Books by Thomas Mann; "The Magic Mountain" I got 2/3rds through in the second try, and I have started the first book in "Joseph and his brothers" several times. They are still both standing in my book case, because I can see there's something very good about them - the beginning of "Joseph..." is fantastic - and I want to read them.
Perhaps I need to become a bit older - that has helped with other books I didn't understand the first time I read them.
PS: I love "The Lord of the Rings". Different tastes for different people, I think
