Books You Finally Got Around to Reading - And Wish You Hadn't

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Tarana

[...] (how can she hate Heinlein?). [...]

Maybe she tried to read The Number of the Beast? For me, that book would qualify for this thread. After a wonderful first 30 pages there was 500 of drivel. Of course Heinlein wrote some good stuff too, although his space operas are the only ones that still bear reading, the others I found haven't aged as well.

[Fbone]

Foreigner by Cherryh

On Basilisk Station by Weber

The Windup Girl by Bacigalupi

Perdido Street Station by Mieville

[meeera]

Originally Posted by issybird

Yup, this is the kind of book that occurs to me off the top of my head. Two loathsome examples are the Ice and Fire books and the Dragon Tattoo books (the ones written by Larsson). Why I finished them I'll never know; momentum, mostly.

100% agree on the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, which I abandoned with extreme prejudice. I found it dire, as I did Stranger in a Strange Land. I managed to read other Heinleins in my younger years, including some that people find much worse than SiaSL (The Number of the Beast, anyone?[1]), but apparently these days my patience for him is far lower.

The book I most regret not abandoning was Love in the Time of Cholera. It was, shall we say, Not For Me.

[1] ETA: Snap, gmw. I hadn't read the second page of posts before responding.

[drofgnal]

I bought the Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco years ago when it was an Amazon 'deal of the day'. I'm just now getting around to reading it. My jury is still out on whether or not I'm going to like it. It would seem some knowledge on the history of Catholic Orders like Franciscans and Benedictines would be real helpful. I'm also finding it a bit slow although I'm not far into it yet. I'll keep plugging along, perhaps doing some wikipedia reading on Franciscans and Benedictines. I'm not quite ready to pull the plug, it is well written.

[ametzler]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

The Satanic Verses. [...]
I also gave up on The Name of the Rose. I just couldn't get interested in it.

“My friends and editors suggested I abbreviate the first hundred pages, which they found very difficult and demanding. Without thinking twice, I refused, because, as I insisted, if somebody wanted to enter the abbey and live there for seven days, he had to accept the abbey’s own pace. If he could not, he would never manage to read the whole book. Therefore those first hundred pages are like a penance or initiation, and if someone does not like them, so much the worse for him. He can stay at the foot of the mountain.” (Eco, Post-Script to The Name of the Rose, 1984,).

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by ametzler

“My friends and editors suggested I abbreviate the first hundred pages, which they found very difficult and demanding. Without thinking twice, I refused, because, as I insisted, if somebody wanted to enter the abbey and live there for seven days, he had to accept the abbey’s own pace. If he could not, he would never manage to read the whole book. Therefore those first hundred pages are like a penance or initiation, and if someone does not like them, so much the worse for him. He can stay at the foot of the mountain.” (Eco, Post-Script to The Name of the Rose, 1984,).

So it was intentional. While I can admire his artistic integrity, I don't think I'll give it another go.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

So it was intentional. While I can admire his artistic integrity, I don't think I'll give it another go.

It might be one of situations where the movie is better than the book.

I've tried the book a couple of times and never really gotten very far into it.

[ametzler]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

It might be one of situations where the movie is better than the book.

I've tried the book a couple of times and never really gotten very far into it.

The movie is more accessible obviously. A two hours whodunit set in a monastery. I do not think it is outstanding in any way. It takes little from the book, it could also be based on a novel by Ken Follett.

The novel requires a bigger investment, not only in time but in concentration. But for me it was effort well spent, a very rewarding read. Once you "get in" the book is very immersive, suspenseful and intelligent.

[drofgnal]

Originally Posted by ametzler

“My friends and editors suggested I abbreviate the first hundred pages, which they found very difficult and demanding. Without thinking twice, I refused, because, as I insisted, if somebody wanted to enter the abbey and live there for seven days, he had to accept the abbey’s own pace. If he could not, he would never manage to read the whole book. Therefore those first hundred pages are like a penance or initiation, and if someone does not like them, so much the worse for him. He can stay at the foot of the mountain.” (Eco, Post-Script to The Name of the Rose, 1984,).

I'm at page 120. I don't really see it picking up, although the second murder has occurred. I'm still sticking it out. I've invested this much, I'll see where it takes me. I was tempted based on your post to get through the first 100 pages then start over to make sure I got the most out of it. I decided against that approach.

[Luffy]

I was never bored by The Name of the Rose. I found the theology rigid, the murders insipid, and the injustices too many. Otherwise, I would have gladly give the book 4 stars, instead of the two it received from me.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Luffy

I was never bored by The Name of the Rose. I found the theology rigid, the murders insipid, and the injustices too many. Otherwise, I would have gladly give the book 4 stars, instead of the two it received from me.

So other than that, the play was fine?

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

So other than that, the play was fine?

I brought this upon myself.

[Pulpmeister]

"Name of the Rose" is about semiotics and literary theory, wrapped in a medieval crime story. Easier to read than a text book on those subjects.

I read it, found it heavy sledding, but I did spot the underlying theme.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by Pulpmeister

"Name of the Rose" is about semiotics and literary theory, wrapped in a medieval crime story. Easier to read than a text book on those subjects.

I read it, found it heavy sledding, but I did spot the underlying theme.

Much easier to read than a text book on those subjects. I'm taking literary theory as part of a course.

[fum]

Could it be a matter of translation? I have read it, in Danish, and it is one of the best books i have ever read. Although, I must confess, i haven’t read any other books by Eco. I have tried, but I didn’t like them.