[JohnH]

It seems this topic gets discussed inalmost every other post in some way or another. So timefor its own little thread, no?

What book(s)have you ended up loving that the first or second try was no so great? Was it the timing? The stage of your life?

Donaldson's first Covenant series is one such effort for me. I basically forced myself to read this series and not until the third book was I truly enjoying it. Since then both series are on my essential reread list.

Getting through all of Moorcock took more than one try as well.

I know there are others, but I will addthem later once I recall what they are.

[Killer Chicken]

Yes I have read books that seem that way. I don't know if I dare say it. Tolkein... I was introduced to fantasy through him. It blew me away with it's grand worldbuilding and adventurous pace. After reading other fantasy books for a few years I started to reread The Lord of the Rings. And I had a lot of trouble finishing it. I think that as an introduction to fantasy it is wonderful, but after reading the authors who took Tolkein and made it the wonderful thing that fantasy is today, it is hard to find interest in that slow paced story.

[Caly]

The only one I can think of is Tigana by GGK. The first time I tried to read it I didn't get past the second chapter. It just seemed way too wordy and I felt like I wasn't comprehending any of it.

I tried it again a couple of years later and I don't know why, but it just clicked and I adored it. One of the best books I've ever read. I will admit that it still seemed like it had really concentrated language so I felt that I couldn't do any skimming at all or I might miss a major point.

Oh! I just rememembered another one--Daughter of the Forest, which for some reason didn't grab me, then when I picked it up a month later I didn't put it down until I was finished.

Caleyna

[Lord Soth]

I had to really struggle through LoTR when i read it. Also currently forcing myself to get through Claw of the Concilliator
by Gene Wolfe.

[Lani]

When I was firstly introduced into fantasy, I had quite a bit trouble reading LeGuin, but several years later I read several books by her and that changed my opinion of her drastically. It was much more interesting to read her books.

[Hinageshi]

the first tiime i tried reading orson scott card's lost boys i couldn't even get through it. this was probably due to the fact that i was 12 and lost boys was nothing like the ender's game books (a trilogy at the time) which i had just finished reading. but a few years ago, i picked it back up, and while i can't say that i loved it, because it really disturbed me, i can say that that book made me cry more than any other i've read so far.

[Rob B]

I've said this in other posts, but the Elric books by Moorcock. I think it was just a matter of bad timing my first try with the books. I was VERY satisfied with the end result.

Endymion by Dan Simmons. I think I originally put it down because a book I had been waiting for either arrived in bookstores or in the mail. Again, glad that I went back to the book it was excellent.

Lastly, I tried The Witching Hour by Anne Rice a couple of times before finally finishing the book. I was enjoying the book until the end, which completely left me flat and ruined the book for me

[JohnH]

Lani
LeGuin has always been a bit of a tough nut to crack imo. I am not sure if it takes a certain mood on my part, or whether it is my surroundings and lack of distraction. Whatever the case, I find myself actually working to read her work. And yet I always enjoy the experience.

I guess that might be part of the original question. Does anyone have a particular author or book, that it took a much higher level of concentration to get through?

Charles Palliser's The Quincuix was another work that allowed for no distraction. It was the only book I had with me on a trek through the highlands of Pakistan, so I was forced to read it. Ended up loving it but I know that if I had had a cereal box written in english I would have read that instead.

A couple other books come to mind but I just hated them. I just refused to give up on the buggers for some stupid reason.

[Penumbra]

Genre aside, I have been disappointed more by mainstream writers than those in SF/F. I repudiate all formula writing because it cheapens the author so much. But, to illustrate, the Caine Mutiny was well written by Herman Wouk, yet subsequent novels like Marjorie Morningstar simply didn't match his earlier effort and were in fact a disaster. Michener tends to be very consistent. I don't think I have ever come across a novel that first turned me off and later induced pleasure with the exception of everything by Heinlein.

[Cadfael]

Penumbra... two of my all time favourite books are The Winds of War and War and Rememberance by Wouk, however I have to admit I have not read the Caine Mutiny... shame on me I know.

Believe it or not, I had a lot of trouble getting into 'The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever'. It took me a few attempts, but I was hooked from then on.