Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Books That Were Hard For Us To Read For Various Reasons


For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!


Today we are talking about books that were hard for us to read (because difficult of book, subject matter, because it was cringeworthy-- however you want to interpret)!

Bridget's Picks


1. Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin. This series has been really hard for me to get through, especially right now. I'm currently reading A Feast for Crows, the fourth book, and it is such a slog. I was warned about that, but I'm still mad that I don't get to hear about Tyrion or Daenerys in this book. (For those of you who aren't familiar, the events of A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons, the fifth and most recent installment of the series, take place over the same timeline, but apparently there was just TOO MUCH STUFF happening to make it one book. So it's two books. And this one is a snoozefest.)

2. A Safe Place - Lorenzo Carcaterra. I read this in college for one of my classes. It's a horrific account of the constant domestic abuse the author and his mother suffered at the hands of his father during his childhood in Hell's Kitchen. There isn't much that can make me woozy when I'm reading, but there were several moments that I had to stop and look at puppies or something while I was reading this book. I don't recommend reading it unless you can stomach terrible violence.

Jamie's Picks


3.  Serendipity by Carly Phillips: Honestly this was so hard to read because some of the sexytimes were so cheesy and eye-rolly and corny that I just couldn't. I wanted to laugh half of the time and sometimes I felt really uncomfortable...especially a certain weird leg humping in a Target thing that happened. I do love me some sexytimes and romance novels but this one didn't work for me.

4. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson: I LOVED THIS BOOK but it hit so close to home. I don't think I've ever cried harder. In the book a girl is watching her dad slowly pass away from cancer and it took me back to when I was watching MY mom slowly pass away from cancer and it was just so vivid and intense that I had to pause sometimes so I could calm myself down.

5. Live Through This by Mindi Scott: I don't want to spoil what this book is about too much but I'll just say I felt SO uncomfortable reading it and that always makes for a hard reading experience. I though it was a good book but MAN..tough subject!

6. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: I really liked this book but omg the characters are so AWFUL. It was so hard to read this one because I wanted to punch everybody in the face and plus it was so twisted that I felt squicky.

Julia's Picks

6.5 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: I realize that Jamie already picked this, but I have a different reason for wanting to include this book on the list. It was chosen for book club and as soon as I started reading it it felt like the author was talking down to me the reader. The best word I have for this book is pretentious. I couldn't stand it. I disliked almost all of it. The characters are meant to be hated, I guess, but urgh I just hated this book so much. 

7. Dune by Frank Herbert: I read this because a boy I liked at the time gave it to me and told me I would like it. Determined to like it, I started. Soon I was just determined to finish it and focus on the parts I liked rather than the ones I didn't. My problem with this book was the same problem I had with parts of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. The authors get on tangents describing the sand or the forest or the rock for pages, chapters even sometimes (I am looking at you The Two Towers). I liked this concept much more as the sci-fi miniseries then I did while reading it.

8. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: This is an amazing, amazing book, but it's subject matter makes it hard for me to read. I've actually only read it the one time, and I really loved it, but many the feels just take over with that book. Don't read it without a box of tissues. 

9. 14 by Peter Clines: This was an early pick for my work book club. I was a little hesitant since it was supposedly classified as horror. But it was actually pretty interesting ... to a point. Then it got hard to read because it went to far over the line of believability, at least in my opinion. I ended up skimming the end because I just couldn't believe it in the context of the world I was introduced to.

10. A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin: HOW did I almost forget this one?! This book is seriously the longest amount of time I have read a book without giving up. There would be months where I wouldn't read. Why was it so hard? It's long and the plot doesnt go anywhere AND most of my favorite characters were not in it. The only reason I finished this was because I went overseas for work and this was the only book I brought. If I ever read it again I am reading it mixed with A Dance with Dragons. I think reading them as one big book would help a lot!

Alright guys, how about you? What books did you guys have trouble reading for whatever reason? Link up below!


Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly link-up in the community where we provide a prompt and other lovers of listmaking join in on it with their own top ten list. Feel free to have less than 10 or more if you need to at times and put a spin on the topic if you need to! Just please link back to us if you are participating :)

To join, link up below with the URL to your blog POST (not your blog), your name and your email (which will remain hidden). Then bounce around the Linky!

 Alexis @Reality Bites-Let's Get Lost!   La Coccinelle @ The Ladybug Reads...   Fida @ Hugs and Kisses of Poetry  
 Blessie @ Mischievous Reads   Rachel @ The Reading Rose   Liesel @ LKHill  
 Matthew LeDrew - From the Writing Desk   Andi @ Andi's ABCs   bubblewrappedblog  
 Kritika @ Snowflakes & Spider silk   Sarah @ Exploring All Genres   Tia @ Videoclimber's Variations  
 Jazz @ Jazmin Jade Reviews   Hannah @ Broc's Bookcase   Ali @ No Money 4 Books  
 Sabrina @ Sabrina's Stories   Patty @ Bookish Wanderlove   Shannon @BooksDevoured  
 Of Life and Literature   Spines & Covers   Nessa @ October Tune  
 Anne @ Books Baking and Blogging   Rebeca @ Liberamans   Heather @ Cook's Reviews  
 Critica @ The Critiquing Critica   Alison @ Hardcovers & Heroines   Diana @ Novel Tea  
 Lauren @ Lose Time Reading   Anastasia @ cuddlereads   Ashley @ Ashley Loves Books  
 Rachel @ Confessions of a Book Geek   Amy @ Read What I Like   Elizabeth  
 Tamara @ Gone with the Words   Prairiedances @ Once Upon A Dream Books   Sierra @ Bookyum  
 Sarah @ Sarah Can't Stop Reading   Nikki & Keira @ Lazy Book Lovers   Vanessa @ Owls and Things  
 Stefani @ Caught Read Handed   Tea in the Treetops   kelley  
 Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook   Tiffany @ A Lot of Reading   Holly @ NutFreeNerd  
 Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwings   Gizmos Reviews   Kelley @Books By The Sea  
 Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies   Tiffany @ Beneath the Jacket Reviews   Emma @ Awkwordly Emma  
 Mari @ Story and Somnomancy   nevillegirl @ Musings From Neville's Navel   Lillian @ Mom With a Reading Problem  
 Stephanie@Don't be Afraid of the Dork   Laura @Blue Eye Books   Melissa @ Bookmark Dragon  
 Chelsea @ Books Turn Brains   allthingswordy   Merve @ drowninmelancholy  
 Benni @ Benni's Bookbiters   Outside Yourself   Amber @ Bibliophilia, Please  
 Sheri @ Tangled Up In Books   Maggie @ Just a Couple More Pages   Jessica @ The Psychotic Nerd  
 Cassandra @ Wickedly Delicious Tales   Amanda @ Cite Something   Stephanie@ThesePaperHearts  
 T @ Bookpiles & Blanketforts   Cait @ Notebook Sisters   Jessica @ a GREAT read  
 Christina @ My Life in Books   Chelsea @ Books for Thought   There will be books  
 Genevieve @ Mrs H: Bookworm   Amanda @ The Zen Leaf   Jennifer @ YA Book Nerd  
 Michelle @ Michelle's Minions   Erin @ The Book Nut   Mandy @ The Reading Diaries  
 Becky @ Becky's Babble   Krystal @ Books Are My Thing   Anna A  
 Christina @ Confessions of a Book Addict   Nori @ ReadWriteLove28   Fiona Leonard  
 Sarah's Book Shelves   Eileen @ BookCatPin   hawk @ I Can't Find My Pen  
 Kara @ Diary of a Teen Writer   Nicole @ Reading Books With Coffee   Thea @ Gizzimomo's Book Shelf  
 Jaime @ The Best Books Ever   Gene'O @ Sourcerer   Nicole & Ashley @ The Quiet Concert  
 Jessica @ A Cocoon of Books   Kristen @ The Book Monsters   Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know  
 Cassi @ My Thoughts Literally   Lauren @ Books, Tea & Me   hellphie @ hellphie's fiendish fiction  
 Brooke @ Brooke Reviews   Jen @ Fefferbooks   Laura @ xenomerde  
 Jessica @ Peace Love Books   Merin @ Read and Reviewed   Ashley @ Falling Down The Book Hole  
 Megz @ Whispers of a Barefoot Med Student   Veronika @ Reading Is Dreaming With Open Eyes   Rachel @ ObsessedWithFairyTales  
 Evan @ Bibliophilia: A Love Story   Cheryl @ The Book Connection   Kate @ Fictional Thoughts  
 The Readventures   Elisabeth @ Enthralled by the Written Word   Dawn @ Dawn's Dreams  
 Carmen @ Shelfspace Needed   Sharon & Racquel @ The Book Barbies   Caitlin @ Books and Window Seats  
 Bernadette @ The Bumbling Bookworm   Emily @ Tumbling into Wonderland   Mel @ Reviews In A Pinch  
 Mallory @ The Local Muse   Michelle @ New Horizon Reviews   Elizabeth @ so long and thanks for all the fish  
 Niishita's Rants and Raves   Jen @ Pop! Goes The Reader   Shannon @ Rex Robot Reviews  
 Isabel @ Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews   Megan @ Leafing Through Life   Jennifer @ Feminist Fairy Tale Reviews  
 Heather @ The Bastard Title   Jaime @ The World for the Reading   Claire @ Bookworm Reviews  
 Brandy @ Random Musings of a Bibliophile   Part Time Monster   Liz @ Liz's Book Bucket List  
 Julie   Lakin @ Wonderous Reviews   Kate @Read and Dream  
 Melissa @ Double-Stacked Bookshelves   Ula @ Blog of Erised   Monica's Bookish Life  
 dee @The Book Curmudgeon   Connie @ hoot reads books   Lois@You, Me, and a Cup of Tea  
 Katie   Kerr and Rachel @ Paein & Ms4Tune   Meghann @ Becoming Books  
 Marie's Reads   Cate @ Reading Good Books   Karen @ Karen's Addictions  
 Tracy @ Cornerfolds   Kimberly @ Over The Bookshelf   Amanda & Holly @ Gun in Act One  
 Alina   Marcee@A Nurse and A Book   A Book and a Beer  
 Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Books   Holly @ Part of that World   Fi @ Bookish Outsider  
 Kelly @ Belle of the Literati   Amanda's Nose in a Book   Ruthsic @ YA on my Mind  
 Ellis @ The Random Transliterator   Sarah @ Sarah, Sass, and Surcees   Sophia @ Ravens and Writing Desks  
 Zaskya Benitez   Jason @ Literature Frenzy!   Andressa - Livros e Chocolate Quente  
 Sarah S. @ Wondrous Readings   Lauren @ Always Me   Nicole and Sophia @ Quality Fangirls  
 Jessie @ Jessie Reads   Sarah C. @ The Rainy Day Reader   Cora @ Smalltownbookworm  
 Brooklynn @ brooklynnmarie   Katrina @ Chased By My Imagination   paulina @ The Little Book Pixie  
 Ellen M @ The Canon   Bels @ Bookarahma   Jackie @ She Reads She Blogs  
 Jess & Loren @ Such a Novel Idea   Charlotte @ Books and Baby etc.   Elen @ A World of Reviews  
 Stormy @ Book. Blog. Bake.   Jorie's Reads by Starry Night Elf   Kristin @ Lukten av Trykksverte  
 Ria   Carrie-Anne   Lauren @ Bookmark Lit  
 April @ Between the Pages   Marilyn @ Mentor's Reader   ♥ Lectrice Vorace ♥  
 islandgeekgirl @ Overflowing Bookshelves   Caroline @ The Attic   Lou @ LouLouReads  
 Cora @ Tea Party Princess   Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library   Justine @ Paperback Heart  
 Ruth @ A Great Book Study   Lynn   BookCupid  
 jill @ daysathome   Amber @ YA Indulgences   Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives  
 Jody @ A Spoonful of Happy Endings   Kiran J. @ Book Maniac Reviews   M | BACKLIST BOOKS  
 The Fictional Reader   Emma @ After the Book Hangover   Chrissi Reads  
 Jessica @ Firefly Book Loft   Jess @ Curiouser and Curiouser   Rita @ My Home of Books  
 Alexandra @ SleepsOnTables   Megan@YA? Why Not?   Page Turners Blog  
 Lauren   Andie @ Metaphorical Musings   Sophie @ Dreaming Of Happy Endings  
 Rosemond Cates@ Big Hair and Books   Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight   Mallory @ readsbymandm  
 Kaitlin @ Reading is My Treasure   Taraxacum   Lauren & Kiesha @ Life Between Reads  
 Abbi @ Christian Novels   Ricki and Kellee @ Unleashing Readers   Alex @ Booksy Daisy  
 Jen & April @ The Starry-Eyed Revue   Megan (Simply Books)   Danielle @ Bendingoverbookwards  
 Jazzie @ The Book Dancer   Lisa @ Captivated Reader   Hayley @ Bookblogher  
 Gretchen @ Books and Burlap   Savannah @ReadingBifrost   Antarinith @ Un libro bajo la almohada  
 Katie Who Can Read   Crina @Reading Addict   Weronika @lovethybook  
 She @ She Read   Magan @ Rather Be Reading   Amanda  
 Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense   badgerandbaboon @ badgerandbaboon   Bret @ BookishMinimalist  

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)



18 comments:

  1. I've wanted to start the Game of Thrones series but you guys are making me second-guess it now! It adds a second layer on the question of "Do you abandon books?" to ask "Would you abandon a series because of one of the books?" I don't know if I could, if I cared what happened next.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The series, especially the first three, is really good. The fourth gets a little slow, but there is a way you can read the fourth and fifth simultaneously without spoiling yourself for things. I wish I would have known about it the first time because it would have made the experience so much easier to read. Here is how, if you are curious: http://boiledleather.com/post/25902554148/a-new-reader-friendly-combined-reading-order-for-a

      Delete
    2. I love it! Thanks for the tip!

      Delete
  2. It's a pity to hear about A Feast of Crows. I read the first Game of Thrones last Christmas and devoured it in a couple of days. I've been toying with reading the rest of the series but this now puts me off a bit. GOT books are doorstops as it is and I"m not sure I want to commit myself to boring doorstops to boot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The fourth book was the only problem for me. Two maybe a little bit, but three i read in three weeks. BUT if I ever read them again, I would use this handy reading order to read four and five at the same time. I think I would enjoy it a lot more and it wouldnt have made this list.

      http://boiledleather.com/post/25902554148/a-new-reader-friendly-combined-reading-order-for-a

      Delete
  3. I didn't love The Book Thief like everyone else did...I thought it was fine, but not beautifully moving, etc like lots of people thought. I did love Gone Girl, though...couldn't put it down.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I agree with Gone Girl. I would add Unbroken which was a great story but difficult to read and I just finished Child 44. I haven't reviewed it yet...a terrific book.....that was very disturbing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great list. Long books that go nowhere aren't my cup of tea either. I struggled with The Book Thief too. The weird narration in the beginning didn't help. I liked it more once it really got into the girl's story.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Game of thrones: all the books, I hate how they don't read like a story with their individual characters drives me crazy, I managed the first one and that is it. Not interested what so ever not even in the tv series.

    Poirot and me by David Suchet: I was looking forward to reading about the Great Poirot but the book just repeats its self all the time in every chapter. Dis hearting and disappointed.

    Love letters of great woman: I just am having trouble finishing this book it is in a better word boring. I loved Love letters of great men but this one is not interesting at all, I don't often quit with books but I am with one. I even skipped a few pages but still no better.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I thought I was one of the only people EVER to read 14 by Peter Clines. I totally felt the same. It was super mysterious and totally intriguing and then the ending happened and I was like, "seriously? You're going with THAT?!" I was so sad that it veered from being creepy and believable to downright ridiculous.

    Cassie @ Happy Book Lovers

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm reading Storm of Swords right now, and I'm scared of how many people didn't like #4, haha.

    I felt the same way about Live Through This. It was definitely hard to read, but such a good book!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Seeing a lot of Gone Girl today. I'm planning to read it this month before I go see the movie. I've heard the characters are terrible people and that it's hard to read but I'm still looking forward to it!

    Also I agree on A Feast for Crows. While I didn't hate it as much as a lot of people because I like a few of the plot lines it featured, it is definitely the slowest in terms of plot and I seriously missed the magic of the world!
    Cassi @ My Thoughts Literally

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, man. Live Through This made my list too. Dustyn almost made me quit reading that book because I was SO SHAKEN. I couldn't sleep. One of the toughest I've probably EVER read. I'll be starting Gone Girl soon and from what I've heard, it probably deserves a place on my list, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. YES to the Game of Thrones. Book 4 was torturous and made my list well! =)
    Karen
    http://karensaddictions.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Game of Thrones made my list as well. I struggled with the first book and gave up there, so you've made it much farther than me. I'd love to give it another go, but I don't know if I should o-O

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jamie, I am sorry about your experience with your mother. I went through the same thing with both of my parents, which is why I avoid cancer books at all costs! They are so hard to read after you have lived through it! Thanks for sharing! ~Megan
    http://wp.me/pzUn5-28W

    ReplyDelete
  14. Game of Thrones didn't make it to my list, but it easily could have. My sister is a huge fan of both the book series and the TV series, and she told me it would be easier to read the first book after watching the complete first season, mainly so I would have a better chance at keeping the characters straight. Unfortunately, I hate reading when I know there are sad and disappointing things coming up (which means I should probably just abandon the series altogether now), so I'm stuck about half way through.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I can understand about the Book Thief! I have recently picked up Game of Thrones so I should read it soon. Just from the pure size of it I know it will be something that will take me a while to weave my way through. As for Gone Girl, I am torn! Not sure if this is a book I will love or hate.

    http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/10/sisterhood-of-world-tag.html

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts with Thumbnails