Books you had a hard time reading - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

Emberstone · 29th Dec 2011, 11:42 AM

Since we have a few threads about books we love, I thought it might be interesting to have one for books you struggled to read, or gave up on.

I recently bought 'The Help' by Kathryn Stocket, and though the story is interesting, and the characters intriguing, I am having trouble getting over how heavy the racial stereotyped accents are. I had heard most publishers rejected it, saying they did not like how it was written, but she pushed on and found one that would publish it, and I wonder if it was because the dialogue is written in such a way that it seems more like a racist cartoon in the 30's-40's than the 1960's.

I havent touched it in a few days, and do not really know that I will be able to finish it.

**Owen** · 29th Dec 2011, 01:39 PM

I was assigned All Quiet on the Western Front in high school, and though I didn't particularly dislike the story or the characters, I just couldn't get over the fact that it was written in the present tense. I didn't think that it would be a problem, but it made it so difficult to read that I gave up really early in. The other book that springs to mind is Heart of Darkness. I remember reading the first part, then reading the Sparknotes for the first part to see what I missed, and I realized that I had missed about half of everything that had happened (major plot points included). I decided that reading the Sparknotes would be a more productive use of my time than reading the actual book, so i did that.

**Mogget** · 29th Dec 2011, 01:55 PM

I struggled through Dickens' Bleak House, and I wasn't even reading it, it was an audiobook. It still took me ages to get through. I also had a hard time reading Tad Williams' To Green Angel Tower, which is one of the largest doorstopper novels in fantasy (and those of you who read fantasy know that that's saying something). In the realm of nonfiction, two of my books for philosophy class were very difficult: Maimonides' Guide to the Perplexed and Paul Ricoeur's Symbolism of Evil.

thecat06 · 29th Dec 2011, 02:21 PM

i had to read the scarlet letter for school... I only made it through that book because my mom forced me to stay in my room and read the book.

FleetFish · 29th Dec 2011, 02:56 PM

Night by Elie Wiesel. I understand the historical and cultural importance of it, but I absolutely hated reading it. A teacher shoved it down my throat, or else I would have ran away screaming.

A teacher rushed me through 1984 and thus I could never really get into it.

The Great Gatsby. Probably the same issue as above.

The Plague Dogs... I just could never get attatched to the main characters, strangely enough.

I got about 40 pages into Twilight, but the main character was boring. First person boring, no less.

But, by FAR the WORST book I have ever read... Heaven't Net is Wide. I got to the end and wanted to go on a murderous rampage.

Ridiculous · 29th Dec 2011, 03:00 PM

I tried reading the first Harry Potter book, but I gave up pretty quickly.

After watching the first movie, I decided I would read the second book and see if it was any better. I managed to finish it, but it wasn't very enjoyable. There is something wrong about her writing style that I can't quite place.

Allegro molto · 29th Dec 2011, 03:12 PM

A Tale of Two Cities, Lord of the Flies and The Grapes of Wrath. Of course this was during school, so it was more like homework. I reread LoF after I graduated and still couldn't get into it. I also read GoW after graduating, but I loved it then. I'm not even going to try on that Dickens book...

---------- Post added 29th Dec 2011 at 06:13 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridiculous

I tried reading the first Harry Potter book, but I gave up pretty quickly.

After watching the first movie, I decided I would read the second book and see if it was any better. I managed to finish it, but it wasn't very enjoyable. There is something wrong about her writing style that I can't quite place.

And this. ^

Zontar · 29th Dec 2011, 03:23 PM

Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind.

Because it sucked.

caughtbywitness · 29th Dec 2011, 03:24 PM

Life of Pi - Yann Martel

Kidd · 29th Dec 2011, 04:34 PM

I had to read a book for my history lecture my sophomore year that I can't remember the name of now, but it was so awful. It was about immigrants during the 19th century and in the first chapter the protagonist mercilessly beats his wife and kids before he goes to work. It was hard to keep reading after that. And I had a hard time reading all of the books we were assigned in my Creative Writing and Literature class solely because I can't stand westerns. Willa Cather puts me to sleep. The Professor's House has got to be one of the most dreary novels I have ever read.

Hana Solo · 29th Dec 2011, 05:01 PM

Catcher in the Rye- Took me sooooo long to get through.
Truce at Bakura- a Star Wars book of 300 pages that only gets interesting at 200

Jonathan · 29th Dec 2011, 05:08 PM

The Sound and the Fury
The Grapes of Wrath

I just found both of them incredibely boring (probably since they were assigned in school)

Hatchet - I was supposed to read this in 4th grade but I just couldn't. All the main character does is drink water and throw up...my friend and I actually went and asked the teacher if we could stop reading it and thankfully she said yes

(it was the end of the year)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - The first time I tried reading this (I don't remember how old I was) I found it boring and stopped. I tried it again like a year later and loved it...so idk

Emberstone · 29th Dec 2011, 05:32 PM

Kidd, I had a hard time with the assigned reading for my creative writing course also, but thankfully, it was a anthology of short stories, so I was able to survive that. I do not think there was a single one that I enjoyed reading.

Hana Solo · 29th Dec 2011, 05:46 PM

I enjoyed all of two books I've been assigned through school, three now, and thats out of many many books. I enjoyed Lord of the Flies (to the point I bought my own copy) Tomorrow When the War Began (duh! John Marsden!) and we're about to start studying Snow Falling on Cedars, which I found hard to get into at first but now love. Other than that... the Machine Gunners was the worst of the books I had to read at school.

Artemicion · 29th Dec 2011, 06:00 PM

I found Lord of the Rings...dry for some reason.

FleetFish · 29th Dec 2011, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThinksTooMuch

I found Lord of the Rings...dry for some reason.

They're traveling through the woods.... They're traveling through the woods... Oh no something got them... Oh wait they got away.... They're traveling through the woods...

I just explained the entire first half of the first book. Really.

Hana Solo · 29th Dec 2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FleetFish

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThinksTooMuch

I found Lord of the Rings...dry for some reason.

They're traveling through the woods.... They're traveling through the woods... Oh no something got them... Oh wait they got away.... They're traveling through the woods...

I just explained the entire first half of the first book. Really.

Yeah, thats how I saw it too lol. It was just too flowery and hard to read. The Hobbit, on the other hand, was brilliant.

FleetFish · 29th Dec 2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hana Solo

Quote:

Originally Posted by FleetFish

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThinksTooMuch

I found Lord of the Rings...dry for some reason.

They're traveling through the woods.... They're traveling through the woods... Oh no something got them... Oh wait they got away.... They're traveling through the woods...

I just explained the entire first half of the first book. Really.

Yeah, thats how I saw it too lol. It was just too flowery and hard to read. The Hobbit, on the other hand, was brilliant.

Really?! The Hobbit did NOTHING for me. I liked the trilogy once I got through the first book. Granted, I read The Hobbit a loooong time ago (early middle school) but I actually can't remember much about it other than I was really unimpressed. I remember not liking Bilbo. Other than that I remember it being unmemorable!

kiersten · 29th Dec 2011, 06:34 PM

While I really enjoyed reading Lord Of The Rings, I found The Simarillion to be a very hard read...

Jonathan · 29th Dec 2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FleetFish

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hana Solo

Quote:

Originally Posted by FleetFish

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThinksTooMuch

I found Lord of the Rings...dry for some reason.

They're traveling through the woods.... They're traveling through the woods... Oh no something got them... Oh wait they got away.... They're traveling through the woods...

I just explained the entire first half of the first book. Really.

Yeah, thats how I saw it too lol. It was just too flowery and hard to read. The Hobbit, on the other hand, was brilliant.

Really?! The Hobbit did NOTHING for me. I liked the trilogy once I got through the first book. Granted, I read The Hobbit a loooong time ago (early middle school) but I actually can't remember much about it other than I was really unimpressed. I remember not liking Bilbo. Other than that I remember it being unmemorable!

No way! I loved The Hobbit and have re-read it several times. My favorite part is definitely the battle of riddles

"A box without hinges, key or a lid. Yet golden treasure inside is hid."
"Alive without breath, as cold as death, never thirsty, ever drinking, all in mail, never clinking."

Is it sad that I have some of those memorized xD

29th Dec 2011, 11:42 AM	#1
Emberstone Flappychap Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Oregon, USA Age: 28 Posts: 5,599 Join Date: May 2008	Books you had a hard time reading Since we have a few threads about books we love, I thought it might be interesting to have one for books you struggled to read, or gave up on. I recently bought 'The Help' by Kathryn Stocket, and though the story is interesting, and the characters intriguing, I am having trouble getting over how heavy the racial stereotyped accents are. I had heard most publishers rejected it, saying they did not like how it was written, but she pushed on and found one that would publish it, and I wonder if it was because the dialogue is written in such a way that it seems more like a racist cartoon in the 30's-40's than the 1960's. I havent touched it in a few days, and do not really know that I will be able to finish it. __________________ TYPE YOUR NAME: Cory. TYPE YOUR NAME WITH YOUR ELBOW: vcoiptryu SLAM YOUR FACE ON THE KEYBOARD: About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I didn't know how potent that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

29th Dec 2011, 01:39 PM	#2
Owen Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult EC Admin Gender: Agendered dude Orientation: Panromantic androsexual Out Status: Everyone and their mother Location: Massachusetts, USA Age: 21 Posts: 2,873 Join Date: Jul 2007	Re: Books you had a hard time reading I was assigned All Quiet on the Western Front in high school, and though I didn't particularly dislike the story or the characters, I just couldn't get over the fact that it was written in the present tense. I didn't think that it would be a problem, but it made it so difficult to read that I gave up really early in. The other book that springs to mind is Heart of Darkness. I remember reading the first part, then reading the Sparknotes for the first part to see what I missed, and I realized that I had missed about half of everything that had happened (major plot points included). I decided that reading the Sparknotes would be a more productive use of my time than reading the actual book, so i did that. __________________ "Stand firm for what you believe in, until and unless logic and experience prove you wrong. Remember, when the emperor looks naked, the emperor is naked. The truth and a lie are not sort of the same thing. And there is no aspect, no facet, no moment of life that can't be improved with pizza." -Daria Morgendorffer

29th Dec 2011, 01:55 PM	#3
Mogget Mad and dead as nails EC Advisor Gender: Male Orientation: Kinsey 5 or 6. It varies Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Alaska Age: 22 Posts: 2,026 Join Date: Mar 2010	Re: Books you had a hard time reading I struggled through Dickens' Bleak House, and I wasn't even reading it, it was an audiobook. It still took me ages to get through. I also had a hard time reading Tad Williams' To Green Angel Tower, which is one of the largest doorstopper novels in fantasy (and those of you who read fantasy know that that's saying something). In the realm of nonfiction, two of my books for philosophy class were very difficult: Maimonides' Guide to the Perplexed and Paul Ricoeur's Symbolism of Evil. __________________ "As to what I am, I once was many things but now I am only several." - Mogget in Sabriel by Garth Nix "The world is quiet here." - VFD

29th Dec 2011, 02:21 PM	#4
thecat06 EC's Biggest LNJF and SNL fan!! Full Member Gender: Let's say Pangender! Orientation: Let's say gay!! Out Status: Out to parents, campus, and 75 friends on facebook Location: Central and Northern Ohio Age: 19 Posts: 2,504 Join Date: Jun 2011	Re: Books you had a hard time reading i had to read the scarlet letter for school... I only made it through that book because my mom forced me to stay in my room and read the book. __________________ So many years have passed, since I proclaimed my independence, my mission, my aim, and my vision, so secure, content to live each day like it's my last, it's wonderful to know, that I could be, something more than what I dreamed, far beyond what I could see -Dream Theater

29th Dec 2011, 02:56 PM	#5
FleetFish I was following the I Full Member Gender: Whatever Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Ponyville Posts: 150 Join Date: Dec 2011	Re: Books you had a hard time reading Night by Elie Wiesel. I understand the historical and cultural importance of it, but I absolutely hated reading it. A teacher shoved it down my throat, or else I would have ran away screaming. A teacher rushed me through 1984 and thus I could never really get into it. The Great Gatsby. Probably the same issue as above. The Plague Dogs... I just could never get attatched to the main characters, strangely enough. I got about 40 pages into Twilight, but the main character was boring. First person boring, no less. But, by FAR the WORST book I have ever read... Heaven't Net is Wide. I got to the end and wanted to go on a murderous rampage. __________________ Saw a white dog chase its tail And a pair of hearts carved into a stone I saw kindness and an angel Crying, "Take me back home, take me back home"

29th Dec 2011, 03:00 PM	#6
Ridiculous EC Addict Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Friends Location: New Zealand Age: 20 Posts: 935 Join Date: Dec 2010	Re: Books you had a hard time reading I tried reading the first Harry Potter book, but I gave up pretty quickly. After watching the first movie, I decided I would read the second book and see if it was any better. I managed to finish it, but it wasn't very enjoyable. There is something wrong about her writing style that I can't quite place.

29th Dec 2011, 03:23 PM	#8
Zontar Mister Funny Man Full Member Gender: Male Location: Binghampton, NY Posts: 1,539 Join Date: Oct 2010	Re: Books you had a hard time reading Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind. Because it sucked. __________________ Get up and open your eyes...Don't ever let yourself ever fall down... Get through it and learn how to fly...I know you'll find a way...today. -Days of the New, "Dirty Road"

29th Dec 2011, 03:24 PM	#9
caughtbywitness Well Known Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: I really don't know anymore Out Status: Most people (: Location: Shropshire Age: 16 Posts: 131 Join Date: Oct 2011	Re: Books you had a hard time reading Life of Pi - Yann Martel

29th Dec 2011, 04:34 PM	#10
Kidd You'll love me! Full Member Gender: ♂ Orientation: ♂ ♥ ♂ Out Status: Out Location: N.W. Ohio Age: 21 Posts: 1,430 Join Date: Mar 2010	Re: Books you had a hard time reading I had to read a book for my history lecture my sophomore year that I can't remember the name of now, but it was so awful. It was about immigrants during the 19th century and in the first chapter the protagonist mercilessly beats his wife and kids before he goes to work. It was hard to keep reading after that. And I had a hard time reading all of the books we were assigned in my Creative Writing and Literature class solely because I can't stand westerns. Willa Cather puts me to sleep. The Professor's House has got to be one of the most dreary novels I have ever read. __________________ I feel a hunger. Take my picture by the pool, because I'm the next big thing. Fingers crossed, my time is coming now... Last edited by Kidd; 29th Dec 2011 at 04:36 PM..

29th Dec 2011, 05:01 PM	#11
Hana Solo EC's Dear Abby- talk to me! Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Mostly into girls Out Status: Closet is getting a little crowded Location: Not even a dot on the Australian map Age: 17 Posts: 1,096 Join Date: Nov 2011	Re: Books you had a hard time reading Catcher in the Rye- Took me sooooo long to get through. Truce at Bakura- a Star Wars book of 300 pages that only gets interesting at 200 __________________ Thor: No matter what he's done, Loki is from Asgard and is my brother Black Widow: He killed 80 people in two days. Thor: ...adopted. ~The Avengers, 2012

29th Dec 2011, 05:08 PM	#12
Jonathan Formerly Muzzy Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Some people Location: Illinois Age: 20 Posts: 3,038 Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Books you had a hard time reading The Sound and the Fury The Grapes of Wrath I just found both of them incredibely boring (probably since they were assigned in school) Hatchet - I was supposed to read this in 4th grade but I just couldn't. All the main character does is drink water and throw up...my friend and I actually went and asked the teacher if we could stop reading it and thankfully she said yes (it was the end of the year) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - The first time I tried reading this (I don't remember how old I was) I found it boring and stopped. I tried it again like a year later and loved it...so idk __________________

29th Dec 2011, 05:32 PM	#13
Emberstone Flappychap Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Oregon, USA Age: 28 Posts: 5,599 Join Date: May 2008	Re: Books you had a hard time reading Kidd, I had a hard time with the assigned reading for my creative writing course also, but thankfully, it was a anthology of short stories, so I was able to survive that. I do not think there was a single one that I enjoyed reading. __________________ TYPE YOUR NAME: Cory. TYPE YOUR NAME WITH YOUR ELBOW: vcoiptryu SLAM YOUR FACE ON THE KEYBOARD: About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I didn't know how potent that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

29th Dec 2011, 05:46 PM	#14
Hana Solo EC's Dear Abby- talk to me! Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Mostly into girls Out Status: Closet is getting a little crowded Location: Not even a dot on the Australian map Age: 17 Posts: 1,096 Join Date: Nov 2011	Re: Books you had a hard time reading I enjoyed all of two books I've been assigned through school, three now, and thats out of many many books. I enjoyed Lord of the Flies (to the point I bought my own copy) Tomorrow When the War Began (duh! John Marsden!) and we're about to start studying Snow Falling on Cedars, which I found hard to get into at first but now love. Other than that... the Machine Gunners was the worst of the books I had to read at school. __________________ Thor: No matter what he's done, Loki is from Asgard and is my brother Black Widow: He killed 80 people in two days. Thor: ...adopted. ~The Avengers, 2012

29th Dec 2011, 06:00 PM	#15
Artemicion :D :D :D Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Anyone who asks, but parents in denial. Location: Vancouver BC Canada Age: 23 Posts: 1,112 Join Date: Aug 2010	Re: Books you had a hard time reading I found Lord of the Rings...dry for some reason.

29th Dec 2011, 06:34 PM	#19
kiersten KierstenChromium, Mistress Of Metal Full Member Gender: Transgender - MtF Orientation: Lesbian Out Status: Out to 127 people & my parents & 1 cousin so far Location: Sarnia, ON Posts: 1,331 Join Date: Jun 2011	Re: Books you had a hard time reading While I really enjoyed reading Lord Of The Rings, I found The Simarillion to be a very hard read... __________________ Penny: What's Sheldon's deal? Leonard: What do you mean "deal"? Penny : You know, like, what's his deal? Is it girls? Guys? Sock puppets? Leonard: Honestly, we've been operating under the assumption that he has no deal.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Am I Bi/straight/in denial? CD/TG? Trying to understand	PaisleySounds	Support and Advice	8	6th Dec 2011 02:53 PM
a Hard to read guy	Taylor	Support and Advice	4	13th Jul 2010 08:32 AM
Why am I having such a hard time with this?	jblack	Support and Advice	9	29th May 2010 09:00 PM