Top Ten Books I Almost Put Down But Didn't
I almost always finish books, even if I don't enjoy what I'm reading, just for the sake of closure. Here are a few that I got REEEEEEEEEEAAAAALY close to breaking that rule for, though, and whether or not I'm glad I kept going:
10. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
I have a feeling that this one will appear on many lists today. The first half nearly killed me, in a bad way. The second half actually did kill me, but in a good way.
9. Star Crossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce
I just struggled to get into this book, but ended up enjoying the ending.
8. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
I probably would never have actually stopped reading this book, because I'd already read the first two books and I needed the closure. But I surely did not like what I was reading.
7. Matched by Ally Condie
I know this series has a big fan base, but it just didn't do it for me. I finished it just to say I'd finished it, but didn't continue the series. (I understand the love for this series, though. Romance has just never been my favorite genre.)
6. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Who am I kidding, I would never actually STOP reading Martin. But boy howdy, a CERTAIN EVENT in this novel made me SO ANGRY. I kept going, but maintain that the books drastically changed direction in this book, and they've never recovered.
5. Specials by Scott Westerfeld
I got close to putting it down, but ended up finishing it. I can't remember much from this book other than the bizarre parts in the jungle with the "natives." Which is why I've never read Extras.
4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
I actually did put this one down for a while. A few months later I started reading again just because I was bored, and ended up totally loving it. So glad I didn't let my first experience with this book hold me back!
3. The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time #1) by Robert Jordan
My brother-in-law asked me if I would read this book if he bought if for me. I said, "sure!" (Um, free book? The answer will always be YES.) Unfortunately I didn't end up sharing his love for this series, as much as I wanted to. The only reason I finished was because I had promised I would before I started.
2. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
I can appreciate the research that went into writing this book, and the gothic feel of the novel, but I still think it was about 300 pages too long. (And I really despise that ending.)
1. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
I had a really hard time getting into the first hundred pages, but I'm SO GLAD I persisted because I ended up totally loving the last half!
What about you? Any books you almost put down but didn't, and ended up loving it in the end? Or any books that you stuck through, only to wish you'd put it down earlier?
I had a really hard time getting into the first hundred pages, but I'm SO GLAD I persisted because I ended up totally loving the last half!
What about you? Any books you almost put down but didn't, and ended up loving it in the end? Or any books that you stuck through, only to wish you'd put it down earlier?
I put down the Autobiography of Malcolm X. And I feel like a horrible person for doing it, but MAN I could not get over the mid-book hump in that one. I should probably re-read it, knowing from friends that the end totally redeems the rest of it.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think no single book in the world connects with EVERYONE. If it wasn't working for you, I don't blame you for putting it down. There are plenty of good books to read out there!
DeleteI think I'm one of the few people who actually liked Allegiant. Oh, and I'm on book 11 of the Wheel of Time series and I STILL have to fight the urge to put the book down every time. I love the story, but Jordan gives just WAY too many details, too many POVs and he splinters his plot in a million directions. But I can't give up on the story! I listen to them on audiobook now because then I can tune out when it starts to drone on and on. LOL!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Haha! Way to keep at it, even when it's difficult! That was a good idea to switch to audio books, hopefully it'll pass by quicker. On the bright side, you only have four more books to go! (Or is it five?...)
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