Top Ten Tuesday 37 - Difficult to read books
This week's theme: Top Ten Books That Were Hard For Me To Read
The hard-to-read because they were boring/annoying/frustrating
1. This is a book I'm currently reading, and it's so painful. The author is trying really hard to be scientific about the supernatural elements, but all the science is spectacularly flawed. The main character's father is in the FBI, and the MC has a ridiculously easy time hacking into all his classified information. And the dialogue is just painful. The only reason I'm still reading is because I need a "U" book for my A-Z Challenge.
2. Hoo boy, I had a lot to say about this book. Everything from the writing style to the selfish and vain MC to the really bizarre plot twists (plot holes?) bugged me. At least the ending redeemed it...kind of... (unapologetic review here).
3. This book was really hard for me to finish. Reliving the same day seven times, watching the bitchy main character attempt to redeem herself yet still manage to come off as bitchy. Oy. (full rant here)
4. This book is one I plan on giving another shot. I was bored to tears reading the first two or three chapters, so I stopped, but I feel like it's worth reading.
5. Two hundred pages in, and you haven't even gotten on the freaking boat. Moby Dick is just waaaaaaay too long and dull. It's more of a harpooning lesson or a guide for sailors than a story. I tried rereading it twice, for a total of three attempts, but I can never make it past the first few hundred pages.
Hard to read because of disturbing/difficult subject matter
6. This book was really dark and had me gagging and feeling sick so many times. Unbelievable cruelty, and not very much light at the end of the tunnel. Also, spectacularly sexist.
7. Reading about psychopaths and their gruesome murders is sickening. It's worse when what you're reading is nonfiction. Enough said.
8. All Ellen Hopkins books are difficult to read, but I think this one was the most disturbing. It also tried to cover far too many issues at once, which made it even more overwhelming and painful.
9. Reading about the main character's struggles with mental illness and depression is very difficult, and even more so when you realize it's semi-autobiographical.
10. This book is heartbreaking. I cried.
Were any of these books difficult for you to read? Did you enjoy books I was bored with? Did any of these bring you to tears?
I have Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock to read. I've heard that it is hard to read!
ReplyDeleteI read The Bell Jar as a teen, and it was disappointing to me. Sylvia Plath lived a hard life, and I'm sure her poetry would make a better read than her book, sadly enough.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, YES I totally agree with Leonard Peacock. I was sooo depressed at that one (especially at that ending! omg! his mother....urgh) but I did love it. And I agree with Shatter Me too. *sigh* I really didn't like it, but then I turned out to love the second two books so I'm glad I kept reading. XD
ReplyDeleteHere's my TTT!
I have read the silver linings playbook by matthew quick but nothing else and now that you have posted about another book of his it's made me quite curious and now I want to read forgive me leonard peacock...
ReplyDeleteI still haven't read my copies of Shatter Me & Unravelling despite owning them for ages. I think it's because I had a feeling I'd have a hard time with them so I just let them slide. I'm still planning to read them someday, just not sure when I'll have the courage to attempt them >.< And I can imagine Leonard Peacock wasn't an easy read o.O
ReplyDeletePS- I bookmarked your WoR review there, I'll come back to read it once I'm done reading it myself :D
Before I Fall made my list too. After reading your review, I am so glad that I DNF.
ReplyDeleteI had the completely opposite feeling for Shatter Me, haha. I /loved/ the writing style. However, I'm 100% on the same page with Before I Fall.
ReplyDeleteGreat list!
Chelsea @ Books Turn Brains
Ah I loved Shatter Me and the sequel Unravel Me even more! But I am with you on Identical... have you read any of Ellen Hopkin's books? Crank and Tricks are very good, although very tough subject matter.
ReplyDeleteI think I just wanted to curl up in blankets and hug stuffed animals all day after I finished Leonard Peacock. It was SO SAD!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the later books!
I saw the movie of Silver linings and it was great! I really liked Leonard Peacock, but beware that it's going to make you very sad for a while.
ReplyDeleteThey both drove me absolutely nuts. I hope you like them better than I did!
ReplyDeleteand thanks! I can't stop gushing about WoR even after I got that review down haha
Yeah, I don't think it was worth it. I'm glad I'm not the only one!
ReplyDeletehaha no worries! To each his her own :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I read Crank when I was really young (didn't know what it was about...oops) and it really disturbed me. I read a bunch of others when I was older and I really liked Impulse and Perfect.
ReplyDeleteI hear the later books are better, but I haven't read them. Maybe they're still worth a shot? They just really weren't for me!
ReplyDeleteDarn it, I just bought all three Weeks books because I felt silly I hadn't read these as a fantasy fan, but I don't know how well I'll handle gag-worthy cruelty and depressing tones without humor... I guess I'll try at some point, but good to have the warning all the same ;-)
ReplyDeleteHaving recently finished forbidden i feel like i can handle anything XD
ReplyDeleteI remember being a bored by a few parts of the book, so I guess you could say it was a little disappointing. I haven't read much of her poetry but I enjoyed the few I've read!
ReplyDeleteIt really is, but it's worth it. Be prepared with tissues though!
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people enjoyed that series, but it just didn't click for me. I'm glad you liked it though!
ReplyDelete