u/the_ferryman_

(To preface this I have to say that the contents of the books I struggle to finish aren't due to a lack of ability to comprehend what I'm reading or any kind of frustration, I do know this is what causes a lot of readers to ultimately drop a read, it's not my issue here.)

It's been no mystery to me for a long time now that I struggle to finish my books despite my love for the medium and everything it's given to me over the years. It's reached the point that I've experienced a kind of "book related guilt" about just how many novels I've started over the years across numerous genres and never finished. I wanted to ask this subreddit what it means to you guys personally to finish a book and what drives you to finish what you start. If I were to truly explain what I mean by this I would have to discuss about two books.

The first book I want to talk about is Infinite Jest, if there has ever been a novel that has a reputation that precedes it, it's infinite jest. The copy I own of it still sits on my "currently reading" shelf and has been haunting me ever since I started it some years ago and it sits in my mind as what I feel is the prime example of a book I love dearly and want more than anything to finish, but still cannot drive myself to endure. It's no mystery to me that David Foster Wallace is a beloved figure in a lot of literary spheres and it's come to a point that I've finished just about every other piece of his writing I could get my hands on while still being somewhat early into his "magnum opus".

The second book I wanted to talk about is Lucy Ellmann's "Ducks, Newburyport" a book I would personally perceive to be a more difficult book than Infinite Jest just due to the pure monotony and tedium of the reading experience while still being one I was capable of getting to the end of. Something about this novel spoke to me in a way that Infinite Jest just didn't, while I can't say I relate to the characters of either novel very personally I could always find something in DN struck me in the way I so wanted Infinite Jest to despite my love for DFW and what he's written, and it led me to wonder what it means in general to finish a novel.

I personally feel that nothing quite causes you to want to start a story more than allure, that writhing bind on your brain that tells you "Wouldn't that novel be amazing?" despite your better judgement, and ultimately despite whether or not you have the patience to finish it. When it comes to wanting to finish a novel, I still don't know. Thoughts?

edit: spelling and grammar

For some clarification I know that gothic 1 remake falls under these criteria but I am not buying 900$ ram sticks to run it. I have a 4090 and can run most games besides a select few newer ones.

By non-linear I mean it still has a greater end goal (kill a big boss, get to a great place, etc) but I can still get lost in my freedom. As for large scale, I just mean a good amount of content to enjoy (but not shitty sidequests along the lines of "go kill a number of random mobs"). Cool monsters I hope makes sense

I'm really wanting to read a book that takes place after a war (fictional or otherwise) and the aftermath of what that has done to the people in it. I'm a really big fan of novels that have to do with war I'm just now realizing but a lot of anti-war novels I read often end up being somewhat similar. I'd prefer if it wasn't post-apocalyptic/dystopian but I don't really mind either way.

Anywhere I've consulted or looked has bleak house as a novel that's best looked at later on when it comes to reading his works, but I for the life of me have a hard time finding any interest in a lot of his more popular works. The prose in bleak house (or at least the excerpts from chapter one) are wrapped around my mind and fill me with the intense desire to read it, but I am cautious as to how good or bad of an idea it is to read it as my first dickens.

For some examples of the works of his that don't interest me as much (and why)
Christmas carol, I've engaged in this story about a thousand times in the animated movie or reading it for school or just hearing about it constantly come Christmas time, it's just a little harrowing.
Oliver Twist, I do love a coming of age novel but the general premise of Oliver twist just doesn't really entice me.
David Copperfield, admittedly this one does strike my interest a little more than the others listed but again I am just not in the time or place for "this characters' life story"

As for the ones that DO interest me (and i'm sure you don't need justification for WANTING to read something he's written) they're listed here
A tale of two cities, Our Mutual Friend, Little Dorrit, Hard Times, Bleak House, Dombey and Son, Martin Chuzzlewit.

If you can't be asked to read the entire post, I would just like to know if I can make a good reading order (that hopefully isn't too long) that will prepare me for bleak house. I am not afraid to try new books/things I may not like and have probably read harder novels, but would appreciate the input either way.

(P.S, I am looking for great twists, characters to be absorbed in, and beautiful premises. thank you)

I feel I'm in a time in my "reading career" to where I really want to engage in Joyce's works, infact it's been eating at me how elusive and how magnificent this author seems to be to me; so as a completely new Joyce reader I'm going to approach his books in this way.

First and foremost, I'm going to read the Odyssey to prepare me later for Ulysses.

Second, I'm going to proceed to read dubliners and portrait in that order followed by hamlet (because I've heard Joyce is inspired by Shakespeare)

Third and lastly, I'm going to read Ulysses followed by Finnegan's wake.

I would love some input on other prerequisite reading and just know this is all for leisure/indulgence. (If you can engage with Joyce's work indulgently I'm not so sure)

I've attempted to play persona 5 what feels like a multitude of times at this point and I'm starting to question if I should just give up on the title. I'm a big fan of SMT (I've beaten shin megami tensei 3, 4, 5, soul hackers, DDS, strange journey, and have even beaten persona 3) but for whatever reason I can't find the strength in myself to get past the beginning section of P5. Should I give it another try? Maybe try persona 4 again instead? Does it inevitably get better?

I've been hearing praise for the wire ever since its inception and just have never gotten around to it, after having recently watched Moonlight (2016) I've been more interested in watching media about the POC experience. In Oz's case, I've never really watched a prison show or anything of that nature and from what it seems it has a certain theatric nature I really appreciate but I'm not entirely sure as to if it's as powerful as something like the wire. I don't really have the time to be watching both so it's one or the other.

Ducks, newburyport - lucy ellman

As I lay dying - William faulkner

Lonesome dove - Larry McMurtry

Anything like Cormac McCarthy's style

Slaughterhouse five - kurt vonnegut

I'm not requesting that the books be the same as all of these titles (that's a nigh impossible ask) but I would like titles similar to any of them. Thank you