Books you just can't get into

It will have to be the Thomas Covenant books. They are probably the bane of my reading life. I can't get into them at all simply because the character put me off completely. I can't bring myself to like him enough to keep reading.

I like Donaldson's other works, especially his short stories but Thomas Covenant I cannot read. I finally gave away the set of books.
 
Actually I gave them to a cousin who loves them and had read his copies into tatters. He was a very happy person I must say.

I liked the original batch of Dune books and the very first one will always be one of the best books for me. However I gave up and quit reading once the son started writing. To me at least, they didn't pull me in and felt pointless to a large extent.
 
WOT and the Potter's have been mentioned before, but they bear repeating.

Neither had anything new to offer. In general, I think these books that cross-over to mainstream readers often fall short for hardcore genre fans because to cross-over they typically take standard genre fare and package and market it in a way that appeals to the mainstream.

But, of course, hardcore fans have all had their fill of standard genre fare.

At least, that's why I couldn't get into either one of those series. I had read them both before... like 9 times... they just had different titles and authors.
 
I made it to the final book of the Dark Tower then stopped half way through

I didn't like the way he writes himself in as a kind of flawed god, to be honest I only read the first book cos it was so thin, then I kinda got into it and liked the story in parts but waiting to see if I ever get round to finishing it

I did like the way it tied in other stories and I think that was what kept me reading.
 
AE35Unit said:
Never tried any of the Dark Towers books,they fantasy or SF?
Well much as I love Niven's works Ringworld Throne goes in here too! The first 2,brilliant,but its the dodgy third cousin that I have issues with. Just nothing like the others,no sense of wonder,just a pointless meandering book about vampires.
Anyone read the 4th one, Ringworld's Children?
Click to expand...

The first DT book was atleast fantasy like but dont go near it.

Not even a season fantasy fan would like that book. It seems like it only works for hardcore SK fans.....

You dont like a masterpiece like Dune stay far away from Dark Tower ;)
 
See thats reall odd, I loved DUNE, the Dark Tower was, allright, I didnt really go past the third book. But of course I started on SCI-FI so maybe that makes a difference. I reall hated the preuqels tho, Kevin J anderson was a good star wars writer he should have stuck to that space opera genre IMO.

I read the first series of T Covenant and wanted to bop the hero on the nose! Do like his other stuff as well though, even the ones with the mirror magic was better!

If you're having trouble with DUNE maybe watch the David Lynch film, kinda takes liberties but I liked it!:eek:
 
Oh i enjoyed the film,but as for Herbert,well his son Brian is far more accessible and entertaining for me. His Sydney's Comet books were brill!
 
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. Too slow and characters too plain. Gave up on page 200 or so.
 
That huge Stephen King epic - I cannot remember the name, but it is the one with a whole lot of volumes which include "wizards and Glass" and "the Gunslinger" or something like that. I know a lot of people think it is fantastic, but I just cannot. I also found Thomas Covenant really impossible.
Finally I cannot read Terry Prachet - I found them just too self consciencely aware of being "funny".
 
That'll be The Dark Tower series. Never tried it. I'm in the middle of Dean Koontz's Fear Nothing. A great idea badly written. Its just not gripping enough with too much waffle. He tends to use a whole page to describe something or a feeling when a sentence would do! If i make it thru this one alive i doubt i'll be reading the sequel.
 
I couldnt get into Starship Troopers by Heinlen. I may give it another try but it just didnt grab me.
 
I've started to notice that about Dean Koontz. His ideas are good, but the books are getting too elaboratly descriptive and drawn out, which detracts from the story. I was recently on an 8 hour fight and only managed to read 20 pages - I kept dropping off.:confused:
 
Ah so its not just me then ! The only other Koontz i've read are The Bad Place and Shattered which is a bit like that film with Dennis Weaver, Duel.
 
I find the diss for Dean Koontz writing style almost unbelievable. Too elaboratly descriptive ? Wow dont go near any Epic Fantasy or other slow paced,descriptive genre ! I found him to be pretty fast paced.

He is one the best writers i have read in thriller genre. His prose and writing style is fun. Atleast it is in Odd Thomas book.

Im waiting for The Husband by him so i will see if he is that good with many of his books.
 
I've never noticed him being overly flowery, apart from Odd Thomas I've not read any of his newer works though
 
So far the only books I coudn't get into have been Ombria In Shadow and The Tower at Stony Wood by Patricia McKillip. They both seemed like bad imitations of old fairy tales.

I didn't enjoy Finity's End and Fortress of Owls by C.T.SHERRYH. Not for any specific reason that I can remember though.
 
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