I’m fairly obstinate when it comes to books. Once I start a book I usually hang in until the end no matter how bad it gets. I was an English major so I pride myself on my good reading habits. And it just bothers me not to finish things.
So it’s with not a little bit of shame that I’ve been watching N read The Cairo Trilogy every night before bed
A couple of years ago I watched the movie Master and Commander and really liked it so I picked up the book
And lastly, Middlemarch. Again, it’s a really great book but I lost steam about a third of the way through. I think it was another case of right book, wrong time. I’m definitely going to pick it back up again.
Well, there you have it–a list of my weaknesses as a book lover.
How about you–are there any books you’ve started to read but couldn’t quite finish?
I'm embarrassed to say that I could never finish The Hobbit. Just too many words and I really don't enjoy fantasy. But generally speaking I do feel like I should finish every book I start.
P.S. I enjoy your blog Faith, you're in my google reader!
Ken and I exchanged books when we were engaged. He read my book (Many Things Have Happened Since He Died) in a few days. I just finished his (On The Road) last year! That's 9 years.
I've never heard of those books besides Master and Commander. I haven't even seen the movie! There are several I have started but couldn't finish… Mostly because I've been getting recommendations and they're style is definitely not mine..
I feel your Middlemarch pain. One of Jared's favorite professors gave us a copy when we were married and I forced myself to read every darn page out of sheer force of will. I keep hearing it is a wonderful insightful book, so I think I will try it again now that I've had 10 years off. Maybe we should do it at the same time so we can stay motivated.
I just forced myself to finish CS Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet. I really like his books so I thought I would enjoy his sci-fi, but not so much. The book is paper thin, but it still took me forever. On the upside, a few sentences would put me right to sleep every night!
I tried reading "The Road," but found it too depressing. I almost never stop reading a book, but this post-apocalypse story about and man and his boy desperate for food and a safe place to sleep was just too much for me.
Janet, I didn't know you read my blog! Thanks for reading and the comment. I too struggled with parts of Tolkien (especially the parts in Elvish!)
Asianmommy, The Road is really bleak, isn't it? But I was actually totally engrossed by it and read it in a day or two (and totally cried).
Gwyn, let's plan Project Middlemarch 2010! On second note, why don't you set up the details and inform me later? 😛
Come to think of it Mindy, I think I might have started On The Road but never finished it. Add it to the list!
Elaine, it IS hard when people recommend books, isn't it? It can be so personal. That's why I like GoodReads; it's interesting to see what friends and acquaintances are reading (and to judge them). 😛
Hmm…the three that come to mind are:
The Historian
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Invisible Man
Somehow I made it all the way through Frankenstein.
I really enjoyed the Cairo Trilogy. I read them in college. I probably liked Mahfouz's Midaq Alley even better. Pick it up. I bet you won't get as bogged down.