Right now, I'm reading, or trying to read, The Post-Birthday World. I've been wanting to read this book for awhile, and finally took it out from the library. The general plot reminds me a lot of the movie Sliding Doors, where the main character's future is thoroughly imagined two ways, as the result of two different decisions, i.e. how life would be with two different men. To cheat or not to cheat. Intriguing, right? Even better is that the writer of this book delves pretty deep into each outcome, touching on a lot of the philosophical aspects of relationships, infidelity, etc. I like the characters, I like the location (London), I think about the book when I'm away from it. All of these are good signs, but... ugh, the reading is so tedious. Clearly, I'm not playing with a full deck these days, being preggo and all, but I've always had this problem with books where I have to read sentences three times to fully digest what is being said: I hate reading them. I had an editing professor in college who insisted that if you have to read the sentence more than once, the sentence is not well-written. So, too bad for you, Faulkner, Shakespeare, Foster Wallace...? I agree and disagree with the statement. In the case of TPBW, I don't know what's blocking the suspension of disbelief, that narrative dream you fall into when reading a good story. It is a good story, and not badly written--maybe it's too well-written? Maybe I'm hung up because I know in order to fully absorb the gravity of what's being said, I would have to stop and think, and I don't want to stop and think right now. I just want to read, to know what happens next, to go go go.Anyway, my usual policy is, if it's taking too long, there's a reason, so stop. Life's ticking by, no one's making you read it, so move on, find something else. I don't need to know the end. But usually, the second I make that decision to chuck the book, I feel better. I've already put down TPBW a number of times now, thought about what else I could cram in before the release of Deathly Hallows, and only feel better, i.e. de-antsified, when I pick TPBW back up again. It's odd. I've got a little over 8 days and 400 or so pages to go... I don't know, man, I don't know. What's your book m.o.?
8 comments:
Pace yourself, don't rush. Maybe read aloud to the bug.
Oh, man... this is a tough one. I tend to read until the end, but there were several times when doing so resulted in a big "What the fuck?" moment. This, followed by the thud of said book hitting the wall. (Notable books I thought were throw-worthy, that others really liked: the last Donna Tartt book, Brett Lott's "Jewel" ... sorry, people-who-liked-them.)
So, I hear you on this one. Let me know how it goes -- this sounds like an interesting plot, at least.
Jewel, EW. I think I threw that one across the room, too.
I have this horrible complex about quitting books. I feel compelled to give them their due and read them whether I'm enjoying them or not.
yah i'm way too 'i'm excavating' mentality- trying to find some interest in what's going on- i can't seem to get out of the workshop mode of, i have to read this and say something positive about it. books i didn't like: the corrections, 1984, handmaids tale, under the volcano...
I agree with Ashley and I'm the same way with movies - I always felt compelled to finish it before being able to fully give an opinion. But, as I've gotten older and time is more precious, I don't feel I owe much to anybody, especially if it's unpleasant or takes work on my part - when it's supposed to be enjoyable! It does seem to have you intrigued, that's curious it's so tedious and such a burden to actually get through, though, but stays with you after you've put it down again. good luck!
Once I start a book, I'm kind of OCD about finishing it no matter how bad it is. Same way with movies. Usually. Exceptions include a collection of Joseph Conrad's work that I still tell myself I'll finish someday. (Heart of Darkness was just so good. I don't get it.) And "Boys Don't Cry" when they started raping her. I can't stand Hilary Swank, but that was just too hard to watch.
Hmmm, all very good input. I feel like I SHOULD be compelled to finish, I mean someone put all this effort into creating the thing--book, movie, whatever. And maybe I'll be missing out. But like andria says, time is increasingly precious. Why waste it? Though from m's perspective, it's not a waste because you're excavating. See, though, if I didn't like something I read in workshop, I would just skip that day. Mwahahaha.
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