Books That Gave Me Fits: Why I Couldn't Finish Them and Lessons Learned

Every book enthusiast has those frustrating moments where a book just doesn't want to stick. For some, it might be novels, for others, medical texts. Here, I explore books that left me feeling stuck, and what I learned from those experiences.

The Challenges of Moby Dick and Lord Jim

My journey with Moby Dick began, and I delved in, but soon hit a wall. I had read Melville's other works and found them more appealing. Navigating the world of whaling proved a tedious endeavor, leading me to abandon the book. Following this was Lord Jim, a dense and uninteresting experience that I found so grating that I burnt it.

The Blandness of Medical Texts

Let's turn to the world of academia and medical texts, which are often a drudgerous read. Reading medical books as a non-specialist was a tedious task, creating a sense of frustration. However, my friend with medical training often picks up on the educated words which can sometimes feel alienating. Yet, my interest in these terms shows a dedication to learning.

Unanalyzable Literature: The Illuminatus Trilogy

The Illuminatus Trilogy stands out as a book that was nearly impossible to navigate due to its unclear narrative. Despite the attempt, the numerous drugs I consumed while reading exacerbated the difficulty. This experience taught me that sometimes the underpinnings of a book can be more complex than its external appearance.

Language and Cultural Proficiency: Spanish and Don Quixote

Language proficiency is a crucial factor in one's reading journey. With Spanish, it took a third attempt with the works of Don Quixote before I could truly enjoy it. For English, the challenge lay in works like The Soft Machine by William Burroughs. Despite the difficulty, the experience was worthwhile, as I eventually earned enough money to buy a collection of Jorge Luis Borges's works, an amazing exchange indeed.

Renewed Enthusiasm and Patience: The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged

When younger, I had a strong reading ethic and finished almost anything I picked up. My mother's insistence on reading The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand made for a difficult yet stoic exercise. Though I can still finish a book, especially those long and engaging like Pillars of the Earth, my patience for dense tomes has diminished. My attempts at Atlas Shrugged and Capital by Karl Marx were akin to battling insurmountable obstacles. Both books felt like lectures, full of pretentious characters and unconvincing scenarios. This experience taught me that I prefer meticulously crafted stories that build a believable world, not polemics.

Learning from Mistakes: Personal Discoveries and Philosophy

Books like Atlas Shrugged and Capital not only failed to impress but also highlighted the importance of character and coherence in literature. These books illuded not just due to their length but for their insincere portrayal of human interactions and economic systems. This has led me to a preference for literature that resonates with reality and engages the reader deeply. As a reader, my takeaway is that authors can be more relatable and engaging without sacrificing complexity.

Wrapping Up

Reading is a profound journey of discovery and connection. When a book fails to deliver, it can be a powerful lesson. For me, the books mentioned above were beacons of what not to do in writing. Despite the temporary frustration, these experiences have honed my taste and made me a more discerning reader. And that, my friends, is the journey worth taking.