Have you ever been 'beaten' by a book?

Katti's Cat · 11-24-2009, 08:40 AM

Have you ever had a book that you tried to read over and over again and still couldn't finish? And I don't mean a book you started and didn't like and put aside.

I have been fortunate that my family was always big readers and never tried to sensor what we were reading when growing up.

My Dad always suggested books. And as a 'good' girl I tried to work my way through Steinbeck, Hemmingway etc. One book that was very important to him just 'beat' me. I still haven't finished it although I try it ever couple of years.

The book: Uhuru by Robert Ruark [novel written against a vast, turbulent background of present-day Africa (in 1962, tells gripping story of a white colonial and his gradual disintegration in the face of the tensions and horror tearing that continent apart.]

camino real · 11-24-2009, 09:07 AM

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 read the first volume of Proust's epic but didn't go any further. I must try harder with great literature!

Sparrow · 11-24-2009, 09:25 AM

Mervyn Peake's 'Titus Groan' - every few years I make a fresh attempt; but I never make it beyond the first hundred pages.

rhadin · 11-24-2009, 09:40 AM

There's a whole genre of books that regularly defeat me, so I've stopped lookng at them. They are the tell-alls by various "insiders" and "intimates." I find I really hate gossipmongers and fast-buck books they write.

jinlo · 11-24-2009, 04:24 PM

The House of the Seven Gables - I tried, over and over again I tried, but I could never finish it. For some reason, I would lose all interest about one third of the way through. I have now officially given up on it.

Latinandgreek · 11-24-2009, 04:49 PM

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" . One of my professors lent it to me 6-7 months ago, and I just can't get through it. It is his favourite book and asks me on an almost daily basis if I've finished it, what do I think of it so far, didn't I love that scene etc. I tell him that I can't seem to find the time to read it, which is a blatant lie, as I have read tons of books in the meantime and he have probably even mentioned them in front of him. He has also lent me "Lila", the sequel. I don't have the heart to tell him that I can't bear to look at either of them anymore. I'm going to give it one last try. The book does have interesting parts, but they are inter spaced with incredibly boring parts; perhaps the ending will make up for it? (That is wishful thinking on my part)

pshrynk · 11-24-2009, 05:13 PM

Godel, Escher, Bach, an Eternal Golden Braid by eric Hofstadter. I resolve to read it once a year and get so far and then stop. Maybe if it were in e-book... Yeah, that's it, I'll wait for the e-book!

Muskrat · 11-24-2009, 05:22 PM

Lord of the Rings.
I've had the book for so long the pages have turned yellow and started to disintegrate. Tried to read it again and again but just die of boredom each time. Seems to be about funny little gnomes having huge long......long.....longgg battles.

PKFFW · 11-24-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muskrat

Lord of the Rings.
I've had the book for so long the pages have turned yellow and started to disintegrate. Tried to read it again and again but just die of boredom each time. Seems to be about funny little gnomes having huge long......long.....longgg battles.

I actually made it through the series but I did often wonder why it became such a hit. Loved the movies but it was such a hard read for me. Mostly because Tolkien constantly breaks his own rythm by interspacing 3 page songs or poems or whatever right into the middle of things.

Can't really think of any book that has "beaten" me. If I don't like a book or loose interest in it for some unknown reason then I put it down and don't even think of ever going back.

Cheers,
PKFFW

grimo1re · 11-24-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" . One of my professors lent it to me 6-7 months ago, and I just can't get through it. It is his favourite book and asks me on an almost daily basis if I've finished it, what do I think of it so far, didn't I love that scene etc. I tell him that I can't seem to find the time to read it, which is a blatant lie, as I have read tons of books in the meantime and he have probably even mentioned them in front of him. He has also lent me "Lila", the sequel. I don't have the heart to tell him that I can't bear to look at either of them anymore. I'm going to give it one last try. The book does have interesting parts, but they are inter spaced with incredibly boring parts; perhaps the ending will make up for it? (That is wishful thinking on my part)

Hmmm, I read about 3/4 of that book. I should really finish it. I found I had to be in the mood for the contemplative parts, but then I would actually really enjoy them. You need the headspace to deal with that book. Tell your professor you've got too much on your mind to appreciate it at this point in time but that you've gleaned it's going to be an interesting read and you'll get to it later

mbovenka · 11-25-2009, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Godel, Escher, Bach, an Eternal Golden Braid by eric Hofstadter. I resolve to read it once a year and get so far and then stop. Maybe if it were in e-book... Yeah, that's it, I'll wait for the e-book!

Well, it *is* Out There

I once tried to read 'Dianetics' (on a bet) and decided after about a hundred pages that just about anything else was a far better way to spend my time. I don't know if that counts :-)

Katti's Cat · 11-25-2009, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Well, it *is* Out There

I once tried to read 'Dianetics' (on a bet) and decided after about a hundred pages that just about anything else was a far better way to spend my time. I don't know if that counts :-)

Not really, unless of course you are still trying

kennyc · 11-25-2009, 07:30 AM

The Sound and the Fury - Faulkner. I'm about halfway after several starts/restarts over the last 10 years.

Ea · 11-25-2009, 10:45 AM

Dickens. I've tried 3 or 4 novels, and I really gave them a chance - 'Oliver Twist' I made it half-way through before I finally gave up. His writing is just so boring to me.

kennyc · 11-25-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

Dickens. I've tried 3 or 4 novels, and I really gave them a chance - 'Oliver Twist' I made it half-way through before I finally gave up. His writing is just so boring to me.

Really? I find most of his work fascinating.

11-24-2009, 08:40 AM	#1
Katti's Cat Wizard Posts: 2,259 Karma: 175640 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Sony PRS-600	Have you ever been 'beaten' by a book? Have you ever had a book that you tried to read over and over again and still couldn't finish? And I don't mean a book you started and didn't like and put aside. I have been fortunate that my family was always big readers and never tried to sensor what we were reading when growing up. My Dad always suggested books. And as a 'good' girl I tried to work my way through Steinbeck, Hemmingway etc. One book that was very important to him just 'beat' me. I still haven't finished it although I try it ever couple of years. The book: Uhuru by Robert Ruark [novel written against a vast, turbulent background of present-day Africa (in 1962, tells gripping story of a white colonial and his gradual disintegration in the face of the tensions and horror tearing that continent apart.]

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11-24-2009, 09:07 AM	#2
camino real Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 58 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Manchester, UK Device: Sony PRS-300	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 read the first volume of Proust's epic but didn't go any further. I must try harder with great literature!

11-24-2009, 09:25 AM	#3
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Mervyn Peake's 'Titus Groan' - every few years I make a fresh attempt; but I never make it beyond the first hundred pages.

11-24-2009, 09:40 AM	#4
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	There's a whole genre of books that regularly defeat me, so I've stopped lookng at them. They are the tell-alls by various "insiders" and "intimates." I find I really hate gossipmongers and fast-buck books they write.

11-24-2009, 04:24 PM	#5
jinlo aka coco jinlo Posts: 415 Karma: 500002 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NJ-USA Device: Just purchased Sony 505, but alas, it is for the wife	The House of the Seven Gables - I tried, over and over again I tried, but I could never finish it. For some reason, I would lose all interest about one third of the way through. I have now officially given up on it.

11-24-2009, 04:49 PM	#6
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" . One of my professors lent it to me 6-7 months ago, and I just can't get through it. It is his favourite book and asks me on an almost daily basis if I've finished it, what do I think of it so far, didn't I love that scene etc. I tell him that I can't seem to find the time to read it, which is a blatant lie, as I have read tons of books in the meantime and he have probably even mentioned them in front of him. He has also lent me "Lila", the sequel. I don't have the heart to tell him that I can't bear to look at either of them anymore. I'm going to give it one last try. The book does have interesting parts, but they are inter spaced with incredibly boring parts; perhaps the ending will make up for it? (That is wishful thinking on my part)

11-24-2009, 05:13 PM	#7
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Godel, Escher, Bach, an Eternal Golden Braid by eric Hofstadter. I resolve to read it once a year and get so far and then stop. Maybe if it were in e-book... Yeah, that's it, I'll wait for the e-book!

11-24-2009, 05:22 PM	#8
Muskrat Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 11 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: prs500	Lord of the Rings. I've had the book for so long the pages have turned yellow and started to disintegrate. Tried to read it again and again but just die of boredom each time. Seems to be about funny little gnomes having huge long......long.....longgg battles.

11-25-2009, 07:30 AM	#13
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	The Sound and the Fury - Faulkner. I'm about halfway after several starts/restarts over the last 10 years.

11-25-2009, 10:45 AM	#14
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Dickens. I've tried 3 or 4 novels, and I really gave them a chance - 'Oliver Twist' I made it half-way through before I finally gave up. His writing is just so boring to me.

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