BookYouNeverFinished

This is what I had to say after slogging through Titus Groan for a couple months and forcing myself to read the first ten chapters of Gormenghast. Goodreads says this was only 4 years ago, but it was actually almost 6 years ago. I abandoned this book with the intention to finish it at a later date, but haven't touched it since September 2012. I did put it back on the tbr a couple years ago though, so #maybesomeday #BookYouNeverFinished #Riotgrams

bookriot

Daisey I felt that way through most of the first book and haven‘t picked up the second yet. 7y

twohectobooks I really liked this but it‘s definitely not for everyone. Something DOES eventually happen, and it‘s not at all what you‘d expect. I DO NOT recommend Titus Alone however. 7y

Bookwomble The Gormenghast novels are amongst my very favourites. For me, they're about character and atmosphere rather than plot (though there is one 😊). Titus Alone is an unfinished jewel - Peake's wartime trauma (being one of the first to enter Belsen extermination camp as an official war artist) and his progressive Parkinson's disease meant that he was unable to polish it, but I think I love it all the more for that reason. 7y

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rwmg Irma Prunesquallor's soiree in the second book is one of the funniest 50 pages or so I've ever read 7y

TK-421 @Daisey Glad it's not just me! I do still want to try again sometime. Maybe I'll appreciate it more the second time around? 7y

TK-421 @twohectobooks @bookwomble I do want to try again because the writing is beautiful and some of my favourite writers list Peake as an influence/inspiration. I'm hoping that by the time I get around to trying again, I'll be able to appreciate it more. 7y

twohectobooks Good luck! I think the most important thing is not to expect to race through it. 7y

shadowsdogs I thought I was the only one who loved this! So good to see others ❤️ 7y

Bookwomble @TK-421 I had to start Crime and Punishment five times before I got hooked. Some books are worth the effort 😊 7y

Bookwomble @shadowsdogs There are more of us than may be apparent! 😀 Have you read anything else by Peake? 7y

shadowsdogs @Bookwomble I have not! But definitely interested now 7y

Bookwomble The Boy in Darkness would be a natural next step, as, while it doesn't specifically mention Gormenghast, the boy is clearly Titus. It's usually published as a children's story, but anybody reading this to their child at bedtime deserves reporting to the Child Protection Agency! His novel "Mr. Pye" is whimsical and weird, and set in Peake's home away from home, the Channel Island of Sark.

Boy in Darkness and Other Stories

TK-421 @Bookwomble Stacking Boy in Darkness & Other Stories! 7y

Bookwomble @TK-421 Good move 😁 7y

Bookwomble @shadowsdogs I meant to tag you in my earlier comment 😊 7y

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Linsy

Little Women | Louisa May Alcott

I really like the story, but have never quite made it. 🤷‍♀️
#bookyouneverfinished #riotgrams

GypsyKat I love this book! ❤️ 7y

JosieG I'm madly in love with this book, but even I have to admit it took me several tries before I finally made it all the way through. It's a HUGE book. But it's a wonderful one, and I hope you make it and love it also! 7y

Bindrosbookshelf I love to read it at Christmas time ❤️ 7y

Linsy @JosieG Good to know! That gives me hope. 🤞 (edited) 7y

kyraleseberg One of my favorites!! I still have my first paperback copy from an elementary school book fair! And I already purchased Haven a Penguin Classics edition for when she's old enough to read it 🤗 7y

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Kimberlone

Shadow of Night: A Novel | Deborah Harkness

#Riotgrams #BookYouNeverFinished

...at least not yet. I started this book months ago, and have tried to finish it off an and on for awhile, but have a feeling this will eventually be a DNF. I really liked the first book in the series, but haven‘t as been into the second. I‘m stuck at about 50% read.

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JoyBlue

S. | J. J. Abrams, Doug Dorst

Day 18: Book You Never Finished—I started reading S. soon after it was released in October of 2013. There were so many features that appealed to me: the bibliophile strangers bonding over the book within the book; the artifacts interspersed in the pages; the mystery. Sadly, I couldn't finish it within the loan period, and I never got back to it, even after NOS lent/gave me his copy. Someday, I shall return to it! #RiotGrams #BookYouNeverFinished

Clare-Dragonfly This took me months to finish. I might have liked it more if I‘d been able to read it more quickly. 7y

JoyBlue @Clare-Dragonfly That makes me feel better—thank you! 7y

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thebluestocking

Bleak House | Charles Dickens

#riotgrams #bookyouneverfinished

I‘ve read past page 200 twice and yet have never managed to finish this. I may try again, but then again I may not.

Trashcanman I bailed on this too! Dickens can pound sand! 7y

nozpow After several attempts.. 2 books I failed to finish are The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Moby Dick just kind of got lost half way through.☹ 7y

WomanRoars I finished it but I sort of wish I had given up. 7y

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Aimeesue Currently reading this as a summer serial group read on GR. That's the only way I can get through Dickens- a couple of chapters every week. 😋 7y

thebluestocking @Trashcanman Ha! I‘ve never managed to finish any of the big novels, but I did like Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. 7y

thebluestocking @nozpow I haven‘t read either of those, but I‘ve always wanted to try Moby Dick. 7y

thebluestocking @WomanRoars That makes me feel better. ❤️ But I have a few friends who love this one. 7y

thebluestocking @Aimeesue I think a read along would really help me to have motivation. Good luck with yours! 7y

Ruthiella Watch the adaptation with Gillian Anderson and read something else you enjoy more!😀 7y

thebluestocking @Ruthiella That‘s an excellent suggestion! I think I will. 7y

Mcoun I‘m working on this right now. I love a good, long classic, especially Dickens. But, I‘ve got 600 pages left and I already want to know the ending! 6y

thebluestocking @Mcoun Go you! It‘s a long one, but I hear from several sources that it‘s worth it. 6y

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