topic Re: ""Stones From the River"" in Community Chat

Stones From the River

september — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 05:37:24 GMT

This is a book club pick for me, and after 105 pages (book is 500+), I want to give up on this book!

Has anyone else read it, and can you give me an incentive to keep reading it? I searched for it on this board, and didn't get any results. On Amazon, a few reviews said it got better after 200+ pages.

When do you give up on a book? 200+ pages is too much time to waste, for me. I have a stack of other books to read.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

jackthebear — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 12:44:20 GMT

If you don't like a book or it does not hold your interest by this point give it up. I don't bother after 30 pages at this point in my life.

We don't have to write a book report now

Re: ""Stones From the River""

Judaline — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 13:00:57 GMT

So true.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

september — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 15:32:14 GMT

Thanks! I more or less made up my mind last night, to stop reading this book.

No...no book report due, but it is a book group selection. So I'll either skip the meeting next time, or go just to listen to the discussion.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

sunala — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 21:16:52 GMT

september, I tried reading Stones from the River about three or four times over the years, and finally gave up. Sometimes you have to say "enough already" and pull the bookmark.

I had to do that with The Book Thief as well. I know so many people adored it, but I just couldn't get into it. No book is worth it!

Glad to read you finally let it go.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

sunala — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 21:40:43 GMT

Okay regarding Stones from the River, I just clicked on Amazon and began reading the reviews. Amazing, almost all five stars, and from the reviews I read, most said that they didn't like it at first because it was kind of boring, but if you stick with it, you are going to just love it. There are 448 reviews with an average of four stars. Only 22 people gave it one star. That's extraordinary.

Believe it or not, I just reserved it from my library's e-books! I'm willing to give it one more chance, as people were positively raving about it.

I'll let you know

Re: ""Stones From the River""

lovescats — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 00:05:24 GMT

I have this book but haven't read it. I remember when I would wait for Oprah to announce her new book pick and I would have to run out to target to buy it. And the ones I did read weren't always that good.

I would to go to the bookclub even if I didn't read it.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

insomniac — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 01:25:11 GMT

I read Stones from the River many years ago. I liked it so much I eventually read three other books by the same author.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

september — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 05:17:03 GMT

Interesting to hear the additional thoughts. I went to my book club a few nights ago, where this book was to be discussed, even though I only read about 1/4 of it. It seemed that those who finished the book, weren't overly enthused about it, and really disliked the ending.

I hadn't realized this was part of Oprah's book club. It seemed she did choose a lot of books that were difficult to get through...just my opinion.

Insomniac...you liked it enough to read many of this author's books. How were the others?

Re: ""Stones From the River""

3blackdogs — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 15:28:51 GMT

I read it when it was part of Oprahs book club. I thought it was good...

Re: ""Stones From the River""

insomniac — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 18:45:08 GMT

I like this author--I would read anything she wrote.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

RINGER — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 19:12:56 GMT

This is clearly the MAIN reason I will NEVER join a Book Club because I have heard far too many people who are a part of such a club, they didn't like the book, etc! I am VERY picky reader and there is NO WAY I would stick with a book 200 pages in not liking it! SO MY MAGIC NUMBER IS 30 PAGES OR I AM DONE! If a book cannot capture the interest of the reader via characters or any other means, then it is a loser in my opinion! Now that I just read this book was a part of Oprah's book club, that answers that question. Her choices and mine are a world apart!!

Re: ""Stones From the River""

RINGER — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 19:16:20 GMT

On 9/28/2014 sunala said:
september, I tried reading Stones from the River about three or four times over the years, and finally gave up. Sometimes you have to say "enough already" and pull the bookmark.

I had to do that with The Book Thief as well. I know so many people adored it, but I just couldn't get into it. No book is worth it!

Glad to read you finally let it go.

I too did NOT like The Book Thief so you were not alone....didn't even like the DVD and that is why I will NOT read Gone Girl but get it on DVD and rather think I will not like it...

Re: ""Stones From the River""

Qlady100 — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 13:56:44 GMT

For years I made myself finish every book because I felt like I HAD to. But one day I grew up and decided that with all of the gazillion great books to read in my life, and never enough time, why fight a book that doesn't grab me ?

Life is short, it isn't homework ! I don't get paid to read, so I'm moving on to all of the other great reads out there ! I'll give the author another chance later on another title, but I won't fight a single book just to say I read it.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

lovescats — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:19:52 GMT

On 10/5/2014 insomniac said:
I like this author--I would read anything she wrote.

I'm glad you said that because I have 2 other books by her I bought on sale but haven't read yet.

Edited by me

I forgot to talk about The Book Thief I listened to this as an audible book and the narrator was so perfect so I don't know if I would feel the same way if I read it. I really don't think they could make a movie as good as the book I listened to.

Then I have to stay away from The Gone Girl threads because I don't want to read about the changed ending because I know whether intentional or by accident someone will give away the ending.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

Vamp — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 23:46:05 GMT

I read it ages ago and thought it was okay. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. However, recently one of my GF's listed it as one of her top ten books that had an impact on her.

I do remember it reminded me a lot of Gunther Grass's The Tin Drum, which I thought was freakishly brilliant. Maybe because I read The Tin Drum first, Stones from the River didn't have as strong of an impact on me as it might have otherwise. Who knows? You like what you like. You don't have to justify liking or not liking any book, any work of art, or anything else.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

september — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 05:50:47 GMT

Well, it remains clear to me.. That so many people loved this book, and I just didn't. But I don't agree with the poster who said she wouldn't join a book club because there might be choices she wouldn't like. In the nearly three years I've been in my book group, I've liked at least 90 percent of the books, and many of them wouldn't have been ones I'd have chosen on my own. It's good to branch out and read a wider variety of books.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

lovescats — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 14:42:50 GMT

I wanted to mention a type of book club I heard on the podcast Books on the Nightstand. Neither of them belong to book clubs but one narrator belongs to a circle of friends who read a book for 2 months then mail it to the next person along with a notebook where everyone journals their thoughts on the book. when the book completes the circle you get your book back with the notebook with everyone's thoughts and reviews. I recommend the podcast both of them work for Random House but it is not a Random House podcast they do it on their own.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

Vamp — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 17:51:14 GMT

On 10/7/2014 september said: Well, it remains clear to me.. That so many people loved this book, and I just didn't. But I don't agree with the poster who said she wouldn't join a book club because there might be choices she wouldn't like. In the nearly three years I've been in my book group, I've liked at least 90 percent of the books, and many of them wouldn't have been ones I'd have chosen on my own. It's good to branch out and read a wider variety of books.

I agree with your views on bookclubs. I think they are great! I have been exposed to a number of books that I probably wouldn't have picked up on my own, and it isn't that often that I don't like at least something about the books others have chosen.

Re: ""Stones From the River""

september — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 05:05:13 GMT

Lovescats...that sounds like an interesting concept. I listen to lots of podcasts, and will check out the one you mentioned.

Vamp, even when I don't like one of the book club books (rarely), it's still interesting to go to the meeting and take part in the discussion. Now...I need to get busy with the next book, since it looks like another long one!