Books that have defeated you

[Queenoftheharpies]

Middlemarch.

I've tried reading it three times now, and enjoyed it right up to the point where Dorothea gets engaged to Casaubon. And then, for no reason hit a stumbling block.

It's always the same point in the story as well. I think it's when there's some protracted discussion of the corn laws / agricultural practice.

Has anyone else encountered this? A book you really want to finish but that just defeats you?

Hehe - it's very interesting that so many people struggle with the same books. I've just read the whole thread and all of the books I've given up on have already come up.

100 years of Solitude - gave up 1/2 way as I just got so confused as to what was going on, although some of the writing was fabulous.

Vanity Fair - again got 1/2 way and then gave up and watched the ITV adaption (although this was so appauling that I may as well not bothered!)

And I ploughed through The Great Gatsby and Great Expectations but I may as well have given up as I nearly lost the will to live!