On this final Tuesday of January, Shanah the Bionic Bookworm would like to know about books that we all consider to be intimidating reads. From massive lengths to complicated prose, there are lots of reasons for a book to be intimidating. Here are the top 5 books that intimidate me the most!
Mistborn
by Brandon Sanderson
There are a lot of books in this series. The 7th book is slated to come out late this year, plus there is a prequel book and a book that’s supposed to take place between 3 and 4. I don’t know the reading order of any of this, but it’s intimidating just to think about. This probably won’t stop me, though.
In Cold Blood
by Truman Capote
I have no idea what intimidates me about this book. Maybe because of that Capote movie where the author was played by Phillip Seymor Hoffman and he looked VERY serious throughout. A man that serious looking must write prose that I would be able to make heads or tails of, right?
House of Leaves
by Mark Z. Danielewski
It’s unconventional. It has so many footnotes that some of the footnotes have footnotes. I’m not kidding. That’s not the real intimidating part, though. It’s unconventional nature sounds similar to The Illuminae Files. What intimidates me is how many people have said the book leaves you feeling unsettled. I don’t read a lot of horror. So if this is the most horrific of all horror, I might be in some trouble with this book.
A Brief History of Time
by Stephen Hawking
Hawking is a bonafide genius. And he’s going to talk about physics. Am I going to understand any of this? I read Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. It was supposed to be Astrophysics dumbed down, and most of it was still waaaaaaaaay above my head.
Discworld
by Terry Pratchett
And I thought Mistborn was a big series? Holy crap-weasels! Discworld is MASSIVE! And some of the books are grouped into series within the series, where others are standalone. From what I’ve been told, you can start from almost anywhere, but that’s not really true.
I stole this helpful graphic from lspace.org. As you can see, there are several ‘starter novels’ with oodles of sequels from each. There are illustrated novels, short stories, and ‘science novels’ in the mix as well. When (not IF) I start this series, I think I’ll start with Mort. I don’t know why.
I have to agree with you, series like Discworld terrify me, because I would have to take a break from everything else just to catch up! I am going to give House of Leaves a shot, though 😃
The footnotes have footnotes??? 😳
That’s what I’ve heard!
I want to read House of Leaves and Mistborn but I am also intimidated. I’ve never heard of Discworld but wow!! That’s a crazy chart. I don’t think I could bring myself to read that series. There’s just too much.
At this point, I don’t intend to read the whole series, but I may attempt ONE of the storylines.
That’s probably a good place to start!
Mistborn series is on my list too! 😂 And I once tried reading ‘a brief history of time’ but gave up too soon.
Why have I never heard of House of Leaves!?!? It sounds awesome!
But I’m not sure I could cope with footnotes for the footnotes!
A Brief History of Time found a spot on my list for the same reasons, too. It’s always been a book I’ve wanted to read but I’m afraid I wouldn’t understand any of it!
Well Joe I have read and enjoyed A brief history of Time! It was really interesting. I also have read oneof his books where he is trying to prove the existence of God through science. Honestly I read 15 pages and had to stop and ponder. Then resume some hours later 😉
Good to know!
If it makes you feel better, I read In Cold Blood for a high school class and didn’t find it difficult at all! If anything, the most difficult part of it was the story itself, and only because it was so unsettling for me.
I’ve also read House of Leaves and though it can be very intimidating, it is also one of my all-time favorites. It’s just so brilliantly done, it’s definitely worth it imo.
Awesome. Good to know on both counts. Thanks!
Mistborn is so intimidating. I’ve heard many good things about it, but I’m so scared to read it lol
I don’t know what scares me more, reading a big book and not liking it, or reading a big book and loving it so much that I suddenly have a dozen big books to read!
First of all, that Discworld grafic is terrifying! I don’t even know the series, but it looks so convoluted. I’d be so scared I was starting in the wrong spot.
I read the first Mistborn book, and I enjoyed it. I didn’t continue though, only because I think the ending hit me too hard.
*graphic – ahem, blame the fact that I’m at work and trying to do multiple things!
We are of the same mind for a lot of these. Mistborn is an obvious one that we’ve talked about many times. House of Leaves is a book that I’ve been picking my way through for years – literally! I haven’t gotten too far into it and read maybe 25 pages here and there. Its format is so unconventional and all over the place – I’ve had a hard time connecting with it. But it’s good!
Thanks for participating – added you to the list (even though it’s a little late – sorry!)
Ah yes, I found Discworld intimidating before I get started- what helped though was knowing that it was lots of little series in one big series- and then on top of that each of the stories can be read on their own. I think it helped to see it in those smaller terms for me.
I agree with Discworld, I really want to try it out, but it is DEFINITELY one of the more intimidating series to get started!
I totally agree with a Brief History of Time. I really wanna read it but I mean Hawking is a geniuuuus! it’s intimidating haha
Hi JW!
I’ve also been meaning to read some novels by Terry Pratchett, but have been intimidated by how many there are! That is pretty ingenious that someone had put together a graphic to describe the ideal reading order :’)
Agree with Brief History of Time. Physics is way out of my league.
Oh my, the disc world novels! I only own Hogfather, and want to read it cause I watched the Tv movie as a kid, but then I found out about the rest of the books. There are so many! But I still think I’ll start with Hogfather, apparently they’re all stand alone.