Which books did you initially struggle with...

[singsinthebath]

.... but eventually came to love.

For me it was Captain Correlli and The Time Traveller's Wife - several false starts but once I got past a certain point I was hooked.

oooh CC is great, I could not get into many Margaret Attwood (sp) novels, but love her as an author and loved Saving Grace....!

Am also looking at, from a distance, Anna Karenina..........one day when the kids are grown.........

I totally agree about CC's Mandolin. Both the initial struggle and the eventual love. I like the film but it didn't do the book justice at all - two completely different beasts. I really must re-read it.

I have the TTW in my hospital bag (ha, like I'll get chance to even open it).

The Jewel in the Crown. I gave up after reading the first third of the book.

When I picked it up a few years later I carried on from where I had left off and absolutely loved it.

Life of Pi

Goodness the first half was hard work.

We Need to Talk About Kevin. Hated it until I got about 2/3 of the way through and then it suddenly got interesting.

On the other hand, have never managed to finish Anna Karenina; maybe one day...

The Mill on the Floss
-a good but horrendously waffly tale. George Eliot(t - or however yer name is spelt) EDIT, EDIT, EDIT woman! For pity's sake.

I still can't get past the first chapter of Bleak house, despite several attempts, and despite knowing that Dickens usually gets a lot better as you get into the story. I haven't given up, but it's been a few years now with no progress.

Lionel S really puts me off WNTTAK. I doubt I will ever read it.

Now Bleak House on the telly, thats a different kettle of fish.

I agree with most of these !

Captain Correlli - actually I don't think I ever came to love it but did get through it and it got better...

I did the Jewel in the Crown for A Level and hated it. Years later I decided to give it another go thinking it was because it was a study text but no, still didn't enjoy it

And Mill on the Floss - I Did read it all but hated every moment of it - its the book that puts me off classics.

I'm a bit stubborn in that I can't remember when I last gave up on a book even though I hated reading it. That said, I don't test myself too much these days but, to answer the OP properly (and not just list books I've hated) - it took me 3 weeks to read the first 200 ppages of Wolf Hall and 3 days to read the next 450.

Omg I totally had to give up on the Life of Pi. It was like wading through treacle.

I must admit, if I struggle too much I give up. If it's so good then I guess they'll make a film

Captain Correlli for me too. I am on my third attempt (over about 9 years) and am sort of enjoying it this time.

I found 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' pretty turgid for the first 1/3 or so - too much Swedish business talk and not enough about the ultimately very interesting characters.

Middlemarch. Great but sends me to sleep.

Agreed we George Eliot! Less is more!

The Girl with the dragon tattoo - 2 attempts and still not there

CC deffo hard to get into. Often the way with novels that are really hyped - you expect them to be amazing from the first paragraph so if they are in any way average or a slight let down the impact is magnified.

Snap mousemole!

David Mitchell's Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

aboyt 2/3rds in but it was hard work, really had to concentrate

he's a great writer though

aaaah, I read CC way before the film came out. Filums spoil books

Sparkletastic - just been on holiday with friends and the husband was reading it - he says you have to get to page 120 so will have a go at getting to there....!

have just realised my Faux Pas. Alias Grace, not Saving Grace. And to think I have been reading MA since the age of 14. Shame on me

Captain Corellis Mandolin - I actually put it back on the shelf for a year but when I picked it up again - WOW incredible and I am now a huge Louis de Bernieres fan.

Birds Without Wings and A Partisans Daughter also amazing. They make you want to google

Anna Karenina is a hard one..... but truly brilliant once you get your head round it.

I think I am going to need a months holiday in Provence to crack that one. Tis my goal for about 20 years time......sigh

love LDB. Read most of the CC/south american trilogy. Must go back to him