I Delayed Reading This Book...
By worldwise1
@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
August 8, 2008 1:33pm CST
Have you ever bought a book that you kept for a significant amount of time before reading it? Well, I have done this on several occasions. The book in question has been in my possession for nearly 20 years. Over the years I have made a start at reading it a few times, but could never get past a few pages. This is odd for me because it is an historical novel and I am a history buff. If you knew me at all, however, you would know that I am not the type of person who ever likes to leave anything undone, so I finally picked up the book once more last week. I am happy to say that I have finished two-thirds of the book(it is very lengthy), and I have significantly increased my knowledge of France during the Middle Ages. So, what book did you have a hard time reading? The name of my book is "In A Dark Wood Wandering" by Hella Hasse.
7 people like this
16 responses
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
8 Aug 08
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice is the bane of my reading existence. I have tried to read it twice. But it is lengthy and boring, but the two books that follow it are supposed to be good. maybe one day I'll get it on audio and listen to it when I fly or something.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I read most of Anne Rice's early works, Aurone, and she is very talented -although I've heard that her writing has taken a new direction in recent years.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
9 Aug 08
I have a book that I purchased at the Goodwill store and thought it would be a good read. Wrong. I have started it several times and finaly have come to the conclusion that it isn't one I will ever read. There are way too many characters and the plot doesn't hold my attention long enough to finish a page or two. I believe it is called "Bel-air" or something like that. I am returning it to the Goodwill.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I know just how you feel, Elusive. Sometimes things are just too much to bear even when we shine the best light on them.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
9 Aug 08
well i do that many times but not specifically on books its dvds im referring to..sometimes i forgot to watch it but not years though just weeks not like yours..i had made a promise to myself not to read any books yet..that is after i finish the old testament of the bible..so interesting..although its been years since ive started reading..ive only finish 1/4 of it..and i hope i can finish the entire old testament before the year ends..
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
You might be better served, vanities, by getting the Old Testament on tapes or CDs. If it is taking you so long it must be very tedious for you. I also keep movies for awhile -but not nearly so long as I have kept some books.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
9 Aug 08
I was trying to find a hard time reading a book that I had for a while, and in most cases, I find it easy to read a book, but I have a book on my shelf called The Best of Alfred Hitchcock. It is an anthology of the stories in the Alfred Hitchcock magazine, but I am mainly a novel writer and reader, and I find it hard to read short stories. I even find it easy to read non-fiction, as long as each chapter follows the others. I am not into sort exerpts.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I really love the Alfred Hitchcock stories, suspenseful! I once subscribed to the magazine; also Ellery Queen. Through reading those stories I became acquainted with some of my favorite authors today. Sometimes it is even more preferable to me to read an anthology.
@pismeof (855)
• United States
9 Aug 08
I know how you feel Wise1.. like you I'm a bit of a history buff but,found it difficult to get through "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich".I think I must have picked up and started to read it a half-dozen times before finally getting through it.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
Exactly, pismeof! And you can't deny the wonderful sense of accomplishment once you manage to get through the entire book. Most of the time in such cases I have found that I am much better off for having read the book in question.
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
9 Aug 08
I have a book that I have picked up at least 20 times and never finished. It's called Jack the Ripper....and it's so scary that I get about half way through and can't finish it...and I should. It has alot of factual things in it's pages that give insight into the criminal mind. Maybe someday I'll be able too.....so I hang on to it!
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I have had the same thing happen to me, jillhill. I remember how terrified I was while reading Stephen King's "Salem's Lot" many years ago, yet my curiosity would not allow me to leave the book unfinished.
@lingli_78 (12821)
• Australia
9 Aug 08
i never delayed reading a book until so long... if i buy a book, i usually want to read it straight away unless if i am too busy or lazy... if i can't read it at home, i usually read it during my time in the train or during my break time... i tend to be slow in reading book as well... but eventually i will finish it... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I suppose, lingli, you could compare it to those who receive a gift and can't wait to tear into it as opposed to those who like to let the anticipation build.
@sharkbiter (382)
• United States
8 Aug 08
I have several books that I haven't read. It seems that I get busy and don't take the time to read them. I have time on my hands to do this, but I always seem to think of something else to do. After finally sitting down to read them I usually keep asking myself why I took so long to read it. I have a book now that I want to get read called "Where White Men Fear To Tread", but I just haven't got myself to read it yet.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
You should never get too busy to take a bit of time out to read, sharkbiter. Of course, I say this because I am an avid reader. Hardly a day goes by that I don't pick up a book, even if it's just to read a few pages before I go to sleep at night. I keep plenty of books handy so that makes it easy for me.
@mrtimharry (1180)
•
8 Aug 08
Can't say it is a regular occurence for me although I did have Cardinal of the Kremlin (Tom Clancy) on my shelf for about eighteen months before I got around to reading it. That though was partially because I was reading other books and partially because it got pushed behind other books and i forgot it was there
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I have always found Tom Clancy sort of difficult to read, mrtimharry, or maybe it's just the genre he writes in. I know he is very successful so I would by no means be his best critic.
@revellanotvanella (4033)
• United States
9 Aug 08
Have you ever read Oliva and Jai by Rebecca Ryman (you can find review at amazon.com), its set in 19th century India and I really liked this book but books that have been around for a long time is mostly books that I have read like "The Custodians," "Conversations with God," "The Jungle Book," "True Notebooks" and a few others but mostly I do not like to hold on to them more than a year and then Ill give them to the library hoping they will be there if I need them or give them somewhere else. I do like to buy older books from like the 80s or early 90s from thrift shops that have been discontinued but I dont normally keep them after their read unless theirs some referencal value to them.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
The fact that I can hold onto certain things for such a long time, revell, is a clue into the mind of a hoarder. I have tried to break myself from this habit, but it's not an easy thing to do. I have stuff going back for more years than I care to admit.I have not read the book you mentioned but I will check out the review.
I have not read the book you mentioned but I will check out the review.
@capirani (2817)
• United States
8 Aug 08
I have done this on occassion. Some I never could get to reading because of the way they were written...examples would be using more technical language, or historical language. Others I have decided that it wasn't time for me to read it yet. Those were generally Christian books that I found had I read them when I first bought them I would not have fully understood them. But with life experience and growing wisdom that comes with age, I found I understood them easily after having kept them for a few years. There was one book I have never been able to read although I have always loved the author and her other works. But once I got into the storyline, seeing my own life paralleled in her book to some extent, I couldn't read it. It just struck too close to home at that time.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I also have a list of favorite authors, capirani, and I find it so frustrating when they write something that does not live up to my expectations. I agree that sometimes it is better to go back to a book once you've gained more wisdom and understanding.
@Essie119 (673)
• Canada
8 Aug 08
I know what you mean. As soon as I read the title of your discussion, the name of the book popped right into my head. It is "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austin. It is the kind of book that I like - a classic and a love story, but I haven't been able to read it. It was given to me when I was 13 and I tried to get into it, but wasn't interested at the time. Since then it has occured to me every once in a while to take it off the shelf and read it, but I have always been able to find something that I want to read even more.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
"Pride and Prejudice" is a classic, Essie, and I read most of them during my teens or early adulthood. I got into the habit of gifting my daughters with books like this when they were young so that they would enjoy the reading experience as much as I did. Sadly, I didn't get a real reader out of the bunch.
@elaine5004 (84)
• United States
9 Aug 08
I love reading autobiographies and will occasionally buy one if it is someone I really enjoy hearing or listening about, most of the time though I will go to the library to check them out. There are some authors that are really hard to get into for me, if I make it past the first 2 chapters I will finish the book. There have been a few that I intended to just read a chapter before going to sleep and I was captivated from page one and couldn't put it down until I finished the whole book. If it reads well and I am not struggling with terminology or dialect I am there for the finish. I do have a few books that I just had to have and still haven't read them. Those are the ones I take with me when I travel, there are hours of waiting time in between flights.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
i will often take along a book most anywhere that I know I will have a waiting time, elaine. It is better than just sitting there staring at people or the walls. I used to frequent the library but it is not so convenient for me anymore.
@Jenaisle (16568)
• Philippines
9 Aug 08
For me paperback novels are easy reads for me. With the type of book that you've read, it would probably be unopened for a long time for me too as I don't want reading historical novels too. It might take me longer than you have taken. But with other novels, it takes me usually two days or a day to start reading them.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I used to be a great fan of paperback novels, Jenaisle, and have nothing against them. If I found a good one now I would read it.
@marababe (2503)
• Philippines
9 Aug 08
20 years in possession without reading it? Wow, that's a long time. I have about 4 books that I haven't read/finished reading. One that I bought 6 months ago from Sophie Kinsella and I still haven't read it. It's still sealed. One more from Cecily von Ziegesar bought almost 2 months ago, I'm still in chapter 2. Another one from Cecelia Ahern that I've waited for for 6 months and now that I have a copy, I'm stuck at chapter 13. I've been into series marathon that's why I can't finish a book that I normally would finish in less than a week.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
The fact that I have kept this book for so long, marababe, can attest to my dogged determination.I never like to feel that I let anything get the best of me.
I never like to feel that I let anything get the best of me.
@rae777 (110)
•
9 Aug 08
I don't read books that don't interest me. If I don't like the book I will read a little more of it and it does not get better I toss it aside. Too many books and too little time to read them all and I certainly wouldn't bother myself with one I did not like. :) I have been known to give authors a second chance though. If I don't like one of their books I try another. :)
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I guess, rae, that once I've invested my money in a book I really deserve to get my money's worth. This usually works out well for me in the long run because you never know how your mood will change(or your interests), from year to year.
