Me too. I’ve tried a couple of times, couldn’t slog my way through it, and eventually get told by some Banks-fan “Oh, no! Don’t start with that one, start with XXXXXXX!” Hell with that; if the author can’t do the work to make his books comprehensible, I’m sure not putting in the effort – I’ve got better books to read with my time.
Also: Michael Moorcock. Not difficult to understand, or anything. Just. so. dull. Eesh. I try reading 'em and my eyes glaze over and soon I realize that I’ve skimmed over entire chapters with neither detriment to the narritive nor improvement in my interest.
Without a doubt, Heinlein. He created paper-thin characters and plots (or what can be mistaken for plots, at a distance, in a dark room and with one eye closed) for the sole purpose of preaching his personal views. He was the twin of Ayn Rand, except in outer space. If you removed his sermons, you might have two pages left, tops.
To be fair, though, his books do have the attraction of being a product of their times; that is, they’re terribly cheesy and remind you of the decades in which they were written. (Like Logan’s Run. Sure, sure, it’s set in the future, but it’s a great example of what people looked and spoke like in the '70s.)
I’m right there with you. Him and the Russians. Can’t read any of them. Which is funny, because I’m so into Bukowski I try to read it while driving. Maybe I’m really not smart.
Ah, a kindred spirit. I tried to read Stranger in a Strange Land, I had to force myself to finish it. It took me two weeks to finish the last half of the book, that may not seem like much but at the time I was reading entire books in about 3 to 4 days. But I tried another Heinlein book and decided it was almost the same book, somehow I managed to finish it. So I gave it one more try, after all he was a celebrated sci fi author, … didn’t get past the first couple chapters it was once again the same book.
I have read a few Asimov books, fiction and non, and enjoyed them but I never could get through the Foundation series.
Ayn Rand, I had a friend who raved about her so I gave it a try and I couldn’t get past the first chapter of Atlas Shrugged. I might have made it a little farther if I hadn’t chosen the paperback with the microscopic typeface, then again I doubt it would have made that much of a difference.
I third it - I only recently came to Pratchett, having read Going Postal and Thud a little over a year ago. Then I read through the Tiffany Aching novels and was really impressed, those books (& especially the main character) are now very dear to me. Next I decided to go back and start from the beginning with the Colour of Magic and work my way up in chronological order. I was disappointed, and I’m glad I hadn’t started with those Rincewind books or I never would have made it to Pratchett’s better work. I’d suggest Going Postal or *A Hat Full of Sky * - if you don’t find any value in those it just may be that you don’t like Pterry.
I would give Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita a shot. I’m not really that into the Russians, either, but this book is fantastic (in both the formal and informal senses of the word) and pretty easy reading compared to Tolstoy, Chekhov, or Dostoyevsky. Absolutely hilarious and biting social satire. Plus I’m a sucker for literature in which the devil is a real character.
My personal author I don’t get? Kerouac. Tried reading On The Road in high school, then later in college. I think I got maybe ten or fifteen pages in before deciding it was one of the most self-indulgent, rambling, boring pieces of crap I’ve ever read. When I found out later it was written in three weeks, I can say that explained a lot.
Shakespere, the Russians, Keroac. I just can’t get through Shakesphere, although I’ve enjoyed the few plays I’ve attended. the only Keroac I kinda like was the one where he was having DT’s by himself in big Sur. Only because he was serious about it and I read about a pansy ass city guy freaking out by the ocean…
I read an awful lot of classics 2 decades ago in China when faced with days long train rides and a very limited selection of books. Few I enjoyed but plowed through most of them.
I had massive issues with Piers Anthony over that as well. I read him first when I was 13 and I can remember recognising his implying young girls and sex even then.
Well, how many people do you know who have actually made it through Naked Lunch? It was the hardest read of my life. I think it took at least 3 or 4 years. I’m glad that I finished it, but that dude is a weird mother fucker. After that, I read Junkie, which was much easier but not nearly as bizzare.
I judge all other weird books in comparison to Naked Lunch. None shall compare. I thought Cronenberg’s movie did an admirable job in doing justice to a nearly unfilmable novel. I loved the creepy typewriter.
Toni Morrison. I keep feeling as if there’s something terribly wrong with me, but I just can’t stand anything she writes. I’ve stopped trying.
I appreciate the suggestions on Twain - I love his wit, but could barely stand Huck Finn, especially when they were on the raft. Did that stupid trip last eighteen years, or did it just seem that way?
I’m sorry. I’m sure I heard that wrong. Please give me a moment to unchain Glamdring here, and then repeat your last statement.
I can’t get into Stephen King, myself.
His philosophy to me is very Luddite and regressive. The themes in his books seemed to me to be that logic, reason and science are at best useless and at worst destructive, that superstition and “feeling” are the only thing that can lead us to truth and that humans are worthless, helpless victims who are only saved (if they are saved at all) by chance and divine intervention.
The two books I read were The Stand and The Shining, although I have also seen a few movies made from his books: Pet Sematary, Carrie, and Cujo.
I’ll probably get this as I have shown myself able to read short stories written way back by having read many of the Asimov ones.
I can tell by what I’ve read of him so far that if I could just get some momentum going (understand what’s going on and then get going with the story) I’d probably really enjoy Phillip K Dick.
