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This week’s topic is-
Top Ten Books I Almost Put Down, But Didn’t.
1. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
I couldn’t make myself care about Blomkvis’s trial. I actually did put this down-twice-but came back and finally read it. You just need to get past the 3rd chapter, and then BAM-can’t put it down.
2. Schindler’s List
I am just finishing this. The problem at first was that the author was writing it as a novel, but it kept coming across as more of a history book. Once I got used to it, it flowed.
3. We Need To Talk About Kevin
Honestly, I didn’t like Eva, the main character. It was a little hard to get past that, but about a third of the way through it got much better.
4. Jane Eyre
I felt so bad for her. I hate it when people are mean to little kids. Unless they’re bad kids, of course.
5. The Silmarillion
This is one of my favorite books in the world, but man- try this as a first line-in a chapter titled “Ainulindale”-
“There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made. And he spoke to them, propounding to them themes of music; and they sang before him, and he was glad.”
It is AMAZING, but a hard entry point.
6. The Year of Magical Thinking
Tough subject, very real and very raw.
7. Love in The Time Of Cholera
Over 600 affairs is a little much for me. Loved the book-but yuck.
8. Little Bee
Too much awful in one book.
9. The End of the Affair
Why did Sarah have an affair with him? I get that her husband was boring and all, but Bendrix was a bit of an ass. More than a bit. I am glad he is heartbroken.
10. The Hunger Games
Hmm, a book about kids sent to an arena to battle to the death, until there is only one left? Sounds good! Even better, let me have my kids read it.
Actually LOVE these books, but a little hard to get excited to read them at first.
What books did you almost put down?
Turn the Page Reviews 
I did put Jane Eyredown for exactly that reason. I think I only read the preface. Maybe one day I will get my courage up!
I would really recommend giving it another try- it is amazing and she is one of the strongest most amazing characters out there.
I totally agree with so many of these, particularly We Need To Talk About Kevin which I found difficult to read due to my dislike of the main character. I haven’t forgotten it despite last reading it years ago!
I know- couldn’t really stand her until about half way through!
Good list! I forgot about The Silmarillion on mine but I didn’t really “almost put down” I put it down for probably ten years before coming back to it. I was just too young when I started it. It is hard to read but especially the beginning.
http://youmeandacupofteablog.blogspot.com/2014/05/top-ten-books-i-almost-put-down-but.html
Oh yeah- you need to be a bit more mature to really get this one! I read it in my early thirties- right after I read LOTR for the first time and LOVED it.
Agreed the start of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is excruciating, once the mystery was introduced I was hooked. Little Bee! That book was so sad, and the ending more disturbing for ending right where it did.
I actually put ti down twice and only on my third attempt did I get past the boring to the awesome!
I almost put Little, Big down. In the end, I still wasn’t sure I should’ve finished.
Me too- left me with an awful feeling.
I’ve always thought reading The Silmarillion is a bit like reading the Bible or some of the medieval classics: incredible stories, but the language and sentence structure are complex and somewhat archaic and take more thought than modern, fast-paced books. Well worth it, though!