Most difficult book to finish reading...

[Richard Edwards]

I am curious to know which Stephen King novel that anyone has finished was the most difficult one to complete reading. I'm not asking which is your least favorite novel, but instead the one that took you the most time and/or effort to get through.

For me, it's "Christine". "The Gunslinger", back in the mid-80's was also tough, but I can breeze through that book now.

[unclelouie]

The Gunslinger-
I breezed through the rest of the books, but I muddled through this book. Half the time I had no idea what the hell I was even reading about. It was really "out there" and sort of confusing. Now, after I finished DTVII, I re-read Gunslinger, and loved it... breezed right through it. Once I wasnt so lost, I saw it for the gritty, spaghetti western, cosmic novel it was.

Eyes of the Dragon-
I liked this book. But I could never read more than 10-15 pages at a time, without wanting to go do something else. I think it was almost the child-like way SK told the story. Also, as far as SK goes... I love his cultural references, liberal use of profanity, dark humor, etc. I felt this novel lacked a lot of that.

[Autumn Gust]

For me, it was The Drawing of the Three. I loved the plot. I loved Roland, Eddie, and Odetta. But I can only take so much bad grammar before it starts sounding like nails on a chalkboard. :sad: Detta's character got real old, real fast. When she showed up in the remaining books, she had less dialogue and I actually grew to like her.

[Shasta]

Eyes of the Dragon-
I liked this book. But I could never read more than 10-15 pages at a time, without wanting to go do something else. I think it was almost the child-like way SK told the story. Also, as far as SK goes... I love his cultural references, liberal use of profanity, dark humor, etc. I felt this novel lacked a lot of that.

It was written for his daughter (I believe) so it definitely lacked that.

[Moderator]

It was written for his daughter (I believe) so it definitely lacked that.

That's right--when she was 12 or 13 years old if I remember correctly.

[Shasta]

That's right--when she was 12 or 13 years old if I remember correctly.

Good, I'm glad I remembered that right. I was SO jealous of her!! (And Owen because he's close to my age!) :laugh:

[dsurrett]

I'm having trouble finishing Under the Dome. I laid it down a few months ago with 300 pages to go, and plan on getting back at it soon. I've read a couple of other King books in the meantime.

[the_last_gunslinger]

Lisey's Story, definitive this one. I must have spent a month on that one, reading a couple pages a day. It just didn't interest me. There have been several books of King's I haven't really cared for, but "Lisey" was the only one I had serious trouble finishing.

[unclelouie]

For me, it was The Drawing of the Three. I loved the plot. I loved Roland, Eddie, and Odetta. But I can only take so much bad grammar before it starts sounding like nails on a chalkboard. :sad: Detta's character got real old, real fast. When she showed up in the remaining books, she had less dialogue and I actually grew to like her.

Yep, I too was annoyed at Detta's grammar. It didnt slow my reading down, but I really didnt enjoy her backstory that much. Eddie's on the other hand was amazingly good.

[GNTLGNT]

...probably Song...

[nate_watkins]

IT, Gerald's Game, and the Tommyknockers took me the longest to read. I didn't devote much time to reading while I read IT (took me months, as did the Tommyknockers.) I liked each book, probably Tommyknockers the best out of those three.

I'm reading Eyes of the Dragon now, and I'm breezing right through it.

[AchtungBaby]

Lisey's. But it was worth it in the end!

[Milica]

The Talisman

[TerrorJunkie]

Pet Semetary- after Gage died.


*shudder*

[carrie's younger brother]

For me, it is my current rereading of The Stand. I swear I have been at it since the summer. It has nothing to do with the length, since I breezed through other SK books of similar page count. I know I may be taken to task for this, but I am just not finding it very riveting. I CANNOT STAND the character of Frannie, and since she is in it so much, I tend not to stick with it for very long when reading a chapter with her in it. And it just drags on and on and on...

[Christiane17]

For me it was Insomnia. In facts, I never finished the book. Maybe it's because I wasn't patient enough or I got bored at a certain point. Not saying the book is boring, but I have the original version ( English ) and for me it's hard sometimes to concentrate as my first language is french. But I admit I was not patient enough probably. I saw the movie version though and I didn't like it. It's funny sometimes that a story don't get your attention, even if you love the writer. :dunno:

[Moderator]

There was a movie titled Insomnia but it was not an adaptation of Steve's book.

[Christiane17]

So that movie was not an adaptation of SK's book. I'm glad to know, thank you Marsha as I thought it was not well made, well in my opinion. Maybe others liked it. Was it the movie with Al Pacino you're referring to?

[Moderator]

So that movie was not an adaptation of SK's book. I'm glad to know, thank you Marsha as I thought it was not well made, well in my opinion. Maybe others liked it. Was it the movie with Al Pacino you're referring to?

Yes, that's the one.

[fushingfeef]

Still haven't finished "Faithful" (not technically a full-fledged SK book, as it is a nonfiction collab). I scanned through a few passages here and there, but that's it.

[dsurrett]

definitive this one. I must have spent a month on that one, reading a couple pages a day. It just didn't interest me. There have been several books of King's I haven't really cared for, but "Lisey" was the only one I had serious trouble finishing.

Agreed. If I'd been reading a hard copy instead of listening to the audio version, it would've been rough. Not sure why, but it just never grabbed me.

[Spideyman]

Agreed. If I'd been reading a hard copy instead of listening to the audio version, it would've been rough. Not sure why, but it just never grabbed me.

I think Lisey's story is a time and place in life book to read. It is a different style. Try it again in a few years. Over the years I have found books read years ago have a different feel/meaning in later years.

[King fan from trinidad]

For me Wizard and Glass. Out of the first 5 DT books I've read its easily the worst to me but I still like it!

[fredthe3rd]

Tommyknockers, Needful Things and Under the Dome. They just weren't page turners for me. Became a chore to read. There was also a tiny bit in the middle of 12/11/97 that I slowed right down on but it soon picked up again. Probably spent as long reading those middle hundred or so pages as I did the rest of the book.

[tmac61]

I cannot finish Lisey's Story. The last time I tried was a couple of years ago. I just got it on my Kindle and I am determined to get through it this time.

[JellybeanJay]

For me it is From a Buick 8.

[Lily Sawyer]

I'll take a lot of heat for this, but at least I'm being honest:

It was so difficult for me to get through The Gunslinger that I haven't wanted to read the rest of the Dark Tower series.

[Moderator]

I'll take a lot of heat for this, but at least I'm being honest:

It was so difficult for me to get through The Gunslinger that I haven't wanted to read the rest of the Dark Tower series.

Trust us on this one, read the second one and then decide if it's not for you. I might have been saying the same thing if I hadn't gone on. :smile2:

[blunthead]

Trust us on this one, read the second one and then decide if it's not for you. I might have been saying the same thing if I hadn't gone on. :smile2:
Oh so true, be ye not deceived.

[Shasta]

I'll take a lot of heat for this, but at least I'm being honest:

It was so difficult for me to get through The Gunslinger that I haven't wanted to read the rest of the Dark Tower series.

And we are no longer friends......

(kidding.)

[samhain]

I tried, unsuccessfully, to get through 'Lisey's Story' at least 3 times in the past. I only just read it from beginning to end this past year.
I also found 'Insomnia' to be somewhat of a chore, but I'm going to give that one another go.
'The Tommyknockers' and 'The Regulators' were slow-going for me as well.

[Sundrop]

Dreamcatcher.....I think it's cursed.

[Todash]

Gerald's Game. It was just so psychically painful. I'll try to read it one more time, on my chronological reading of all his works, but after that, probably never again. Maybe next time it won't have so much power.

[Sepia and Dust]

Rose Madder for me... I still haven't finished it.

[Shasta]

I also found 'Insomnia' to be somewhat of a chore, but I'm going to give that one another go.


I love, love, love Insomnia. It does start a little slow but I promise it's worth getting through it. It really picks up.

[aintshesweet]

Sundrop, I totally agree! I've tried to read Dreamcatcher at least 3 times. I even watched the movie to hopefully spark my interest...but I could never get into it. Plus, I didn't care for the movie all that much. All of the [flatulence and burping kept aggravating me and I had a nightmare about the alien in the bathroom.]I really want to finish it though. I guess I will pick it up again...eventually...

[eyewonder]

Hardest was Tommyknockers.

[The Nameless]

I always see Gunslinger quoted as a hard book to read, I flew through Gunslinger on my 1st try and loved it, Drawing of the 3 was amazing for me, I had no problems at all, even with the 'Detta speak'. my least favourite so far in the DT series is Wastelands, but the hardest one to get through was Wizard and Glass - the reason was that Wastelands finaly got good at the end, and W&G started good and I was loving the progress on the beam, but then it stopped for a huge back story in the form of Susan. Don't get me wrong, when I did read it, I loved that section, but it was just in the wrong place at the wrong time for me. I had to stop for a re-read of IT, then picked it up again, so that took me the longest time and most effort. Now I am on Wolves of the Calla so I still have quite a bit of Dark tower to read.

[charlotte98]

Gunslinger, it took me a while to read that, it was so confusing and far out to me

[Lina]

I have a problem with finishing Lisey's Story, so far I put it aside. I think, maybe now I am not ready to understand this book, that's why I just could not keep reading it. Maybe, one day I will return to it and try again.

[SleepingWarrior]

The Wastelands- But my excuse is that I was only like 10 or 11 when the paperback came out and I hadn't read The Gunslinger or Drawing of the Three yet. Still have the same copy and now its well worn but between the first attempt at reading it and finally finishing it was a period of a few years. Was almost enough to put me off even reading the first two books but luckily that attitude went away.

The Talisman- Another one that I read a bit of in my youth and put down only to pick up when I had matured a bit. The first 100 or so pages are still a bit of a chore to get through even at the ripe old age of 30 but the remainder of the book is worth the struggle.

As for The Gunslinger and it being a hard read... Get through the events in Tull at the very least which may just hook you and you may just find the pages flipping by like you yourself were given access to the neat little trick with your fingers that took Roland years to learn when reloading.

[ChristineB]

Hardest for me to get through was Drawing of the Three, tried 3 times over a period of years and every time I got to the Odetta part I would put it down and not pick it up again for a year or more. The jarring stop in a story that was getting very interesting to me was just too much. Finally plodded through it a couple years ago, it is still my least favorite of the DT books.

Longest time to read had to be the uncut version of The Stand, so much back story to begin with just made it take me awhile to get through, the book is in my top 5 of his books, it just took me about a year to read it the first time. Now, I love all that back story, it's always interesting how different a book can be on re-read since you know the end already so you get to enjoy the little things that you may have missed the first time around.

[Shoesalesman]

Hearts In Atlantis. No difficulty getting through the first two-thirds, but the last third had more roughage than two fistfulls of kale. I'm sure it was good for me, but boy did it take effort to process!

[unclelouie]

Hearts In Atlantis. No difficulty getting through the first two-thirds, but the last third had more roughage than two fistfulls of kale. I'm sure it was good for me, but boy did it take effort to process!

I read The Low Men In Yellow Coats right after I finished DTVII. Never read past it. At the moment I was on a "I wanna read anything connected to the DT series kick". I may come back to it one day and finish the other sections. So much to read, so little time!

[Shoesalesman]

I read The Low Men In Yellow Coats right after I finished DTVII. Never read past it. At the moment I was on a "I wanna read anything connected to the DT series kick". I may come back to it one day and finish the other sections. So much to read, so little time!

Now that I think of it... it was probably my own expectations of what I wanted the book to be that affected the last part of HIA. It started out so strong, then drooped, and I remember being disappointed the closer the end got. Suppose it's not the best kind of attitude in giving the story a fair shake, is it?

[Tim D.]

Without a doubt the hardest book for me to finish was The Tommyknockers. I felt that SK just rambled and babbled for long stretches and it just bored me stiff. Seems like it took forever to finish. A close second would have to be From A Buick 8, which didn't involve me on any level.

[charmed_one3]

For me it was 'Salem's Lot. I don't know why, but I just could not get into it. I will give it another chance sometime.

[fljoe0]

Without a doubt the hardest book for me to finish was The Tommyknockers. I felt that SK just rambled and babbled for long stretches and it just bored me stiff. Seems like it took forever to finish. A close second would have to be From A Buick 8, which didn't involve me on any level.

I read Buick 8 when it came out and I wasn't too crazy about it either. But a funny thing happened a few years later. I found the audiobook in a thrift store and bought it because it was real cheap. I listened to the audiobook and loved it. Go figure.

The book I struggled with the most is probably his shortest, Tom Gordon. I just could not get into that one at all. I'm going to give it another try one of these days. Sometimes, you're just not in the right mood.

[tenngolfer]

The Gunslinger, definitely. Insomia started slow, but was definitely worth the read.

[AchtungBaby]

I read The Low Men In Yellow Coats right after I finished DTVII. Never read past it. At the moment I was on a "I wanna read anything connected to the DT series kick". I may come back to it one day and finish the other sections. So much to read, so little time!
Do it. HIA (the book, not just the story) is fantastic.

[Lily Sawyer]

The Gunslinger.

[unclelouie]

Do it. HIA (the book, not just the story) is fantastic.

I plan on it. After Im done with The Shining, Im going to read "Different Seasons", and if I still have time before Joyland comes out, then I will. But yes, it's on the list.... like I said, so much to read.. so little time!

[AchtungBaby]

I plan on it. After Im done with The Shining, Im going to read "Different Seasons", and if I still have time before Joyland comes out, then I will. But yes, it's on the list.... like I said, so much to read.. so little time!
Have you read Different Seasons before? If not, you're in for a pleasant surprise - you'll LOVE it!

[unclelouie]

Have you read Different Seasons before? If not, you're in for a pleasant surprise - you'll LOVE it!

No, never... can you believe that?! I've seen the movie versions of Apt Pupil and The Shawshank Redemption, but the way SK writes, I enjoy the novel/story version of his works way better than the movie. The way SK delves into the minds of his characters, sets the mood and atmosphere, etc.... just cant be duplicated in a movie.

[AchtungBaby]

No, never... can you believe that?! I've seen the movie versions of Apt Pupil and The Shawshank Redemption, but the way SK writes, I enjoy the novel/story version of his works way better than the movie. The way SK delves into the minds of his characters, sets the mood and atmosphere, etc.... just cant be duplicated in a movie.
As far as pure storytelling goes, you can't get much better than Different Seasons. Let us know what you think of it!

[jimson]

The Gunslinger.

I kind of agree with this. I want to keep an open mind as so many love the Dark Tower series and hope that if and when I get to the rest, I will gain the appreciation that others have.

[Sundrop]

Still Dreamcatcher.....still haven't finished it......still think it's cursed.

......also had a very hard time with 11/22/63