Sounds like many editors. Who is the publisher?

Why do you hate blood meridian? Is it because it's too dark? I loved the book and thought it was really well written.

I'm going to agree with the majority and say that it's just your personal taste Reading comprehension is kind of weird and different for everyone. I highly doubt a group of people in a literal book club have bad reading comprehension. It's more than one thing. Memory, language skills, focus, etc. For example. I read really fast, but my retention sucks unless I take notes. My friend is a slow reader, but remembers everything to a T. My friend has an amazing memory, but sucks at spelling. Lol I am amazing at spelling. But my memory is absolutely terrible. I for the life of me, also cannot comprehend a book if it just bores me.

Exactly.

Just read this, the main character is such a horrible human, yet the story is compelling.

I’ve been hearing good things about Jón Kalman Stefánsson - has anyone read his work?

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Wtf hahaha this has chilled out my curiosity to try reading it a bit lol

Right? So often people take it to somewhere like Reddit so they can just focus on the numbers in agreement and support.

My favourite thing to remind people, “ just because you have a lot in support, doesn’t mean you’re right or justified.”

The amount of people who say, “yeah okay!’ How can I be wrong if people agree with me?!”

Why does it matter to think, or clarify you’re superior to them in reading habits, preference or comprehension? That’s weird and superficial in a messed up way lol. Kind of the point of book clubs I think to ah e differing views and perceptions. To help each other understand or see things.

I comprehend things further than most people, and I don’t think of them as beneath me or even consider they have a smoother brain. You have a massive ego if that’s how you’re viewing it. People who don’t see as deeply as I do, enjoy hearing me explain the things they don’t pick up on. Or how I connect things, bc even if it’s not accurate, it’s a different view. It’s a perception. They like hearing it from that way, and it gets them thinking, and sometimes they pick up on something in a different way from it, or notice more I haven’t.

Worth noting, we’re able to talk like that because I don’t view them or myself, the way you are viewing your group, and self. I have a feeling you explaining stuff would come across varying kinds of condescending.

What other books has your book club read?

They may be rethinking whether they really want to spend their time reading “challenging” books. There is nothing wrong with reading for pleasure and not finishing books that feel like a chore to slog through.

Exactly. ESP the people who fill the need for internet validation

Well, if you are an adult and reading in your native language and don't have any kind of cognitive limitations I don't see why "reading comprehension" is even a topic. I have only ever heard that talked about when studying a foreign language and moving from lessons and textbooks to regular books.

And of course your mind wanders and you find a book "hard" if you don't actually like the story. Happened to me more and more with the basic thriller, which is why I took a break from the genre. And these are definitely not "hard" books.

I'll try:

Hey have you seen this missile? No? Welp here's some incest.

I use to love reading until my eyes went wackadoodle...

yeah, that was another reason i sucked at reading books, but not anymore.

The Old Testament is very difficult for some people but it's not written in a very sophisticated style. It can feel very tedious at some points. I've read some people outright recommend avoiding the Tabernacle portion. I've heard of people describing Rothko as the two-color guy and people explaining that seeing it in person finally made it click for them. Just like movies, just like music. You've found some sort of connection with your book while everyone else has missed it. Why don't you try explaining your connection with your group?

Ahhh I know some people need background noise for audio books. Some have rain, cracking of fire, wind etc...

Havent seen Angels of the universe yet. it is written by Einar Már Guðmundsson and based on his brother who suffered from schizophrenia. The mark left on popular culture by this book is still felt today especially since mental health is more talked about now than ever before. In 2000 a movie was made based on the book and while it stars legendary Icelandic actor Ingvar E. Sigurðsson it also features Baltasar Kormákur who is now a very successful director.

Laxness has already been mentioned but i want to recommend my favorite book of his: Salka Valka. Written in the 1920's it features a unique look into the struggles of the icelandic proletariat in a fictional town called Óseyri.

It’s art and art is always subjective. I hate Beloved. Others love it. Doesn’t mean I couldn’t understand the material or found it hard to read. I just didn’t connect with the art. Find someone else to chat with who has connected with Gravity’s Rainbow the way you have and let your book club end their suffering.

>We’ve read similarly difficult books so I’m a tad confused.

You answered your own question, so I'm not sure what the point of this post is. You're not confused--you're pretending to be confused to get a pat on the back for enjoying a "difficult" book.

You sound insufferable.

>did say this was part of a mental health program,

just read the next line.

> I wasn’t asking for one. I was looking for a site.

you get it for free.

seee, thats part of social media, you get all kind of responses, not necessarily (only) the desired one.

If it hasn't happened already, maybe your book club will choose a book which you find to be confusing and boring but which others enjoy. What would you think then? Would you worry about your level of "reading comprehension" or would you just say that it wasn't your cup of tea?

That’s actually what I’ve been doing! Haha, but I was hoping there could be something more streamlined than reviews. That’s okay though, I very much appreciate your response

And geeze! Images should have priority trigger warnings lol sorry to hear that