Bookworm Post #9
More book talk, because I don't have the energy to write about other things. Tomorrow instead, I think.
I used to be a reader who felt obligated to finish every book I started. Even if I didn't enjoy the story, I used to slog through until the end when I could tell myself, "I did it!"
I've recently adopted the "So what?" mindset. "So what if I don't finish a book?" When I read for pleasure, it is my leisure time. And -- lightbulb! -- I don't need to spend time on a book I don't like...especially when I have so many others on my to-be-read list!
(At this point, I'm hoping the afterlife is one massive library...)
Unfortunately, three titles that didn't keep my attention:
Poppy Shakespeare by Clare Allan -- The story had me interested (centered on individuals with mental health issues attending an outpatient program) but the main character spoke in a stream-of-consciousness manner and the dialogue was written with a lot of shortcuts found in natural speech. Slang, jargon, etc. Which makes sense because it drew me into the immediacy of the environment, but my brain grew tired because I felt I had to 1) translate it into "proper English" and then 2) process the story itself. I didn't finish it.
Ask Again Later by Jill A. Davis -- This novel had no chapters, only subtitled sections every few pages. I personally felt the subtitles were jarring and prevented me from absorbing the story of a woman trying to reconcile with her estranged father as she copes with her mother's terminal illness. Also, I found the young woman to be very self-involved and after two pages describing her new coffee-maker, I tossed the book aside.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer -- Needless repetition in a novel is a personal pet peeve of mine. And that is why I only made it 50 pages into Twilight before calling it quits. I could swear that I was reading back-to-back sentences that said the same thing. But I love Kristen Stewart and that's why I've still seen the movies. :-)
I used to be a reader who felt obligated to finish every book I started. Even if I didn't enjoy the story, I used to slog through until the end when I could tell myself, "I did it!"
I've recently adopted the "So what?" mindset. "So what if I don't finish a book?" When I read for pleasure, it is my leisure time. And -- lightbulb! -- I don't need to spend time on a book I don't like...especially when I have so many others on my to-be-read list!
(At this point, I'm hoping the afterlife is one massive library...)
Unfortunately, three titles that didn't keep my attention:
Poppy Shakespeare by Clare Allan -- The story had me interested (centered on individuals with mental health issues attending an outpatient program) but the main character spoke in a stream-of-consciousness manner and the dialogue was written with a lot of shortcuts found in natural speech. Slang, jargon, etc. Which makes sense because it drew me into the immediacy of the environment, but my brain grew tired because I felt I had to 1) translate it into "proper English" and then 2) process the story itself. I didn't finish it.
Ask Again Later by Jill A. Davis -- This novel had no chapters, only subtitled sections every few pages. I personally felt the subtitles were jarring and prevented me from absorbing the story of a woman trying to reconcile with her estranged father as she copes with her mother's terminal illness. Also, I found the young woman to be very self-involved and after two pages describing her new coffee-maker, I tossed the book aside.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer -- Needless repetition in a novel is a personal pet peeve of mine. And that is why I only made it 50 pages into Twilight before calling it quits. I could swear that I was reading back-to-back sentences that said the same thing. But I love Kristen Stewart and that's why I've still seen the movies. :-)