The "Toughest book I ever read, but boy am I glad I stuck it out..." thread

lestatar · 06-06-2011, 11:33 PM

Spinoff from this cool thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...32&postcount=1

Generally thinking about fictional literary works - I think textbooks and such would be too easy so let's not go there

I gotta think about my own nominees...

Discuss!

The Terminator · 06-08-2011, 12:02 AM

I would probably say "The Count Of Monte Cristo", it started out pretty boring but picked up, and ended great. Most modern books don't (Some come pretty close) to having as good of a plot to them. The way he made everything finally come together was awesome. Was 1200 pages, Which when I read it, I thought was quite long but not so anymore.

Sweetpea · 06-08-2011, 01:33 AM

For me, it was Shogun by James Clavell. I had tried to read it several times, but just couldn't get past a certain point. And one day, I did. It's still one of my favourite books.

The Count of Monte Christo is one I read from start to finish, the first time I read it. And reread it ever year at least once

lestatar · 06-08-2011, 01:37 AM

+1! One of these for me also was a Clavell book, Tai-Pan. Like you, in then end, I was glad I stuck it out.

Which, really, is the point of this thread

Rumpelteazer · 06-08-2011, 03:28 AM

For me it was Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49. I had to read it for an American literature course. It was only 160 pages long but it took me a full afternoon to read but I really liked it. I think I was one of the few who finished it/read it at all in class.

maianhvk · 06-08-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Terminator

I would probably say "The Count Of Monte Cristo", it started out pretty boring but picked up, and ended great. Most modern books don't (Some come pretty close) to having as good of a plot to them. The way he made everything finally come together was awesome. Was 1200 pages, Which when I read it, I thought was quite long but not so anymore.

I think it was short

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

The Count of Monte Christo is one I read from start to finish, the first time I read it. And reread it ever year at least once

except that I don't reread it that often anymore.

for me, it's Les Misérables. Nothing more painful. But I was glad the pace picked up and before I gave up totally after 2 years struggling (yes, sounds ridiculous but true

) to read about nonsense people did nonsense things, finally someone important did something important.

EDIT: wait, there IS a thing more painful. It's called Peace and War, which I never managed to finish, which has nothing to do with this thread.

06-06-2011, 11:33 PM	#1
lestatar LB's lolz Mutt Minion Posts: 2,902 Karma: 5700001 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hong Kong now but NYC forever Device: Kindle3, GalaxyTab, BB Bold9700, BB 8300, Sony Clie, Palm Vx, Palm III	The "Toughest book I ever read, but boy am I glad I stuck it out..." thread Spinoff from this cool thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...32&postcount=1 Generally thinking about fictional literary works - I think textbooks and such would be too easy so let's not go there I gotta think about my own nominees... Discuss!

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06-08-2011, 12:02 AM	#2
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	I would probably say "The Count Of Monte Cristo", it started out pretty boring but picked up, and ended great. Most modern books don't (Some come pretty close) to having as good of a plot to them. The way he made everything finally come together was awesome. Was 1200 pages, Which when I read it, I thought was quite long but not so anymore.

06-08-2011, 01:33 AM	#3
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	For me, it was Shogun by James Clavell. I had tried to read it several times, but just couldn't get past a certain point. And one day, I did. It's still one of my favourite books. The Count of Monte Christo is one I read from start to finish, the first time I read it. And reread it ever year at least once

06-08-2011, 01:37 AM	#4
lestatar LB's lolz Mutt Minion Posts: 2,902 Karma: 5700001 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hong Kong now but NYC forever Device: Kindle3, GalaxyTab, BB Bold9700, BB 8300, Sony Clie, Palm Vx, Palm III	+1! One of these for me also was a Clavell book, Tai-Pan. Like you, in then end, I was glad I stuck it out. Which, really, is the point of this thread

06-08-2011, 03:28 AM	#5
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,100 Karma: 24047426 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	For me it was Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49. I had to read it for an American literature course. It was only 160 pages long but it took me a full afternoon to read but I really liked it. I think I was one of the few who finished it/read it at all in class.