What are three books you would tell people that they need to keep reading even if they aren't immediately sucked in by the first page?
I LOVE this question!!! Though, I'm not certain Shaun is going to like any of my answers.
Let me start by saying this - I am a very patient reader. No really, I am. I will usually give a book at least 50 pages before I abandon it.
At least that was true BEFORE I started writing. I will admit, the more I write, the less patient I have become. I'm not certain why, but...yea...it is what it is.
Although I have lost some of my patience, these three books are ones I waded through - and they were MORE than worth it in the end:
- Going Bovine by Libba Bray: I loved this book. Hard. I know, I know, there were a lot of mixed feelings reviews about this one. Many people found the beginning a little crazy and the main character unlikeable. But, here's the thing - he IS unlikeable! That is the point. By the end of the story, he changes. Dramatically. And along the way there is some fabulous humor, Big-Bang styled jokes and a just plain poignant fun. It is both silly and profound. I am so glad I stuck it out and got to the point where it settled into the book it really is.
- Exile by Richard North Patterson: I am a BIG thriller lover. And this book is a masterful creation! It is a bit slow in the beginning...and even a bit confusing. In fact, most of Richard Patterson's books are - but once you get into it, it is masterful. It makes you think, reconsider previously held points of view of various topics, etc. I LOVED this book - and have since read it again - and yea, I liked even more the second time, catching nuances and subtleties to the plot I missed the first time.
- Helen of Troy by Margaret George. This was by far the HARDEST book for me to get into. I love the Helen of Troy story, so when I checked out the cover blurb and this was a helen story told from her POV, I was hooked. Until I opened it. First, it is LONG - 656 pages (small font and no chapter breaks, btw). It took more than 50 pages for me to want to stay involved....it took almost 200. Why I kept at it, I don't know. But I have never regretted that decision. I wound up reading the remaining 400+ pages in a couple of days, thoroughly enthralled in the story. This book is certainly NOT for the faint of heart - but it is a masterful retelling and I strongly recommend it.
So, there you go - my books that DID NOT hook me, but were more than worth it once I got through the beginning. What about you? What books would you add to this list?
To see more from us, check out Jon's post from yesterday, or hop on over and read Abby's tomorrow.
