a little more bookworm

I feel as though lately, this blog has been quite a bit of baby and not so much bookworm. Obviously, D demands much more attention than the novel currently sitting on my nightstand, but I do wish I could carve out a little more time to read. If only I had started this blog while I was pregnant... I would have had a new book review for you every 2 days! 

My last trip to the library was so unsuccessful. I checked out 3 books, as opposed to my usual 7, and only read one of them. I cannot tell you the last time that happened. I kept holding out hope that I would find some time to read the other 2, but then the due date came and went, and I ended up owing the library a whopping $4 in late fees for books I didn't even read. Lame sauce.

This time, I checked out a much more manageable 2 books, and started with this:

Have you ever read a book that just makes you downright angry? I got through Chapter 1 of this book, and threw it across the room in disgust.

 It. is. AWFUL.

 I picked it up because it's about an art dealer, and supposed to be a mystery of sorts, but oh my gosh I feel dumber just having read those first 30 pages. The author writes like you are literally the stupidest person in the world, and every single detail needs to be spelled out for you. I was offended. 

Don't take my word for it, though. Here's a little excerpt:

Now turning to his wife, Marius shook his head and chided lightly, "I told you how beautiful you looked, but you didn't believe me. Now that you've just witnessed Malcolm's stunned reaction, you must know I'm right." 

"I did believe you," she protested, slipping her arm through his, leaning against him. "You're always right."

Clearing his throat, Malcolm interjected, "It's great to be here, and thanks for having me, but now I think I'd better move on, so you can greet your other guests. See you later."

Marius nodded, immediately turned around, and stretched out his hand to welcome some of the newly arriving guests streaming through the door. Malcolm slipped away. [....]

Actually it was Annette's party this evening. She had long planned it for Marius's sixtieth  and she had put a lot of time and effort into it. Just the way Marius had taught her. That was his way. He tended to be a teacher by nature."

Ugh. Just typing that made me angry. 

It's hard to pinpoint what it is, exactly, that makes a book bad. If I had to put my finger on it, especially in this excerpt, it's that everything is laid out for you. There's no reader inference, the author controls your every thought. You aren't able to imagine the characters, or the story unfolding, because the dialogue is too stiff, too contrived. And the characters are entirely too perfect for my taste.

It is a very rare occurrence that I don't finish a book, because I always need to know how it ends, but I cannot even fathom trying to finish this sucker. Ick.

I moved onto library book number 2, called "The Devil in Silver" by Victor Lavalle. I'm only a few chapters in, but sooo much better already. It's about a man who is involuntarily committed to a mental institution, where an actual devil walks the halls at night, feeding on the inmates. Creepyyyy, but I am totally intrigued. 

Look for a review soon!

What have you been reading?

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