What I Didn't Read this Month
When I used to buy books, I felt obligated to read them even if they were dreadful to get my money's worth. But checking out books from the library has removed that feeling, as has getting older and receiving encouragement from others to just let go of books that I'm not enjoying. That's not to say I stop reading books willy-nilly but it's nice to have that guilt-free option in the back of my mind if I'm struggling to finish something.
This month in particular has been rough for actually finishing books (or maybe I've just been too picky) so I thought I'd share the books I didn't complete rather than the ones I did. (Though if you're interested in what I did read, you can always check out my goodreads page.)
Links take you to the book's page on goodreads
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - Pretty hard to read a romance novel when you hate the supposed love interest (in this case, a super bossy vampire named Matthew). The final straw was when Diana considers having her horse jump a fence but decides not to because it might upset Matthew - and then he walks over to inform her that their horse back riding date would have been OVER if she had jumped that fence. And Diana just goes along with it. Grr, made me all prickly!
A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown - This one's tough. It's a memoir of Cupcake's life in foster care after her mother dies. From reading the description, I knew it would be a dark read (with the promise of a happy ending), but I couldn't handle reading about the blatant mistreatment and abuse of children.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - I was really interested in the premise of this book about twin brothers who are raised at the hospital where they're born because their mother dies in childbirth and their father flees soon after. But the medical writing is graphic, especially when Dr. Stone considers crushing one of the infant's heads during the labor and delivery scene. I felt like I might throw up trying to skim past it. Other readers confirmed many more surgeries lay ahead, so this is not a book I'll be finishing!
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - This was touted as a suspense book but I inadvertently guessed the mystery in the first ten pages or so. Which is probably why I found it to be a slow read. Plus the general situation is pretty depressing and again, not the best treatment of children so I stopped reading.
Thoughts? I don't generally give up on so many books in a month, closer to maybe one book every few months actually - but all my preggo hormones might be making me extra sensitive. Do you stop reading books?
This month in particular has been rough for actually finishing books (or maybe I've just been too picky) so I thought I'd share the books I didn't complete rather than the ones I did. (Though if you're interested in what I did read, you can always check out my goodreads page.)
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - Pretty hard to read a romance novel when you hate the supposed love interest (in this case, a super bossy vampire named Matthew). The final straw was when Diana considers having her horse jump a fence but decides not to because it might upset Matthew - and then he walks over to inform her that their horse back riding date would have been OVER if she had jumped that fence. And Diana just goes along with it. Grr, made me all prickly!
A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown - This one's tough. It's a memoir of Cupcake's life in foster care after her mother dies. From reading the description, I knew it would be a dark read (with the promise of a happy ending), but I couldn't handle reading about the blatant mistreatment and abuse of children.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - I was really interested in the premise of this book about twin brothers who are raised at the hospital where they're born because their mother dies in childbirth and their father flees soon after. But the medical writing is graphic, especially when Dr. Stone considers crushing one of the infant's heads during the labor and delivery scene. I felt like I might throw up trying to skim past it. Other readers confirmed many more surgeries lay ahead, so this is not a book I'll be finishing!
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - This was touted as a suspense book but I inadvertently guessed the mystery in the first ten pages or so. Which is probably why I found it to be a slow read. Plus the general situation is pretty depressing and again, not the best treatment of children so I stopped reading.
Thoughts? I don't generally give up on so many books in a month, closer to maybe one book every few months actually - but all my preggo hormones might be making me extra sensitive. Do you stop reading books?
Yes I definitely stop reading books! Those sounded like an unusually grim lot. I read A Discovery of Witches but I found the supernatural romance to be ridiculous so I didn't read the sequels.Have you ever seen Nick Hornby's books or columns "Polysyllabic Spree"? He lists the books he buys or has sitting around each month, talks about the ones he's read, and then talks about the ones he didn't read or gave up on, and what that says about him. Very entertaining!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely check out "Polysyllabic Spree"! Sounds right up my alley :)
DeleteOH yeah, I am like you usually - read them no matter. Dar has helped me feel OK to dump a bad book, especially sine mine are always library books. I'm not entirely sure why I even finished the one I just did!
ReplyDeleteI'd probably still be trying to read A Discovery of Witches if I'd purchased the book. I just hate feeling like I've wasted money!
DeleteYes, Dar's also helped free me from the notion that I have to finish everything! That list does seem like a very challenging bunch of books. The Witch one reminds me a bit of 50 Shades of Gray. I wanted to finish it since it was such a topic of conversation but I resoundingly could not make it through the first chapter. It is just as interesting to see books you haven't finished (and why) - and could save other readers the effort of ploughing half-way through!
ReplyDelete50 Shades of Gray isn't really my cup of tea either - a good friend warned me that the writing was terrible so I didn't even attempt it. Though I have read and enjoyed some other books that would probably fall in the "erotic fiction" category.
DeleteI like the idea of saving someone from suffering through a book!
I love the idea. Books I didn't read. Very clever.
ReplyDeleteDon't think I'd read any of these either.
Glad you think it's clever, what a nice ego boost! :)
DeleteI have read Cutting For Stone.. and agreed it was very graphic.. i am still on the fence about how i felt about the book. I think you can either love it or hate it.. but it was engrossing for sure
ReplyDeleteI found it engrossing too . . just couldn't get past all those detailed surgeries!
DeleteSometimes you just have to give up on a book, otherwise it will keep you from reading all those other great ones. I admit that I had difficulties with Never Let Me Go, too. Although I probably shouldn't have seen the movie first...
ReplyDeleteSo true! I prefer to read the book before watching the movie, and I doubt I'd read something if I watched the movie first!
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