The Most Difficult Books To Finish

The Guardian recently did a photo slideshow profiling the ten most difficult books to finish. I'll admit, I've never read or even heard of any of these books. However, I have read (or attempted to read) my share of difficult books. Over the years, I have been introduced to a variety of literature that I've found both enjoyable and complex. Here's my list of the most difficult books I've ever attempted to finish:

1) Possession by A.S. Byatt

This novel chronicles the romance of two 19th century poets while simultaneously telling the story of two 20th century academics studying them. The best word to describe this book is dry. I was surprised the film version turned out to be pleasant and very easy to follow. They simply cut out unnecessary characters and plot points, thus making the film a lot less complex in comparison to the book.

2) Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

I tried with this one, I really tried. I couldn't get past the first chapter. This reads like a 12-year-old's essay on how totally cute Justin Bieber is. Sparkly vampires? Are you kidding me?! I don't have a low enough IQ to fully enjoy these books. I have friends that are able to put their educations aside long enough to be completely in love with the franchise. Me on the other hand, I'm just a little too particular with my literature.

3) Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Dickens is revered as one of the best authors of all time. Being world-renowned is all well and good once you're dead. However, while you're alive, you have to make money and so did Dickens. When Dickens was being published, he got paid by the word, which explains why his books read like he copied words straight from a thesaurus. This is why I dislike most of his books. The stories tend to get lost in the overuse of rhetoric.

4) Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy

Don't get me wrong, I love Hardy. I especially love this book. Word of caution: this book (like most of Hardy's novels) is best read whilst in the throes of a deep depression. If you're happy before you read this book, you won't be by the end. The main character, Jude Fawley, is highly relatable to anyone who has struggled to be successful in life. The reason this book is so difficult to get through is BECAUSE it is so realistic to people. It's heartbreaking to follow Jude as he attempts to claw his way to a better life only to fail time and time again.

5) 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James




















Dearie me. I swear I'm not a prude, but this was just a bit much. I felt dirty after reading this trash novel. I wanted to go to church, say the rosary and the Lord's Prayer, hang a large crucifix in my house, all after showering five times with bleach to wash the shame off my body. After I read parts of the first 50 Shades book, I was ready to crawl into the fetal position screaming "WHYYY?!" like the guy in The Crying Game after he finds out that hot woman is really a man. This book isn't progressive in terms of women owning their sexuality. It's disgusting, misogynistic, and indicative of a very real issue with misguided women who chase behind unavailable men hoping they'd be "The One" to turn this guy around. Please. Don't flatter yourself, ladies.

6) Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov

I have a real problem with a book that could be seen as an excuse for pedophilia being regarded as one of the best novels in history. I have never been able to get through Lolita simply because I find its protagonist so deplorable. I hate how this novel expects its audience to feel any amount of sympathy for Humbert for his unnatural obsession with a young girl. Humbert pretty much blackmails Dolores into staying with him on threat of becoming a ward of the state. How in the world is that "poetic, beautiful, or moving?" Telling a child to stay with you and yield to your sexual advances or go to some terrible orphanage. Nabokov only makes things worse by painting the character of Dolores as a shallow, oversexed brat as a means of excusing Humbert's criminal and amoral actions. In my opinion, this book is nothing more than kiddie diddler propaganda masquerading as intelligent literature.

This is all I could come up with for now. Generally, there aren't many books that I consider a Herculean feat to complete, so finding a few that I genuinely had a difficult time reading was not easy.