Sophie Godley
asked:
HELP! This book is torturing me. Should I finish it? I'm about 35% in.... will it get better???
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Amy .F.
I hated it from the beginning and only finished it out of stubbornness/misplaced loyalty (I'd loved EII & ELAIC way back when). If it's torturing you, it won't torture you less in 200 pages. Jump ship!
Michelle Fuoco
I'm abandoning it. I loved other books by JSF but this is painful.
Andrew Young
I absolutely loved this book from the first page and could not put it down. It may be about perspective with reading it. Hit me where it hurts as not to long ago my engagement fell apart, and this book really goes into how relationships work and how if we are not paying attention, we can completely isolate ourselves from our partner. The backdrop of the book with the war is inconsequencial to the story IMO as the main focus is understanding how we relate to those we love and how our actions affect them.
Based on the responses from a lot of people, it may not be for everyone, but this was definitely the book for me.
Based on the responses from a lot of people, it may not be for everyone, but this was definitely the book for me.
Parker Avrile
Yes, the first 125 pages or so are by far the least involving... an odd strategy. But you are not far now from the place where you will no longer be able to put it down.
Wmba Dams
Absolutely not. There is no there there and no plot either.
Katie
I'm in the same boat. About 35% in and I hate everybody.
Kd
I read about 1/3 of it and gave up. Life is too short to read books I can't relate to or understand. I couldn't relate to ANY of the characters and I never heard people or kids talk as the characters did in the parts I read. I thought at one point the title made sense, but then the story took a right hand turn and left me. Lots of people like it, so maybe it's just my own perspective that can't see the value here.
Julie
Well, feeling less guilty that I didn't get it started before library demanded it back. Thanks all! Life is short :)
Jocelyn Mel
I'm about half way through and I love it to pieces. It is so frightening in parts (the possible war in Israel) that I have to remind myself that it's only a novel. I think Tamir may be one of the funniest characters in a story that I've met in a long time. Jesus this author is so rapid fire smarty pants and the debates kill me. I read them over and over. Love it!
Gregg
I stalled too. Maybe 3/5 of the way through. Heard JSF interviewed on FRESH AIR and couldn't wait to start this. I'll probably pick it up in another couple of months and finish it then. Probably. Maybe.
Inna
Oh man! This book was a torture! One of the most chaotic books I've even read. I quite liked Tamir's character though. On my opinion he was the sanest characters in this book.
Beth
I agree. I put it down. I just couldn't stand the characters. There are too many good books out there to read one that tortures you!
Blueloom
I read (actually, listened to) the whole thing. I was sorry that I had spent an Audible credit for it. It's easy to get lost in Foer's temporal leaps, and for some of the principal themes I simply could not get into the fantasy aspect of it. There's nutcase fiction and believable fiction. I found this to be nutcase fiction.
Beat
no, it doesn' get better. i wish i had stopped after 35%.
Meryl
Don't bother finishing. I hated this book. It does not get better. Don't waste valuable reading time.
Michele
I listened to this book , which made it easier to get through , although there were long periods where I also pondered why I was continuing to listen. It has some interesting perspectives on Judaism and Jewish people's connection to Israel . I liked the Israeli relative Tamir, he pulls no punches and is very straight forward. Many of the characters however were really not likeable at all. However, I did enjoy most of the story.
Lynda
I gave up too. Very sad.
Karl Josker
I too am having trouble with this book. About 3/4's of the way through it does pick up.
Flavia
Literally, so difficult to finish. I don't know what happened to this author!!
Kate
Well I loved it. There were a handful sections I skimmed over, mainly parts of long religious dialogue BUT the core of the story, the Bloch family, was compelling and I wasn't sure how it would resolve. he ending left me in tatters!
Ruthi
Thank goodness thought it was me. Was bored to death.
Rae
I liked the book because it was well written but the plot went off the rails and became something different than it was. I give you permission to abandon it.
Cristina
I'm struggling to finish it.
Brailey Vine
Yeah no. It won't. It's horrible.
Motahar
This book is a masterpiece.. a must for whoever want to do some thing with writing..!
Jaksen
I would say if you enjoy self-torture, keep reading.
If you don't, set it aside for something else.
If you don't, set it aside for something else.
Theresa
I loved this book so much so I would say that you should finish it but I guess it's different from person to person. I also think it depends on whether you can relate to the heroes or not.
Padma
No. It does not get better.
Alessia
I'm 30 pages away from the end and my oh my, this was quite a journey! First 120 pages were looong, then it got better. Halfway I felt the urge for a pause for couple of months, in order to read something else, lighter, more cheerful.
I was afraid not to be able to start reading it again but I did and the second half felt better, it was more intriguing.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I don't think these last 30 pages will surprise me, so I guess I can make my evaluation right now.
Did I like it? I am not totally sure.
Did I dislike/hate it? No.
Was it worth the struggle? Naah, I don't think so, cos it really didn't leave me that much afterwards.
What I find strange is that it felt so looong, so intense but never actually heavy.
Some parts, certain descriptions were so inspiring and truly wonderful but altogether mah...
I may be a bit thick but the earthquake in Israel and all that came with it was not so interesting to me.
I was afraid not to be able to start reading it again but I did and the second half felt better, it was more intriguing.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I don't think these last 30 pages will surprise me, so I guess I can make my evaluation right now.
Did I like it? I am not totally sure.
Did I dislike/hate it? No.
Was it worth the struggle? Naah, I don't think so, cos it really didn't leave me that much afterwards.
What I find strange is that it felt so looong, so intense but never actually heavy.
Some parts, certain descriptions were so inspiring and truly wonderful but altogether mah...
I may be a bit thick but the earthquake in Israel and all that came with it was not so interesting to me.
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