Have you ever been 'beaten' by a book? - Page 3

the_callant · 11-30-2009, 07:52 AM

For me it was Catch 22. I persevered through to about half way, and then hurled the book at the waste bin. There have been other books that I may not have finished, but I might go back to them. Catch 22 was the only book to generate such a strong reaction.

Sparrow · 11-30-2009, 07:59 AM

Never been beaten by a book; but I have been spanked with a rolled up 'Woman's Weekly'.
TMI?

Nicked from Victoria Wood:

Katti's Cat · 11-30-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Never been beaten by a book; but I have been spanked with a rolled up 'Woman's Weekly'.
TMI?

montsnmags · 11-30-2009, 10:55 PM

The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie...which is an od one for me because it has beaten me somehow, rather than me beating it (which is to say, the writing is wonderful, but for some reason I've only made it 50 pages in each time, and I don't know why). It still sits on the TBR pile, so it has beaten me, but not into submission).

Katti's Cat · 12-01-2009, 12:06 AM

Satanic Verses did the same to me - I've finished it but in small doses at a time. I enjoyed 'Midnight Children' a lot more

montsnmags · 12-01-2009, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katti's Cat

Satanic Verses did the same to me - I've finished it but in small doses at a time. I enjoyed 'Midnight Children' a lot more

That's what I've heard, and been recommended, and likely what I'll do before trying The Satanic Verses again (a friend said that if I read Midnight's Children, I'll likely have a better feeling for Rushdie's structure and style, and be better able to make my way through The Satanic Verses).

Latinandgreek · 12-03-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

That's what I've heard, and been recommended, and likely what I'll do before trying The Satanic Verses again (a friend said that if I read Midnight's Children, I'll likely have a better feeling for Rushdie's structure and style, and be better able to make my way through The Satanic Verses).

Yes, I barely got through the Satanic Verses, but I really enjoyed Midnight's Children, The Ground Beneath her Feet and The Moor's Last Sigh.

Lirael · 12-03-2009, 07:39 PM

I can't get through Crime and Punishment. That book has repeatedly and thoroughly kicked my butt.

I think I should probably just get to grips with the fact that I can't do mid-to-late-19th-century Russian literature, but dang it, I've forced myself to get through books that were a lot worse, and I don't like being beaten. Every time I start to read it, my brain just kind of glazes over.

Mrgauth · 12-04-2009, 07:20 AM

For me it is about any 'classic literature'. Have not ever been able to get through a Dickens, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Austin, that guy who wrote War and Peace, and any other 'classic' writer you can think of. I think it is the fact that I grew up watching TV and not reading that much that I am wired now in such a way that my entertainment has to start quick, act fast, and come to a conclusion promptly or I get bored. For that matter don't think I have ever ready a 1000 page book. Read the Lord of the Rings when a teen but that was more for escape from an abusive mother. Now, I just can't get through it.

Have always wished I loved the classics, but alas. I'll just stick to cotton candy I guess.

kennyc · 12-04-2009, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrgauth

For me it is about any 'classic literature'. Have not ever been able to get through a Dickens, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Austin, that guy who wrote War and Peace, and any other 'classic' writer you can think of. I think it is the fact that I grew up watching TV and not reading that much that I am wired now in such a way that my entertainment has to start quick, act fast, and come to a conclusion promptly or I get bored. For that matter don't think I have ever ready a 1000 page book. Read the Lord of the Rings when a teen but that was more for escape from an abusive mother. Now, I just can't get through it.

Have always wished I loved the classics, but alas. I'll just stick to cotton candy I guess.

Hmmm. Fascinating. So what DO you read?

jhoff80 · 12-28-2009, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MelC

House of Leaves. Like the idea but keep getting bogged down around 120 pages in...

I personally completely loved House of Leaves, but then tried reading the author's second full-length book, Only Revolutions, and that one definitely beat me. Not only is it written in really annoying language, but in order to read it 'correctly' you're supposed to read 8 pages from one cover, flip it upside down and read 8 pages from the other cover, and then flip it back to the first side, continuing 8 pages at a time. Considering that I read very quickly, I spent more time flipping the book over than I did actually reading it. Besides that, the actual story itself just didn't pull me in. I got about 40 or 50 pages in before giving up.

LDBoblo · 12-28-2009, 04:15 AM

Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth. I tried to get into it based on its popularity, but I rather dislike Follett's narrative ability and contrived means of incorporating sex. I never found his description or syntax to adequately offset the bitter taste in my mouth from the narrative. I have tried a few times, thinking I've been unfairly judgmental. Each time, I move to something else that is either more interesting or better executed and dismiss PotE as "not my kind of literature". Despite my common sense telling me to just give it a rest, I'm sure I'll stubbornly give it another try in a few months. At the very least, I'll want to finish it and put it behind me.

kennyc · 12-28-2009, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth. I tried to get into it based on its popularity, but I rather dislike Follett's narrative ability and contrived means of incorporating sex. I never found his description or syntax to adequately offset the bitter taste in my mouth from the narrative. I have tried a few times, thinking I've been unfairly judgmental. Each time, I move to something else that is either more interesting or better executed and dismiss PotE as "not my kind of literature". Despite my common sense telling me to just give it a rest, I'm sure I'll stubbornly give it another try in a few months. At the very least, I'll want to finish it and put it behind me.

Hmm very interesting as I just started it am enjoying it a lot so far. Might I ask who your favorite authors are?

kennyc · 12-28-2009, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

Yes, I barely got through the Satanic Verses, but I really enjoyed Midnight's Children, The Ground Beneath her Feet and The Moor's Last Sigh.

I remember trying to read Satanic Verses -- mostly because of the publicity, but couldn't get into it.

Fiona · 12-28-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camino real

I can't tell you how many times I've started Joyce's Ulysses. So many times that I know the first few words "Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead.." I get annoyed that the book defeats me. I've heard parts of it read out and it's wonderful. I might try an ebook version.

I've also been defeated by Ulysses. I'm thinking of trying again in the new year, but this time I'll be having a few drinks before I start...

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11-30-2009, 07:52 AM	#31
the_callant Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 94 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Scottish Borders Device: Kindle Oasis/Kindle Scribe/Kindle PW Signature	For me it was Catch 22. I persevered through to about half way, and then hurled the book at the waste bin. There have been other books that I may not have finished, but I might go back to them. Catch 22 was the only book to generate such a strong reaction.

11-30-2009, 07:59 AM	#32
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Never been beaten by a book; but I have been spanked with a rolled up 'Woman's Weekly'. TMI? Nicked from Victoria Wood:

11-30-2009, 10:55 PM	#34
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie...which is an od one for me because it has beaten me somehow, rather than me beating it (which is to say, the writing is wonderful, but for some reason I've only made it 50 pages in each time, and I don't know why). It still sits on the TBR pile, so it has beaten me, but not into submission).

12-01-2009, 12:06 AM	#35
Katti's Cat Wizard Posts: 2,259 Karma: 175640 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Sony PRS-600	Satanic Verses did the same to me - I've finished it but in small doses at a time. I enjoyed 'Midnight Children' a lot more

12-03-2009, 07:39 PM	#38
Lirael Moomin Posts: 137 Karma: 202147 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Sony PRS-350	I can't get through Crime and Punishment. That book has repeatedly and thoroughly kicked my butt. I think I should probably just get to grips with the fact that I can't do mid-to-late-19th-century Russian literature, but dang it, I've forced myself to get through books that were a lot worse, and I don't like being beaten. Every time I start to read it, my brain just kind of glazes over.

12-04-2009, 07:20 AM	#39
Mrgauth Addict Posts: 206 Karma: 310 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tulsa OK Device: K3	For me it is about any 'classic literature'. Have not ever been able to get through a Dickens, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Austin, that guy who wrote War and Peace, and any other 'classic' writer you can think of. I think it is the fact that I grew up watching TV and not reading that much that I am wired now in such a way that my entertainment has to start quick, act fast, and come to a conclusion promptly or I get bored. For that matter don't think I have ever ready a 1000 page book. Read the Lord of the Rings when a teen but that was more for escape from an abusive mother. Now, I just can't get through it. Have always wished I loved the classics, but alas. I'll just stick to cotton candy I guess.

12-28-2009, 04:15 AM	#42
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth. I tried to get into it based on its popularity, but I rather dislike Follett's narrative ability and contrived means of incorporating sex. I never found his description or syntax to adequately offset the bitter taste in my mouth from the narrative. I have tried a few times, thinking I've been unfairly judgmental. Each time, I move to something else that is either more interesting or better executed and dismiss PotE as "not my kind of literature". Despite my common sense telling me to just give it a rest, I'm sure I'll stubbornly give it another try in a few months. At the very least, I'll want to finish it and put it behind me.