Quitters Sometimes Prosper: Books I've stopped reading & others I should have stopped

I generally like to see things through to the end.  Especially food.  Chocolate should never be left unfinished.  Or these maple covered nuts.  Just sayin.

And I do like to finish most books. But every once and a while, I quit.  I just do.  My need for public confessions makes it clear that peace has not been made with these abdications.  I would love to know if you have ever finished one of these books, if you have loved it and even why I might try again.  (And I am totally up for trying again...that is how I fell in love with Margaret Atwood.  Long story.) I used to think that I would never quit a book--I would always see it through.  Then I became a parent and I learned that words like "never" and "always" are just plain foolish.  

So here is my confession.  I have quit some books. 

(Spoiler alert: At the end are some books I am looking forward to reading, lest this post feel too woe-is-me.)

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Series (Stieg Larsson).  I read the first book and part way through I started skimming.  A) I was (very) bored.  The characters ate way too many sandwiches.  B) I didn't like the violence.  I didn't feel the story was powerful enough to merit the amount of violence involved.  C)  EDIT (and I may be one to talk, but this is a blog, not a book).  So I quit on the whole series.  There was no way I was entering into another long, poorly edited, graphically violent book that seemed to be gruesome just for the sake of it.  But I'm willing to listen to another side of the story.

 

 

Middlemarch (George Eliot) A classic, right?  Have you read this classic?  I tried.  I QUIT.  It was too deep for me.  I don't balk easily at long sentences.  I like to think that any sentence, read properly, is understandable.  ERRONEOUS.  I had to read and re-read sentence after sentence.  It was hard for me to do so--this book as serious theological underpinnings and I have done some schooling in theology.  So I wanted to understand.  My pride wanted me to get it.  But I couldn't follow it.  And yes, it haunts me.

Vanity Fair (William Makepeace Thackery).  Again, a classic.  And while I could follow this story--I just got bored out of my skull.  I wasn't engaged.  Bigger confession: watched the movie just to see the ending. Terrible, I know.  

Lord of the Flies (William Golding).  I'm not sure I quit this one *per se* but I didn't really read the whole thing.  I read the beginning (in grade 11), got busy, saw the movie, read the end for a project (still grade 11) and then never got to the middle.  I feel like a Lord of the Flies flake.  I hope I can't retroactively fail grade 11 English.  

Uh-oh.  This list is getting longer the more I think about it.  Maybe I'll stop.

After all is said and done, I do think it is worth sticking most books out until the end.  That being said, here are a few I wish I had read differently:

Little Bee (Chris Cleave).  This book has a great beginning.  I loved it.  And then the whole thing falls apart.  My book club all felt the same way: great start, riveting and interesting...but then...blurg.  Everything goes downhill.  It is either a brilliant comment on the contrast between Western-suburban culture and rural African life OR it is just not that great.  I think the latter might be the case. 

 

The Expats (Chris Pavone).  I didn't mind this book, I just wish I hadn't started reading it while I was home alone with my kids.  It was midnight before I went to bed because I had to know what happened.  Good read, Bourne-like mystery...but don't read it home alone.  Consider yourself warned.  

 

State of Wonder (Ann Patchett).  This book is added to the list hesitantly because I like Ann Patchett's writing, especially Bel Canto (it is a go-to recommendation for me).  However, this story was too thin or almost too thick--I'm not sure which.  It was well-written but weakly told.  Great moments but too long before anything happens.  However, if you are looking for an exercise in character writing, you could check this book out.

Most books I have read from start to finish, whether I like them or not.  But sometimes, you just have to give up and let a book slide.  Not to worry.  Behind each disappointment is another book waiting to wow you.  I'm off to start Divergent (Veronica Roth), Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card)  and The Virgin Cure (Ami McKay).  I'm sure my high hopes will be met!

Good food, good books, good advice!

Friday nights in our house are pizza night.  We used to get take out, but for a few months now we have been making our own.  Not only because my next door neighbour makes the best pizza dough in the world or because our little guy will eat anything sandwiched between bread and cheese, but because there is something so deliciously creative about concocting colourful, plentiful and fanciful pizzas.  If art class had been about pizza making, I would have been a much better student.  

Last night's pizza included on our favourite combos: pepperoni, pineapple and olives.  We amped it up a bit substituting local pork chorizo sausage for the pepperoni and adding some dollops of pesto for a bit of zip (totally inspired by our garden's basil fiesta).  It was amazing.  But I didn't come up with this perfect blend of salty/savoury/sweet on my own...it was on the advice of a good friend.  Who has taught me much about life and love--including how to buy books.

How does one buy a book?  The shelves of bookstores & libraries, large or small, are packed with options.  While I love to bend the ear of our local bookstore experts, they aren't always on hand while shopping online or browse at the library.  So how do you pick?  My good friend, who inspired our pizza last night, taught me her own reliable method:

1) Look at the cover and pick something that looks interesting.  I know, I know -- don't judge a book by its cover.  Fine.  THEN MAKE COVERS BORING.  If you don't want me to use them, stop investing in them.  Until then, I'm going to be drawn to books that have cover I like/find compelling.  And book cover artists know this moth-to-a-flame tendency is true.  Go ahead...use the cover.  Pick something pretty or scary or funky or simple.  Follow your gut.

2) Also use the cover to read about the book .  I'll skip this step on books that come with strong recommendations as I am willing to trust my book-loving friends.  But when I'm on my own, you have to check out the back and find out what you are getting in to.   [nb: I am always wary of the words "disturbing" and "chilling".  These tend to indicate dark topics inside.  Which can be fine, I just like to be warned and to have decided I'm good with some sad content.]  Read the quotes from others and check out who is reading the book as well. 

Still interested?  Okay, step 3.

3) Open to a random page and read a bit.  This step is key.  You will get a sense of the writing and content.  It will give you a chance to engage the book a little bit.  I would also read the Acknowledgements.  They are the 'big picture' of the book and offer a bit of insight into the character of the author without giving away the plot.  

If you are still intrigued about the material then find the book at the library, purchase it or borrow it.  There are lots of local booksellers online and amazing online used bookstores (I like www.abebooks.com).  Look around before going with the big guys...you will be amazed what you can find.

How do you buy a book?