, I'm kinda glad I persevered.

And hellohah, catch22 is one I've given up on about 3 times. Only 99 more attempts to go...

The Blind Assassin. One of those books that I needed a good reading stint to get into, but once I did, I really enjoyed it.

The Goldfinch - I gave up once at the Las Vegas part but on a second attempt really loved it.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin - about the first third was like wading through treacle but beautiful after that.

If On A Winter’s Night A Traveller.
Five aborted attempts. Sixth go, success. Up until 3am reading it.

An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears. I loved the first section, then couldn’t get into the second narrators part at all and kept falling asleep trying to read it I’m glad I persevered as by the end I was blown away, I was genuinely taken aback when I cottoned onto what the author had done and how clever it is.

It took me a number of attempts to get into Frankenstein, but was worth it in the end.

Engleby by Sebastian Faulks. Really didn't like Engleby at first, but then the story got me in its grip and by the end I was totally hooked. It was a book group choice and I probably wouldn't have carried on if it hadn't been for that.
Almost every Dickens I've ever read. Don't really like them at first, then i get into their rhythm and his style and wish they wouldn't end.

I struggled through the first 50 pages or so of A God in Ruins which ended up being one of my all time favourite books.

I agree with CaptainNelson about Dickens - I recently read David Copperfield and it took me ages to get into it, but, as you say, once you get into the Dickens rhythm he's a great read.

Another vote for Middlemarch

I keep picking up, and then putting down, A God In Ruins at my library..... I’ve never read Kate Atkinson, but for some reason this book keeps finding it’s way into my hands but then I put it back each time.

Maybe it’s the constant time shifting that’s putting me off.

Is it worth having a go at?

I failed twice on Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. You have to get a bit of a run-up at it but it’s a staggeringly good bool once you’ve got into it.

Also The Man In The High Castle for some reason. All the other sf books he wrote before the Valis event are very quick reads but I always struggle with MITHC even though it’s excellent.

The secret to Middemarch is to watch the Rufus Sewell version first.

Wolf Hall took ages to get into but I loved it after the first hundred or so pages