inspired by ch./part 4 of Bolano's "2666", which I think may be trying to kill me.
Books that for whatever reason, you've never been able to finish. Start reading it, it's going good, you've got time put aside, you're eager, but for some reason, you just can't finish it. Go.
"Your current frequencies of understanding outweigh that which has been given for you to understand." Saul Williams
25. "RE: I'm telling you ch. 4 of that book is killing me" In response to Reply # 17
It killed me too. I havent finished the last book, but that fourth book took me forever - I really never wanted to pick it up and finished at least 5 books between the time I started and finished book 4- I think it was because of all of the repetitiveness - I sort of just tuned out, which may have been the intended effect, but it made it impossible to read - I basically started skimming every new murder.
My friend who read said book 4 was the saddest thing she had ever read, which made me question her - I did not find it sad at all, just tedious.
I guess with that book I also have to keep in mind he wanted each book to be released a year apart, so the entire to unfold over 5 years? Thats what I tell myself when I think about how long it took me to get through Book 4.
The other book I cant finish is the new Jonathan Lethem - I really liked Motherless Brooklyn and Fortress of Solitude, but I doubt I'll finish this one anytime soon.
29. "I'm loving Chronic City" In response to Reply # 25
I've actually never read anything by him before (I do a good job of avoiding the whole McSweeney's crowd), but I'm loving this book. It's maybe a little heavy on Perkus Tooth, and/or the supporting characters being more interesting than the main character, but I'm finding it a great ride. I'm a little less than halfway through and still waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I find it really enjoyable.
"Your current frequencies of understanding outweigh that which has been given for you to understand." Saul Williams
I thought the violence would keep me interested but McCarthy's writing style can make even the most gristly murder seem mundane. I've heard it gets better but I'm over a third of the way through and still bored.
41. "as somebody who just struggled with it (and finished)" In response to Reply # 18
I can only suggest pushing through at your own pace.
After reading the whole thing I kind of want to go back and re-read the first third or so of the book, if only because I feel like the characters were introduced whole without my ever realizing it.
I've tried on three separate occasions to read this book. I still can't get past page 60. I was thinking of maybe giving it another shot, in light of Salinger's recent death. But I'll be honest with you - I don't want to.
"Your current frequencies of understanding outweigh that which has been given for you to understand." Saul Williams
30. "And if I ever did finish it, and then didn't like or "get" it" In response to Reply # 28
you know I'd be livid. "You mean THIS is one of the greatest pieces of American literature?" A very large part of me does not want to make that discovery.
"Your current frequencies of understanding outweigh that which has been given for you to understand." Saul Williams
38. "Seriously when I was reading it and I did "get" it" In response to Reply # 30
It made me not want to finish the book, I only finished just for the sake of it and probably just to make sure I got it. I love the writing style but the message was terrible, when ppl tell me they love the book I lose a lot of respect for them.
21. "I have the 3 LOTR books in one volume" In response to Reply # 0
got to probably page 120 of 1200 or something and just couldn't do it. I was so motivated too. But that Tom Bombadil stuff just made me sleepy everytime.
I don't feel too bad, because I didn't make the investment in the book, my brother did and then left it there after moving out. I later found out that he made it to about the same point.
I've pulled myself through difficult reads before, but more than 10 pages of this always caused me to have one of those headaches right behind your forehead...the kind where you can hear the blood in your eardrums...
36. "RE: Finnegans Wake" In response to Reply # 22
i don't believe people who say they've *read* that. (and by 'read' I mean in some real sense, not just glanced your eyes over the pages--I'm convinced finnegans wake was a joke.)
24. "if i dont finish a book" In response to Reply # 0
its because i dont really like it and im forcing myself to read it; for example, right now im forcing myself to finish The Gangster of Love by Jessica Hagedorn;the story is interesting and i want to know how it ends but its not keeping me interested;i want the story to hurry up and end. everytime i pick the book back up i'm thinking,ughh,more about this chick and her band trying to become famous.
Was reading it steadily. set it down for while. came back to read it and couldn't get into a rhythm. ended up started other books and it got left on the shelf.
32. "My experience with the beats is" In response to Reply # 27
getting it through in as few sittings as possible. The rhythm really does make all the difference in the world. That's been my experience with pretty much anybody affiliated with the beat generation, a large majority of poets, even authors with a strange "beat-esque" vibe (Palahniuk comes to mind).
"Your current frequencies of understanding outweigh that which has been given for you to understand." Saul Williams
60. "That's been a lot of people's review of Catcher In The Rye" In response to Reply # 59
And I feel very good about that. I like Palahniuk's stuff, but if the premise doesn't hook me, I get bored. Plus, he's "good", not "OMFG! JESUS RESURRECTED AS AN AUTHOR!!!" as so many of my peers seem to believe. I can say I was very surprised with Survivor.
"Your current frequencies of understanding outweigh that which has been given for you to understand." Saul Williams
I liked the writing style and enjoyed hearing a side of the 1920's that you normally wouldn't but if you put it down for a few days it's hard to get into again. I'll probably finish but it's defiantly going to be on the back-burner for a minute
55. "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Mantienance" In response to Reply # 0
It was one of those books that was very interesting, and then I let a few days pass before picking it up again, and every time I thought about picking it back up, it felt like work, to the point where I forgot everything that happened previously and knew I'd have to start over, making me more reluctant.
---- I check for: Serengeti, Zeroh, Open Mike Eagle, Jeremiah Jae, Moka Only.
58. "I think I started it fully 8 or 10 times before I finished it" In response to Reply # 55
Since first finishing it, I've re-read it every few years. It may have had the single strongest impact on me as a young person of any book I read. But it definitely was a struggle to finish the first time.
~ ~ ~ All meetings end in separation All acquisition ends in dispersion All life ends in death - The Buddha
i looked forward to re-reading and finishing it for ten years after i read more than half in 1999, got it this year, could not finish it, but someone here once said "why struggle through a book when there are so many out there that you will enjoy"
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