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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!
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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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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
DeleteI love it! Thanks for the tip!
DeleteIt'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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
Deletehttp://boiledleather.com/post/25902554148/a-new-reader-friendly-combined-reading-order-for-a
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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteGreat 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.
ReplyDeleteGame 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.
ReplyDeletePoirot 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteCassie @ Happy Book Lovers
I'm reading Storm of Swords right now, and I'm scared of how many people didn't like #4, haha.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way about Live Through This. It was definitely hard to read, but such a good book!
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!
ReplyDeleteAlso 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
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. :)
ReplyDeleteYES to the Game of Thrones. Book 4 was torturous and made my list well! =)
ReplyDeleteKaren
http://karensaddictions.blogspot.com
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
ReplyDeleteJamie, 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
ReplyDeletehttp://wp.me/pzUn5-28W
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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeletehttp://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/10/sisterhood-of-world-tag.html