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!

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

(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