Mine was " The Da Vinci Code".I shouldnt have believed all the hype about it. The reviews of the film were awful, so I should have known better. Its one of those books which you think is going to be good and isnt.After reading a few chapters my eyes glazed over with boredom, and I put it down. :(

Mine was " The Da Vinci Code".I shouldnt have believed all the hype about it. The reviews of the film were awful, so I should have known better. Its one of those books which you think is going to be good and isnt.After reading a few chapters my eyes glazed over with boredom, and I put it down. :(


I can't believe it. I couldn't get past the first chapter of that book when I first tried to read it!!! My other half was taking the p**s out of me for ages, saying how it was the bigest selling book that everyone was talking about etc.

Anyhow, I gave it another go earlier this year and couldn't put it down (Funny, I was on my honeymoon at the time!), though I was very disapointed with the ending (the ending of the book, not my honeymoon).

Jurassic Park did it for me. I was reading it on a 'plane and we'd landed before I'd finished so I left it for the next person as it just wasn't worth the effort of putting it my bag.

I can't believe it. I couldn't get past the first chapter of that book when I first tried to read it!!! My other half was taking the p**s out of me for ages, saying how it was the bigest selling book that everyone was talking about etc.

Anyhow, I gave it another go earlier this year and couldn't put it down (Funny, I was on my honeymoon at the time!), though I was very disapointed with the ending (the ending of the book, not my honeymoon).
Ive got to laugh(about your honeymoon ,I mean).Funniest thing Ive heard in ages. :hihi: :hihi:

Stephen Kings "Christine". I was yawning by chapter 6 so Im now into Stephen Kings "It".



Is it me or did that sound almost obscene,,,?

Stephen Kings "Christine". I was yawning by chapter 6 so Im now into Stephen Kings "It".



Is it me or did that sound almost obscene,,,?
Funny I was looking at both the titles in Barnsley Market, second hand book stall. Glad I didnt bother. Hope I havent got to write a sci-fi story,as I havent a clue.Im not technical enough on the "rocket and aerodynamics part"also even their christian names have to be modern ,like "Grisson" and daft things like that.Sorry Im going off the point a bit,but I know Jabbers is on,and hes good at them.

Funny I was looking at both the titles in Barnsley Market, second hand book stall. Glad I didnt bother. Hope I havent got to write a sci-fi story,as I havent a clue.Im not technical enough on the "rocket and aerodynamics part"also even their christian names have to be modern ,like "Grisson" and daft things like that.Sorry Im going off the point a bit,but I know Jabbers is on,and hes good at them.
You want to write science fiction?
All i do is apply my limited memories and scientific knowledge. A rule of thumb, Im led to understand is "Write about what you know" so the technical details can be overlooked enough for you to be able to get by without explaining the science of space flight or time travel.
As for names and such, Arthur C Clarke used names in the 50s and 60s that were used in the 50s and 60s, even for far future adventures, he even had a couple of yorkies in his space ships.
I find that the more simple the text the better, even for highly technical tales, just take a peek at my play things, its all pretty simple stuff when you get down to it.

You want to write science fiction?
All i do is apply my limited memories and scientific knowledge. A rule of thumb, Im led to understand is "Write about what you know" so the technical details can be overlooked enough for you to be able to get by without explaining the science of space flight or time travel.
As for names and such, Arthur C Clarke used names in the 50s and 60s that were used in the 50s and 60s, even for far future adventures, he even had a couple of yorkies in his space ships.
I find that the more simple the text the better, even for highly technical tales, just take a peek at my play things, its all pretty simple stuff when you get down to it.
Write about what you know.?" I had landed on the moon, and thought Id have a look round Tescos,then maybe a trip to Meadowhall afterwards"Are you kidding !!!

Write about what you know.?" I had landed on the moon, and thought Id have a look round Tescos,then maybe a trip to Meadowhall afterwards"Are you kidding !!!
Well its... imagine your writing a story about flying in a spaceship through an asteroid belt, being hit by rocks as you pass through.
Just remember the last time you were in a car in a hail storm.. the hail rattling against the roof and windows, the bigger stones in danger of cracking the glass...the car slipping along on the road as you try to get through the storm....
Change the car and hail for a rocket and asteroid belt and what have you got? just turn daily events into something...different... thats what i do anyway.

Andre Brink- On The Contrary.

Had 3 goes at reading the book, but just couldn't get past the first couple of chapters without needing to refer back to the early pages to work out who was who again. I was feeling a bit guilty about giving up with it (and sticking it in a box to give to charity) until I found out that my sister had done exactly the same. If she can't grasp it (and she has a brain the size of a planet, being a chemical engineer and all), then I have no chance!

The Vampire Lestat - Ann Rice. I like vampires and everyone goes on and on about Ann Rice and how wonderful her writing is but I got to the middle of the third chapter and gave up. I didn't like or care for any of the characters and I got the impressions that Ann Rice was a bit too in love with her own prose.

I finished the Da Vinci Code - the writing wasn't very good but I found all the historical stuff about the grail fascinating.

Well its... imagine your writing a story about flying in a spaceship through an asteroid belt, being hit by rocks as you pass through.
Just remember the last time you were in a car in a hail storm.. the hail rattling against the roof and windows, the bigger stones in danger of cracking the glass...the car slipping along on the road as you try to get through the storm....
Change the car and hail for a rocket and asteroid belt and what have you got? just turn daily events into something...different... thats what i do anyway.
Yes, I see what you mean, I will try that.Now let me see, Im gardening tommorrow,so maybe I can be gardening on another planet.Can I give the planet any name, made up, I mean ? Mind you not as though anyone will want to read it, but it will satisfy me.

Yes, I see what you mean, I will try that.Now let me see, Im gardening tommorrow,so maybe I can be gardening on another planet.Can I give the planet any name, made up, I mean ? Mind you not as though anyone will want to read it, but it will satisfy me.
Ok give me a few minutes.,.. ill write a quicky off, i just got out of the bath so it might be a crappy one but....give me 10 minutes... ill show you how to...blend sci fi with...
the bible!

Yes, I see what you mean, I will try that.Now let me see, Im gardening tommorrow,so maybe I can be gardening on another planet.Can I give the planet any name, made up, I mean ? Mind you not as though anyone will want to read it, but it will satisfy me.
Ok did it.
A quicky.

Ok did it.
A quicky.
Show off. :D :D

Show off. :D :D
I cant help it! I put myself into these situations and as soon as i start to type i think to myself "God now what have i got myself into?" :D

The most disappointing book I ever DID finish was “The Catcher in the Rye” ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye ) by J D Salinger, lots of people rate this book as some sort of literary masterpiece but I thought it was terrible, I couldn’t identify with the main protagonist Holden Caulfield and the other characters were no better than cardboard cut-outs.

I was determined to finish it, if only to see it improve, but it didn’t. A major disappointment.

The most disappointing book I ever DID finish was “The Catcher in the Rye” ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye ) by J D Salinger, lots of people rate this book as some sort of literary masterpiece but I thought it was terrible, I couldn’t identify with the main protagonist Holden Caulfield and the other characters were no better than cardboard cut-outs.

I was determined to finish it, if only to see it improve, but it didn’t. A major disappointment.
Ive never read it, but I am surprised at that.Its supposed to be a classic.The same with all these types of books.Sometimes I think some people just pretend to like them,as they dont want to look stupid.If I dont get pulled in during the first two chapters, thats it with me.

Colleen McCullough's "Thorn Birds" and "Tim"
Loved her Roman novels, though

I found it a real disappointment too, I didn't finish it because I just wasn't interested.

I've just had to put down - for good, I think - the last Caroline Graham novel, 'The Ghost in the Machine'.

She's generally an excellent writer, but this one was leaden with far too much back story deployed far too early and excruciating detail about each (horribly unsympathetic) character's eccentricities. The protagonist of the series didn't even make an appearance until well over a third of the way into the story.

Another example of an writer expecting their audience to accommodate their indulgences (see Reginald Hill for another crime fiction example).

I've always persevered with books right to the end, even if only by skim-reading, as I just have to know what happens.

Until, that is, I picked up Richard Adams' Shardik. I tried so hard, really I did, but just could not get past the first few pages. :(

Mine is a current one, I have been struggling for weeks to get started with David Mitchells 'Cloud Atlas'.

I've read loads of good reviews and it sounds like I'd like it but I've been reading the same pages loads!

I like to read in bed though and maybe this needs a little more attention?!

If anyone can advise whether to carry on or give it up, would be much appreciated.

This has never happened before, I finish every book just to see what happens! (well I haven't really started this so its a bit different really).

ChloeXx

Mine is a current one, I have been struggling for weeks to get started with David Mitchells 'Cloud Atlas'.

I've read loads of good reviews and it sounds like I'd like it but I've been reading the same pages loads!

I like to read in bed though and maybe this needs a little more attention?!

If anyone can advise whether to carry on or give it up, would be much appreciated.

This has never happened before, I finish every book just to see what happens! (well I haven't really started this so its a bit different really).

ChloeXx

I know the feeling! I think i've started the first chapter of this book 3 times...i just can't seem to get into it, its got a boring first chapter if you ask me!

Mine was " The Da Vinci Code".I shouldnt have believed all the hype about it. The reviews of the film were awful, so I should have known better. Its one of those books which you think is going to be good and isnt.After reading a few chapters my eyes glazed over with boredom, and I put it down. :(I read the first few chapters of my friend's copy (would never buy it myself, life's too short) and went to wash my hands in disgust for having even touched it.

That, a David Lodge novel called 'Thinks...' (very worthy, very dull), and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (she can't write, quite aside from her obscene philosophy) are the only books that come to mind. Although technically the Lodge novel was the only one that 'disappointed' me, the other two just confirmed my suspicions.

I read the first few chapters of my friend's copy (would never buy it myself, life's too short) and went to wash my hands in disgust for having even touched it.

That, a David Lodge novel called 'Thinks...' (very worthy, very dull), and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (she can't write, quite aside from her obscene philosophy) are the only books that come to mind. Although technically the Lodge novel was the only one that 'disappointed' me, the other two just confirmed my suspicions.

However do they get them published then ? Im sure much superior novels are turned down.

Mine was " The Da Vinci Code".I shouldnt have believed all the hype about it. The reviews of the film were awful, so I should have known better. Its one of those books which you think is going to be good and isnt.After reading a few chapters my eyes glazed over with boredom, and I put it down. :(

Got to agree with you, it was total rubbish, I finished it cos I had run out of anything else to read on holiday last year, what a waste of a good tree.

I have tried to read "1917" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn twice.

Oh and all the books I was meant to read for O level english lit (and didn't!)

...David Lodge novel called 'Thinks...' (very worthy, very dull), ...
I agree, 'Thinks...' was very disappointing, especially as I'm ordinarily a huge fan of David Lodge (I loved 'Changing Places' and 'Small Word' particularly).

However do they get them published then ? Im sure much superior novels are turned down.Almost certainly that is true. One only has to look at some of the superior novels that are published, though, for a clue. Many do not do well, yet how much money have Dan Brown's publishers made out of him? Very few publishers have any motives other than to make the maximum amount of money possible, and thus will take the safe option - books they feel they can easily market - rather than take a risk on books of true quality. Those publishers with a certain amount of idealism (Arcadia springs to mind) don't tend to be as big.

Do not mistake this for literary snobbery, by the way. I enjoy a good, 'trashy' horror or thriller novel as much as the next person, but it's a pre-requisite that the author must be able to [i]write. And Dan Brown can't write (in the words of Harlan Ellison) for sour owl poop.

As for the other two, Ayn Rand has always had a following amongst the ultra-free market philosophers, much more so in America than here. And David Lodge, well... some people like him, some don't. And I'm firmly in the latter camp, although I can kind of understand his appeal.

I agree, 'Thinks...' was very disappointing, especially as I'm ordinarily a huge fan of David Lodge (I loved 'Changing Places' and 'Small Word' particularly).Hmmm... another voice for Small Word. Perhaps I will give him another go at some point. I didn't 'hate' Thinks..., I just got a constant sensation of wading through a muddy swamp whilst reading it. I'll often persevere with novels like that, but at that time I had loads of other stuff to hand that I was itching to read and, well, I just couldn't be bothered.

Hmmm... another voice for Small Word. Perhaps I will give him another go at some point. I didn't 'hate' Thinks..., I just got a constant sensation of wading through a muddy swamp whilst reading it. I'll often persevere with novels like that, but at that time I had loads of other stuff to hand that I was itching to read and, well, I just couldn't be bothered.
I must admit to finding some of his latter work a little smug and self-indulgently navel-gazing (the aforementioned 'Thinks...' and 'Therapy', for example). I'd highly recommend 'Small World' though. The intricate interweaving of the various strands of the story, their convergence at the end, and the allusions to King Arthur and the Fisher King etc are wonderful. It's very funny too :) .

Not a disappointing book as such, but I just can't get my head around J G Ballard's 'The Atrocity Exhibition'.

Perhaps I should stop drinking unleaded petrol.

Not a disappointing book as such, but I just can't get my head around J G Ballard's 'The Atrocity Exhibition'.

Perhaps I should stop drinking unleaded petrol.

Oh, I tried reading that a few years ago and remember being extremely confused.

I recently read Palahnuik - Haunting and hated it, before that I remember starting Martin Amis - London Fields and thinking it was tosh.

Bought this novel about 2 years ago and was disappointed. Strangely, it was by one of my favourite writers, Jamaica Kincaid. Not to everyone's taste, but I find her fascinating- has anybody out there read A Small Place? (one of the most thought provoking and engaging things I have read).
Mr Potter, on the other hand, had no interest, it was quite a slow book. But I didn't really mind as all her other works were so strong.

I know that I'm late with this one.

There has been one or two of these but the stand-out by far was a book entitled:

The Writing Experiment - Stratergies for Innovative Creative Writing.

By Hazel Smith (An Australian Academic)

I have made at least thee attempts to read this book and finally gave up. It was as dry as the Australian Outback.

Don't get me wrong. I don't have anything against Australians, but I have a healthy skepticism where academics are concerned.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely - Particularly if you suffer from insomnia. You will be asleep in no time.

Regards

When going through a goth phase I tried De Sade's 120 days of Sodom which was absolutely unreadable both for it's content (coprophilia really isn't my bag!) and prose which was poor and turgid in the extreme. I think I may have managed to have got to about page 30ish which was a pretty heroic effort!

I can't not finish books, but I gritted my teeth through the majority of the line of beauty by alan hollinghurst. How the hell did this thing win the booker man prize?

The Bible.


Particularly disappointing because normally, when you read a compilation of short stories by different authors you can at least find one that's either well written, or believable, but in this case nope, they're all cr4p!


:suspect:

I can't not finish books, but I gritted my teeth through the majority of the line of beauty by alan hollinghurst. How the hell did this thing win the booker man prize?

Ive wondered that myself. A lot of books win the Booker prize,and are rubbish.

I didn't think much to The Da Vinci Code either - besides the overall dreadfulness of the book the one thing that puzzled me was why Dan Brown insisted on having a new chapter every 10 pages or so. I still finished reading it though (more fool me).

The book that I bought full of expectation and then never read was "Angela's Ashes" - I remember it being so dreary I couldn't face reading past page 50 or so.

The Bible.


Particularly disappointing because normally, when you read a compilation of short stories by different authors you can at least find one that's either well written, or believable, but in this case nope, they're all cr4p!


:suspect:

What about the one about Elishah getting some bears to mangle a couple of kids? That's ace. Then there's the story about one of the prophets who lies down to bemoan his fate until a bird comes and poos in his eyes sending him blind?

On the whole though, I agree - too much plot and not enough character development! :hihi:

you think da vinci code was bad try reading his other book deception point heroine gets stranded on ice flow starts tapping out morse code and passing submarine just happens to be in area and saves the day ha

had three attempts at classis book ulysees by james joyce its bloody hard going finally gave up who on earth decides whats a classic and whats not ?

you think da vinci code was bad try reading his other book deception point heroine gets stranded on ice flow starts tapping out morse code and passing submarine just happens to be in area and saves the day ha

had three attempts at classis book ulysees by james joyce its bloody hard going finally gave up who on earth decides whats a classic and whats not ?

That's Joyce for ya: He's not usually considered an 'easy read' :)

There's a brief guide to Ulysses here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_%28novel%29 although I haven't read Ulysses so I can't say if it'll be any practical use to you.

That's Joyce for ya: He's not usually considered an 'easy read'

There's a brief guide to Ulysses here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_%28novel%29 although I haven't read Ulysses so I can't say if it'll be any practical use to you.o

thanks sleepyhead but cant be bothered with joyce anymore would rather read something to make me laugh tom sharpe or pratchet

There's plenty of books that I haven't finished. One was 'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac. Supposed to be this mega beat generation book. I did like all the descriptions of him riding up the mountains, and hitching rides with hillbillies. I guess it was his overall attitude I never got on with, i.e. decided to become a writer and sets off with his man chums to seduce admiring women. Give me a break.

Others... 'Fury' by Salman Rushdie. Where (if memeory serves correctly) this brilliant precocious Cambridge student then academic from India seduces beautiful women half his age.

thanks sleepyhead but cant be bothered with joyce anymore would rather read something to make me laugh tom sharpe or pratchet

Fair enough - I'm well past my Beckett & Joyce stage.

Actually I never really had one.

I did read Watt by Beckett once though, and I've read Dubliners (which believe it or not actually has a plot). I kind of liked Beckett's endless variations on a theme although it can get tiresome after a while.

Other books I've been unable to finish (besides dull technical books like "Operating Systems - their construction and management") are:

Geoff Dyer - "Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered" - more like Writing for Writers Who Don't Know How. Tedious 20 something bloke wanders about the planet documenting his dreary life. Gave up after chapter 3.

JD Salinger "Catcher in the Rye" - I can't believe any killer would want to give this pathetic excuse for a novel as justification for his madness. I gave up about halfway when the central character annoyed me so much I threw the book across the room.

Tolkein "Unfinished Tales". Bought it in a moment of enthusiasm which quickly evapourated when I started reading the book.

Hmm, a couple come to mind.

The Simarillion (sp?) by Tolkein. Loved LotR, absolutely adored The Hobbit but just couldn't get my head into this book.

Also, I'm reading an Iain M banks book at the moment, and I love SF and fantasy and everything like that but I just can't get into this one.

Finally, a girly book. About the only chick lit author I can stand is Jenny Colgan, but her book Working Wonders really turned me off chick lit for ever more.

However do they get them published then ? Im sure much superior novels are turned down.

There is a Canadian writer who I shall not name. She has been a Booker finalist on a number of occcasions (may have won it once). I find her books almost impossible to read. For example, she will devote paragraphs, if not chapters, to discussing a most minute or irrelevent detail. Things such as a loose button on a character's coat. I also find that what she has to say in her interviews is totally incomprehensible.

And yet all the reviewers fawn over her and as each new book appears, it immediately goes to the top of the best-sellers list. Truly amazing.

Of course at the opposite end of the spectrum is an action writer like Tom Clancy. In the space that our Canadian writer would devote to the saga of the button, Clancy has wiped-out two divisions of the enemy and saved the world.

Regards

Mine is a current one, I have been struggling for weeks to get started with David Mitchells 'Cloud Atlas'.

I've read loads of good reviews and it sounds like I'd like it but I've been reading the same pages loads!

I like to read in bed though and maybe this needs a little more attention?!

If anyone can advise whether to carry on or give it up, would be much appreciated.

This has never happened before, I finish every book just to see what happens! (well I haven't really started this so its a bit different really).

ChloeXx

I started Cloud Atlas and didn't much like it but the lad who lent it me said it was worth it so I perservered - it's a complicated structure but the first section is the worst. I say give it a couple more chapters.

I can't not finish books, but I gritted my teeth through the majority of the line of beauty by alan hollinghurst. How the hell did this thing win the booker man prize?

True, and so very disappointng after his earlier stuff.

There's plenty of books that I haven't finished. One was 'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac. Supposed to be this mega beat generation book. I did like all the descriptions of him riding up the mountains, and hitching rides with hillbillies. I guess it was his overall attitude I never got on with, i.e. decided to become a writer and sets off with his man chums to seduce admiring women. Give me a break.

Others... 'Fury' by Salman Rushdie. Where (if memeory serves correctly) this brilliant precocious Cambridge student then academic from India seduces beautiful women half his age.

I love 'On the Road'. The book isn't fiction - thats the life that Kerouac led, which is part of the beauty of it. That said, if you liked the parts which didn't focus on the partying aspect of his travels so much you might want to look into 'The Dharma Bums'. It's a more catharthic experience, he lives in the mountains for a few months by himself, meditates, etc, and travels around a bit too.

The most disappointing book I ever DID finish was “The Catcher in the Rye” ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye ) by J D Salinger, lots of people rate this book as some sort of literary masterpiece but I thought it was terrible, I couldn’t identify with the main protagonist Holden Caulfield and the other characters were no better than cardboard cut-outs.

I was determined to finish it, if only to see it improve, but it didn’t. A major disappointment.

How old were you when you read it? I think the great thing about that book is that it connects to so many disaffected teenagers and young adults. I read it at least 5 times the first year I bought it, but I don't really find myself reaching for it anymore but thats possibly because I'm not a disaffected teenager anymore?
Still, I think the narrative voice of the book is amazing, and I'd recommend it to everyone although obviously its not to a lot of people's tastes.

Oh, and my own choice would be 'Atomised' (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Atomised-Michel-Houellebecq/dp/0099283360/ref=sr_1_1/202-6967720-1596632?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175476080&sr=1-1) by Michael Houellebecq. From the reviews I'd read I was expecting something in the vein of a contemporary 'Nausea' - French intellectual author and all that.
Anyhow, I found the book was full of clumsy, clunking references which all stemmed to sex, and was basically a bit crap. Put it down three-quarters through.

Also, I'm reading an Iain M banks book at the moment, and I love SF and fantasy and everything like that but I just can't get into this one.

Ooh - which one?

Consider Phlebas.

Consider Phlebas.

*shudder*

Yeah - it's not his best book, that. The story's rambling at best and I got the impression he was trying to shoehorn as many ideas as he could into 300-odd pages. On top of that he's quite obviously nicked a great many ideas from other authors and hasn't quite made them his own yet (Larry Niven's "Ringworld" being the most notable).

Personally I think "Look to Windward" and "Player of Games" are the best 'Culture' novels if you're looking for a good read, but Excession is the best 'ideas' novel. The problem is that "Look to Windward" doesn't really make sense as a novel (and is nowhere near as poignant) unless you've read "Consider Phlebas" because CP sets up the background that's presupposed by LtW.

Yeah, I had the feeling I had to plough through CP before the other ones really made the sense the author wanted them to. I might try Excession next, because I like the ideas in CP, just not the way he goes about them. Thanks!

Lord of the Rings

I've tried to read that godforsaken book 5 times and never made it past the first 100 pages. Pages given over to discussing mushrooms and feet, stiles and fields. Pointless songs and a meandering plot that might get somewhere or might not.

JUST GET ON WITH IT!

I realise its just me and I await the onslaught but come on, say it with me. LOTR is self indulgent rambling dullness.

On the other hand the most disappointing book I managed to finish recently was Hannibal Rising

Lord of the Rings

I've tried to read that godforsaken book 5 times and never made it past the first 100 pages. Pages given over to discussing mushrooms and feet, stiles and fields. Pointless songs and a meandering plot that might get somewhere or might not.

JUST GET ON WITH IT!

I realise its just me and I await the onslaught but come on, say it with me. LOTR is self indulgent rambling dullness.

On the other hand the most disappointing book I managed to finish recently was Hannibal Rising

You think Tolkein's bad, you should try reading some of Stephen Donaldson's stuff!