books to read and books to forget
What makes a great book? Obviously it had to be about a subject that interests you. It has to be written in a language that on one hand is understandable but on the other is admirable. What I mean by that is a book has to inspire a sort of jealousy from me - something akin to that feeling anyway. Where I would be proud of having written a book like that myself.
Now, not that many books fit this criteria. Mostly I end up being frustrated and as a result abandon books half way through. However once every week or so I do find a book that is worthy of being read until the very end, and that is where the next trap awaits. The ending. This annoys me no end. Good books having crappy endings. It is as if an author just gets tired of the plot and rushes the very thing that makes a good book great.
I got lucky last week - finally found a book that can go on my "favourite" shelf. The Paris Enigma by Pablo de Santis. It is not a book that I would go for usually and indeed I was tricked into buying it - the back cover did not give away what the book is actually about. It is portrayed as a whodunit in a historical setting but really it is about the philosophy of a mystery, progress and its negative effects on the secret side of life. Obviously I am not doing the book justice, it is one of those works that surprises you and makes you read it throughout the night.
Just to show how often I find good books, the one that got a place on that shelf beforehand was The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (sp?) which was about a year ago. I guess I am not easily pleased
Now, not that many books fit this criteria. Mostly I end up being frustrated and as a result abandon books half way through. However once every week or so I do find a book that is worthy of being read until the very end, and that is where the next trap awaits. The ending. This annoys me no end. Good books having crappy endings. It is as if an author just gets tired of the plot and rushes the very thing that makes a good book great.
I got lucky last week - finally found a book that can go on my "favourite" shelf. The Paris Enigma by Pablo de Santis. It is not a book that I would go for usually and indeed I was tricked into buying it - the back cover did not give away what the book is actually about. It is portrayed as a whodunit in a historical setting but really it is about the philosophy of a mystery, progress and its negative effects on the secret side of life. Obviously I am not doing the book justice, it is one of those works that surprises you and makes you read it throughout the night.
Just to show how often I find good books, the one that got a place on that shelf beforehand was The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (sp?) which was about a year ago. I guess I am not easily pleased