Well this weeks question for the blog hop is what is the most difficult book you’ve read ?
Now that is a hard one ,I ve read a lot of the books that may be classed as very difficult by people now two come to mind that I ve struggled with –
Savage detectives by Roberto Bolano ,two poets on the hunt another poet ,the book has numerous narrators and also interviews ,I struggled to keep track of who was narrating at times ,Bolano was a genius but his prose need time to be read slowly and savoured like a fine wine and I sometimes don’t saviour books like this enough as I tend to read a little to quick at times .
the second book I ve chosen is B.S Johnsons the unfortunates ,the so called book in a box ,this is a collection of 25 sections that only have the first and last chapter marked the book can be read in any order so each reading of the book can have a different feel depending on how you order the chapters ,thus making it truely non linear narration ,It follows a sportswriter in the East midlands ,his dying friend that has cancer ,Johnson was a master of experimental fiction his other books feature cut out holes in pages so a word from next page appears ,Christie malary is all based round double entry bookeeping .
What book has been your most difficult ?
There were a few I can add to this but think some books I couldn’t read were more to do with me lacking the concentration due to work/life schedule. One book that I did read but was very difficult for me was Descartes Bones by Russell Shorto. Whilst a very interesting book, the author seemed to jump from past to present and back again and it was very difficult to follow his train of thought.
this sounds good mar ,I ll look it out ,all the best stu
My most difficult made top of the heap because it was written and/or translated so poorly — a Vatican thriller written in Portuguese and horribly rendered into English. It was filled with cliches, non sequiters, big buildups for naught, allegedly sexy assassin priests, international crime reporters who don’t file stories — you name it and this book had it.
Cannot believe at least two connected novels have been translated and published when there must be thousands of more interesting books out there that deserve a wider audience.
always hard to tell if it was the orginal or translator I ve had a couple of duff translations this year one dutch and another from Japanese ,sometimes I think buyers for publishers get it wrong when aquiring rights for books because they maybe like the book ,all the best stu
I have yet to read a Roberto Bolano book however have the big fat 2666 sitting on my shelf. Thanks for the insight on The Savage Detectives.
I ve 266 to read ,read few of his shorter books ,all the best stu
The Unfortunates sounds incredibly interesting, if only for the novelty of it. I can see how both would be very difficult to read!
it is a true gem and very unusual book ,all the best stu
COOL! That book in a box sounds intriguing. Thanks for participating in the Hop!
great to take part ,all the best stu
Wow. I’m seriously excited about ‘The Unfortunates’ I love a book that plays with the boundaries of literature. Reminds me of those children’s novels where you get to chose what happens to your character. They should make more of them. Excellent post, thanks for sharing.
sidenote: it seems like we both chose novels that were hard to read because of a certain stream of consciousness.
we do 🙂 , it is a bit like that I love the way he wrote it so the order didn’t matter and could even change the way the story went ,all the best stu
I have noticed that I’ve not read a single book cited by others because of its literary difficulty. In fact, I’ve not even attempt one of these.
Thinking about what this means….
think there so many books out there it is easy for people to read different ones ,all the best stu
I’ve yet to read Bolano, but 2666 is here in my tbr pile. Virginia Woolf was my choice, and am planning to go back for more!
I ve struggle with woolf only read one of hers ,I m planning to read 2666 at the end of the year ,all the best stu
I read my first Bolano book earlier this year and I love love loved it!!!!! I know the Savage Detectives will be a challenge but I can’t wait to try it out
It is wonderful but a long haul ,I ve 2666 waiting to read planning to do so over christmas ,all the best stu
Never read either of these. That book in a box concept is very interesting, but I’m sure it’s confusing at times too!
it is a very unusual book but Johnson writing is very beautiful ,all the best stu
I admit I am intrigued by the book in a box idea. But I’m also very intimidated by it!
hi iris yes it is very different concept but woth reading ,all the best stu
Good choices Stu
Thanks willa ,all the best stu
I have read a lot of classics in my school and college years. And some still remain my favorites. However, there are a few I could never get into..
Here is my Literary Blog Hop post!
thanks Gutami will pop over and look at your choice ,all the best stu
I’m intrigued by the book-in-a-box – sort of a “choose your own adventure” for grown-ups?
a bit liike that ,the experence can be different however you set the chapters up ,all the best stu
You know, I’ve never even HEARD of this one!
some more for the tbr pile maybe ,all the best stu
The Savage Detectives is complex for sure, but I found it so engaging. A bit intimidated by 2666 though, and wary about the violence of the story.
I m planning to read 2666 end of year emily ,I little wary of the violece too ,all the best stu
Oh…The Unfortunates sounds really crazy and weird, but intrigues me just like Iris is intrigued! I’ve never heard of a book like this before. You really do find some of the most interesting reading I’ve ever seen, Stu! 🙂
it was out of print till last year but is available in us via new directions ,all the best stu
with you on Bolano, just in my case it’s 2666.
Hope alls well
Parrish.
I ve 266 to read planning it end of year ,all the best stu
Books that I find most difficult to read all have children being injured or murdered or with mental illness. They make me cry so much that I have trouble reading the words on the page.
I struggle with these books think that is why room hasn’t able to me ,all the best stu
Great choice Stu. I’m adding both to my list. I’m most intrigued by the Johnson book. I’m planning to read more experimental fiction in the coming year. And the idea of non-linear narration is enticing. So did it feel more like a collection of interconnected short stories?
there is two main lines of story but if you mix chapters can go many ways ,very clever really ,all the best stu
Johnson has been added to my list, thanks for the heads up.
A novel in a box! Sounds like something I would initially find intriguing and then get lost in!
it is lovely book ,all the best stu
Savage Detective was my 1st Bolano-I really love it especially all the comments about books and the reading life
I loved it mel just found it a little hard to keep track of at times ,all the best stu