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I've been awfully fickle lately with my reading choices. I've picked up a few books only to set them aside for one reason or another. All of these three books are from the library so I doubt I will be going back to them (unless I really get into the mood). Although I don't attempt to review books I don't finish, I thought it might be interesting to see which books I just couldn't get into and why. Here, in no particular order are my meh books of the week:
Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi. I don't know why I can't get into this one. I liked other of Scalzi's Old Man's War books. My husband had rave recommendations of this one. But I just couldn't get into it.
Away by Amy Bloom. Although I have read a few books I didn't enjoy for my IRL book club, this is the first one I set down with the determination there was no way I was going to finish it. The writing is very beautiful, but I just can't get into the characters. At all. Because of the way the book is written, I feel extremely removed from the inner workings of the characters.
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin. The concept totally sounded like something I'd love. A girl wakes up without any memory of anything past sixth grade and has to rediscover her life. Up to the point I've gotten to though, the characters seemed flat and the plot feels predictable. It doesn't help that this book reminds me a lot of The Adoration of Jenna Fox, a book I enjoyed from start to finish.
What books have you not been able to get into this week?
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6 comments:
I've been very fortunate lately and seem to be loving just about every book I pick up. I just know it won't last--although I wouldn't mind if it did! I think I'm just in the right mood for my choices these days, which always helps.
I can't remember the last book I didn't finish. I am pretty sure it was a book I wanted to get back to at some later date though, and so not one I am willing to label as a DNF (Did Not Finish) just yet. I've had books that fall into that category though. It's just been a long while.
Zoe's Tale! You're going to make Chris and Renay cry :P
Sometimes the time's just now right for a book, and when that's the case, it's a good idea to drop it. I'm trying to learn to do this more myself.
I've heard a lot about Zoe's Tale, but I can understand the feeling of not being able to get into a book. Recently it hasn't happenned to me (touch wood). Hope you find a rocking book soon enough :)
for many reasons we don't like every book that we think we will, and as Nymeth says, sometimes it's just "not the right time"..
I was in the same boat as you.. for you it was that everyone loved Zoe's Tale but you couldn't get into it.. for me it was the same with The Time Travelers Wife.. everyone loved it.. but it just didn't do it for me.. but I did save it and will try once more at another time..if the same thing happens then I will give it away lol
I very rarely ever give up on a book. It's just me. I don't know why. But this week, I pulled a DNF with American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld. I guess when I started I didn't realize it was a fictionalized version of the Bush's marriage. Just couldn't handle it.
I haven't set anything aside, which is unusual. Sorry to hear you didn't like Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac. I read it a year or two ago and liked it, though I didn't think it was overwhelmingly great. I hear her book, Elsewhere, is far better. I'll try it one day!
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