Books you just can't get into

[AE35Unit]

Hmmm never heard of him or his Horseclans. I take it you're not keen?

 

[Tillane]

Not very. His writing isn't bad as such, just very militaristic, and more than a bit right wing - as was the man himself. Not my kind of thing.

Sliding gracefully back on topic, I have to admit that I'd include Iain Banks' The Algebraist as a book I've never been able to get into. Never finished, in fact; bored me to tears.

 

[Memnoch]

Do you mean The Redemption of Athalus?
Featuring a cat? My other half loves that book.

Yep a cat was in it so probably, it's gathering dust for the last 10 years or so on a book shelf, one of very few books I gave up on half way through!! That and Wheel of Time

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

For me it was Neil Gaimen's American Gods. I have tried more than once to read this book and just could not get into it.

Also, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is another one I just haven't been able to get into.

 

[elvet]

Attalus - David Eddings . . . so boring

I agree. I tried to persevere but finally gave up.

 

[Highlander II]

The Hunchback of Notre Dame... I read Frankenstein (which I loved) and Dracula (which I found dreadfully boring), but no can do Hunchback.

Also - anything by Robert Asprin after the 2nd Phule book... just no -

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

The Hunchback of Notre Dame... I read Frankenstein (which I loved) and Dracula (which I found dreadfully boring), but no can do Hunchback.

Also - anything by Robert Asprin after the 2nd Phule book... just no -

Try his Myth series or Thieves World.

 

[Pyan]

Anything by Stephen R. Donaldson, especially if it's got Thomas Covenant in the title...

Try .... Thieves World.

There are several Asprin short stories in the Thieves' World series, but his main connection with them is as editor, with Lynn Abbey.

 

[DarrellR]

While I may be crucified for this...Lord of the Rings from Tolkien. I just couldn't get into it at all. The movies were enjoyable but the books bored me to tears. Another that I would have to list is Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing series. Not that I really couldn't get into it because I was enjoying it intensely all through book 2 but have yet found the urge to finish the series. I know it's mainly because...well...actually it's solely because of the character Kellhus is too perfect for me to read anything in his regards. He annoys me to no end. I found him interesting at first but by the end of book two I wanted to throttle him myself. I'll finish this one though at some point I'm sure.

 

[AE35Unit]

Err anything with Foundation in the title! I used to be an Asimov collector but tho I managed to read the original 'trilogy' i couldn't get into Foundation's Edge at all. Too much waffle and politics and not enough SF, and there's a whole heap of franchised follow ups from Bear to Benford.

 

[Connavar]

Then you are the same as me.

I think original Foundation is great read and pure timeless classic.

The second triology is not half as good. I have never finished Foundation and Earth cause i was so dissapointed in the drop of quality. The characters was interesting specially the main character and the professor but the hole Gaia stuff ruined the series. You are right about the politics being too much compared SF side.

Should have ended with the original triology.

 

[Simian]

Oh ever heard of a book called Salt? Can't remember the author but he's fairly new and has another book called On. Was a strange book but i muddled thru it,but its put me off reading his other stuff. I know I shouldn't be put off by one book but reading time is valuable and rare for me.

On. Don't get me started. An interesting idea which ran out of steam after about 50 pages (and that's probably being generous). I remember that everyone cried, pretty much all the time, and then it ended, cheaply.

Another that I would have to list is Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing series. Not that I really couldn't get into it because I was enjoying it intensely all through book 2 but have yet found the urge to finish the series. I know it's mainly because...well...actually it's solely because of the character Kellhus is too perfect for me to read anything in his regards. He annoys me to no end. I found him interesting at first but by the end of book two I wanted to throttle him myself.

I feel exactly the same about this series, and for exactly the same reasons. Great world-building, fantastic magic system, intruiguing story, but Kellhus struck me as a walking, talking Deus ex machina; not so much a character but a plot device with legs. That said I only ever got about half way through the second book, and will probably finish the series at some stage, but not until I find myself without anything else to read.

My own confession: A Canticle for Leibowitz, or more specifically Fiat Voluntas Tua. I love the first two stories, but try as I might I can never get more that 10 pages or so into the third.

 

[Highlander II]

While I may be crucified for this...Lord of the Rings from Tolkien. I just couldn't get into it at all.

They'll have to nail me up right next to you. I tried to read "The Hobbit" and gave up about 20 pages in. NEVER had any interest in Tolkien after that.

 

[Grimward]

They'll have to nail me up right next to you. I tried to read "The Hobbit" and gave up about 20 pages in. NEVER had any interest in Tolkien after that.

Really? But they haven't even gotten to the Trolls yet, if memory serves, or maybe they'd just made it there. Nothing's happened yet, other than a meal gone wrong. Couldn't stand the prose, then? The book does pick up considerably, but I'd hazard a guess you've heard that one before.

 

[Salvelinus]

Oh this is going to sound sacrilegious but twice I've tried to read Moby Dick and failed.Too much info in it and I reckon if a third was removed there'd be a great book there!
.

Fear not, I too have tried and failed on Moby Dick.

For sci-fi, recently was Simmon's Ilium. Far too daunting, especially knowing you have nearly 600 pages to plow through.... and then Olympos...

 

[The Procrastinator]

Austen's Emma - could not get into that for at least three attempts, because the main character irritated me. So I gave it a good long rest, tried again, and this time I passed the "magic line" and the rest of the book was great. It is still one of my least favourite Austens though.

Walden by Thoreau. Given that one a few goes and it hasn't grabbed me.

Chapter House Dune by Frank Herbert. I love the first book and enjoyed the next 2, but then the magic started to fade - I have tried to read this one a few times to no avail.

The sequel (or was it prequel?) to Lord Valentine's Castle by Robert Silverberg. I really enjoyed Valentine so I tried another of the series, but it put me to sleep.

 

[Fried Egg]

Then you are the same as me.

I think original Foundation is great read and pure timeless classic.

The second triology is not half as good. I have never finished Foundation and Earth cause i was so dissapointed in the drop of quality. The characters was interesting specially the main character and the professor but the hole Gaia stuff ruined the series. You are right about the politics being too much compared SF side.

Should have ended with the original triology.

I shall not rise to the bait. I SHALL NOT RISE TO THE BAIT!

 

[Taltos]

The Hunchback of Notre Dame... I read Frankenstein (which I loved) and Dracula (which I found dreadfully boring), but no can do Hunchback.

Also - anything by Robert Asprin after the 2nd Phule book... just no -

The trick for Hunchback (and partially JRRT Fellowship of the Ring) for me was to skip the first 50 pages of city/landscape descriptions - after the story starts it becomes easy to read.

 

[Tansy]

They'll have to nail me up right next to you. I tried to read "The Hobbit" and gave up about 20 pages in. NEVER had any interest in Tolkien after that.

Enjoyed the Hobbit and Fellowship, struggled through the 2nd one and stopped quarter of the way through Return of the King. You may need more nails

 

[AE35Unit]

I shall not rise to the bait. I SHALL NOT RISE TO THE BAIT!

A Foundation fan are we?