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Books you gave up on
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By *artytwo OP Couple
over a year ago
Wolverhampton |
Following on from 'What are you reading'
What have you given up reading and why?
For me it was 'Foucaults's Pendulum' by Umberto Eco which I decided was a boring load of incomprehensible shite. Maybe better in Italian lol. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Lord of the rings.
An avid reader but couldn't get past the first few chapters. Or maybe it was the hobbit. Either way, gave up and never tried since. That was when I was a kid. Haven't seen the films either. Because a book is better than a film and if I couldn't get on with the books.... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Not many that I've actually given up on:
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Bernieres - found it utterly dull and didn't make it to chapter four.
A Clockwork Orange by Burgess - freaked me out.
Fifty Shades - just so boring, unconvincing characters, whiney narration and slower than a geriatric snail with sciatica.
Return of the Native by Hardy - no-one needs three chapters describing a moor before an actual human is introduced. |
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Lord of the Rings.
It isn't really my thing, but I used to read each night to the children, and they'd liked the Hobbit.
After a while though, I realised that, at a few pages a night, it would monopolise far more time than it warranted. Especially when there was still the Faraway Tree Trilogy
Mr ddc |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Game of thrones, a bit into book 5, turns out 4 and 5 take place at the same time and to not get mindfucked on the chapter orders people have set the chapters between both books in to a reading order that makes sense |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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One of dan browns...when i had successfully guessed the fourth plot twist.
Took me 3 goes to get through Tolkien's Silmarillion. That was heavy going. Put me off him for years.
I also really struggle with autobiographies. Not sure why, they just bore the piss out of me. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Mr. Sneeze I found it derivative."
To my knowledge I've gone back and finished every book but I struggled with Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Mechanics but I think that was mainly because I was reading it in 30 - 60 minute bursts while commuting. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Lord of the Rings.
It isn't really my thing, but I used to read each night to the children, and they'd liked the Hobbit.
After a while though, I realised that, at a few pages a night, it would monopolise far more time than it warranted. Especially when there was still the Faraway Tree Trilogy
Mr ddc"
Ooooh the Faraway Tree, loved that. Moonface, Silky, The Angry Pixie, Pop Biscuits, the Slippery Slip, Dame Washalot. Happy days. Sorry to digress, but entirely justified.
|
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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i read IT years ago it was long and drawn out,i nearly quit a few times but persevered,king just seem to ramble on and on before getting to the point i started to read dean koontz after that miles better |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Man and boy by tony parsons, utter middle class drivel, who in earth sits in McDonald's and trust to explain to there young son that France is a whole other country, and when he can't grasp the concept, take him there on eurostar that same afternoon, its just a contracted, lazy sequel to man and wife, I expected more from Mr parsons, ill stick to Nick hornby from now on, at least he is in tune with his readers. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Man and boy by tony parsons, utter middle class drivel, who in earth sits in McDonald's and trust to explain to there young son that France is a whole other country, and when he can't grasp the concept, take him there on eurostar that same afternoon, its just a contracted, lazy sequel to man and wife, I expected more from Mr parsons, ill stick to Nick hornby from now on, at least he is in tune with his readers."
When I first lived in Portsmouth my mum (not great on geography) came to visit and wouldn't believe that the Isle of Wight was the Isle of Wight. So I took her on the hover craft over the Solent to Ryde to prove it to her. Not quite the Eurostar to Paris I grant you, but sometimes desperate measures are required when arguing things with my mother! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"who in earth sits in McDonald's and trust to explain to there young son that France is a whole other country, and when he can't grasp the concept, take him there on eurostar that same afternoon "
Hmmm, they must have still been on the breakfast menu or it hardly seems worth the trip. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Man and boy by tony parsons, utter middle class drivel, who in earth sits in McDonald's and trust to explain to there young son that France is a whole other country, and when he can't grasp the concept, take him there on eurostar that same afternoon, its just a contracted, lazy sequel to man and wife, I expected more from Mr parsons, ill stick to Nick hornby from now on, at least he is in tune with his readers.
When I first lived in Portsmouth my mum (not great on geography) came to visit and wouldn't believe that the Isle of Wight was the Isle of Wight. So I took her on the hover craft over the Solent to Ryde to prove it to her. Not quite the Eurostar to Paris I grant you, but sometimes desperate measures are required when arguing things with my mother! "
It's just written like "everyone has instant funds to just hip on a train and go to France, its closer to go to waterstones and get an atlas. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Man and boy by tony parsons, utter middle class drivel, who in earth sits in McDonald's and trust to explain to there young son that France is a whole other country, and when he can't grasp the concept, take him there on eurostar that same afternoon, its just a contracted, lazy sequel to man and wife, I expected more from Mr parsons, ill stick to Nick hornby from now on, at least he is in tune with his readers.
When I first lived in Portsmouth my mum (not great on geography) came to visit and wouldn't believe that the Isle of Wight was the Isle of Wight. So I took her on the hover craft over the Solent to Ryde to prove it to her. Not quite the Eurostar to Paris I grant you, but sometimes desperate measures are required when arguing things with my mother!
It's just written like "everyone has instant funds to just hip on a train and go to France, its closer to go to waterstones and get an atlas."
I'm sure a trip on the Eurostar to France is probably cheaper than a family day out to Legoland. |
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The 7 Habits of highly effective people by Stephen R Covey. I have begun it 4 times now and every time I get to the bit about procrastination, I put it down and tell myself I will read it when I am in the right mood for it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Lord of the rings.
An avid reader but couldn't get past the first few chapters. Or maybe it was the hobbit. Either way, gave up and never tried since. That was when I was a kid. Haven't seen the films either. Because a book is better than a film and if I couldn't get on with the books...."
This except i watched the films instead  |
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By *lighty1Woman
over a year ago
You Dont Need to Know, right now |
"
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Bernieres - found it utterly dull and didn't make it to chapter four. "
Give Captain Corelli's Mandolin another try. You are right, the first 5 chapters just appear random, and are a battle to get through. But from chapter 6 onwards, Bernieres brings together all the different threads, and it turns into an absolutely brilliant book. Plus, a good history lesson on WW2, and the plight of the occupied islands.
Taking my own advice, I struggled on and on and on with Wild Swans by Jung Chang, but had to give up, about two-thirds through. I just couldn't get the 'human interest' aspect (maybe I need to be spoon-fed lolol) and the character names were so similar that I could never tell who was who.  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I went to the library and asked if they had any books on suicide she said yes they did but nobody brought them back
Low.
Don't start, it's bad enough on the other thread ffs"
Do you mean the wife joke thread? That just got silly very quickly! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Bernieres - found it utterly dull and didn't make it to chapter four.
Give Captain Corelli's Mandolin another try. You are right, the first 5 chapters just appear random, and are a battle to get through. But from chapter 6 onwards, Bernieres brings together all the different threads, and it turns into an absolutely brilliant book. Plus, a good history lesson on WW2, and the plight of the occupied islands.
Taking my own advice, I struggled on and on and on with Wild Swans by Jung Chang, but had to give up, about two-thirds through. I just couldn't get the 'human interest' aspect (maybe I need to be spoon-fed lolol) and the character names were so similar that I could never tell who was who. "
I loved Wild Swans and have lost my copy having let so many people borrow it I forget who it ended up with. Funny old world isn't it this booky thing. |
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"Lord of the Rings.
It isn't really my thing, but I used to read each night to the children, and they'd liked the Hobbit.
After a while though, I realised that, at a few pages a night, it would monopolise far more time than it warranted. Especially when there was still the Faraway Tree Trilogy
Mr ddc
Ooooh the Faraway Tree, loved that. Moonface, Silky, The Angry Pixie, Pop Biscuits, the Slippery Slip, Dame Washalot. Happy days. Sorry to digress, but entirely justified.
"
That's my favourite book ever... I read it again a couple of years ago and it was an utter joy even as a grown up. I can't wait for the film!! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Following on from 'What are you reading'
What have you given up reading and why?
For me it was 'Foucaults's Pendulum' by Umberto Eco which I decided was a boring load of incomprehensible shite. Maybe better in Italian lol."
Read Foucalts pendulum, I liked it. 'Gravity's rainbow' by Thomas Pynchon on the other hand was gibberish.
x |
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By *artytwo OP Couple
over a year ago
Wolverhampton |
It's very strange, some of these ones people have found unreadable I have quite liked eg Time Travellers Wife, Lord of The Rings, A Clockwork Orange (still reading), Green mile.
I actually gave up reading Stephen King for a while because his books always seem to have something nasty and uncomfortable in them but they are eminently readable Apart from one- Dolores Claiborne, I gave up. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Lord of the Rings.
It isn't really my thing, but I used to read each night to the children, and they'd liked the Hobbit.
After a while though, I realised that, at a few pages a night, it would monopolise far more time than it warranted. Especially when there was still the Faraway Tree Trilogy
Mr ddc
Ooooh the Faraway Tree, loved that. Moonface, Silky, The Angry Pixie, Pop Biscuits, the Slippery Slip, Dame Washalot. Happy days. Sorry to digress, but entirely justified.
That's my favourite book ever... I read it again a couple of years ago and it was an utter joy even as a grown up. I can't wait for the film!! "
There's gonna be a film!? Ohhhh wow!  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"War & Peace but might try again after watching it on telly "
This for me plus any Thomas Hardy. Oh and 'For whom the bell tolls' no matter how hard I try to like it! |
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By *igeiaWoman
over a year ago
Bristol |
"Following on from 'What are you reading'
What have you given up reading and why?
For me it was 'Foucaults's Pendulum' by Umberto Eco which I decided was a boring load of incomprehensible shite. Maybe better in Italian lol."
I gave up on that one at least twice. Eventually persevered and about a third of the way through it became totally unputdownable.
I never finished Kraken by China Miéville. Got a few chapters away from the end and realised I just couldn't be arsed to continue reading it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Tried to read ' Trainspotting ' by Irvine Welsh. It's written in a Scottish dialect... think I managed to get to page 4 before giving up!"
Didn't see this one- ops, sorry |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Tried to read ' Trainspotting ' by Irvine Welsh. It's written in a Scottish dialect... think I managed to get to page 4 before giving up!
This is exactly why I avoid the Scottish forum!
"
Thank god for the films!! Lol |
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"Lord of the Rings.
It isn't really my thing, but I used to read each night to the children, and they'd liked the Hobbit.
After a while though, I realised that, at a few pages a night, it would monopolise far more time than it warranted. Especially when there was still the Faraway Tree Trilogy
Mr ddc
Ooooh the Faraway Tree, loved that. Moonface, Silky, The Angry Pixie, Pop Biscuits, the Slippery Slip, Dame Washalot. Happy days. Sorry to digress, but entirely justified.
That's my favourite book ever... I read it again a couple of years ago and it was an utter joy even as a grown up. I can't wait for the film!! "
It's one of the few books that, when you re-read it as an adult, it's even better than you remember 
Apart from them re-writing two of the main characters though, obvs  |
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"Following on from 'What are you reading'
What have you given up reading and why?
"
Ooh, I just remembered another one:
"How to be the perfect wife" . I found it gave me headaches...
.
.
..after Mrs ddc would hit me with a frying pan every time I kept reading it out loud.
What? WHAT? Too soon already?
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Tried to read ' Trainspotting ' by Irvine Welsh. It's written in a Scottish dialect... think I managed to get to page 4 before giving up!"
I lived in Glasgow a couple of years...that helps! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I have a pile of them... some of which I've had for two years
The Book Thief
Gone Girl
Lolita
Fear & Loathing In Los Vegas
Funnily enough, I keep seeing Captain Corelli's Mandolin & Time Traveler's Wife mentioned... I've read CC'sM numerous times & I enjoyed TT'sW... and I'm a massive Stephen King fan but when I first read It when I was 18 I didn't really enjoy it at all, then I reread it again when I was 23 and I loved it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I gave up on ' How to stick at things and become a success!!' I asked the guy in the shop for 'How todesl with rejection without killibg!' He didn't have it - may he rest in peace!! |
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"...
Return of the Native by Hardy - no-one needs three chapters describing a moor before an actual human is introduced. "
Strange, coming from the wilds I got to love that book including his depiction of the outdoors.
I gave up on an overlong muddle of historical fiction and fantasy, the bible. |
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By *imiUKMan
over a year ago
Hereford |
"One of dan browns...when i had successfully guessed the fourth plot twist.
Took me 3 goes to get through Tolkien's Silmarillion. That was heavy going. Put me off him for years.
I also really struggle with autobiographies. Not sure why, they just bore the piss out of me."
The thing is, Tolkien is very fond of descriptive prose and since the Simarillion was just the bare bones of the plot, that's basically all you get - think of it like the Mabinogion, you are supposed to flesh out the story yourself.
I find all Tolstoy quite heavy going, I need to kind of shut myself off from the world to read it...or at least turn the computer off... |
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"Wild Swans and Fear & Loathing are great reads.
Hated bone collector but guess I wasn't it's target audience. Will never read Rand out of principle "
Someone had abandoned a copy in the seat I was allocated on a flight to Greece.. Lol.
I didn't buy it thankfully!
Much more of a Robert trestle.... Ragged-Trousered... Kinda gal.  |
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Cloud Atlas...lousy book....even lousyer film!! Read Simarillion before hobbit when I was younger. ..heavy but enjoyed it....Girl with a dragon tattoo took 4 attempts but read all three in a couple of days once I got into it loved TTTW and life of pi...hated IT...don't do clowns! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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rarely dont finish a book...wish i hadnt bothered with gone girl though..overhyped! stupid stupid ending! bridget jones is the only book ive wilfully destroyed,tore it in half after about 30 pages,trite ,patronising shit! luckily for her, her bloke at the time was in marketing in the publishing industry... |
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"Wild Swans and Fear & Loathing are great reads.
Hated bone collector but guess I wasn't it's target audience. Will never read Rand out of principle
Rand is fucking drivel, to be fair. "
I only guessed that by the loons that endorse Rand |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Game of Thrones - can't recall how far I got but gave up and watched the series "
I started by watching the series halfway through then did GOT marathons to catch up - bit sad but i do like the plots and the cast is good. - in other news - is that a genuine tobacco sunburst strat in the pic? |
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