It turned the story on it's head immediately.
I like reading good writing. I like reading books I couldn't write myself. Language is important. That being said, sometimes I tire of "literary" fiction that dips into the experimental. Then I get stuck. I feel obligated to finish a book once I've decided to read it. This comes from believing that I am basically an undisciplined person, which I may have to rethink. I always find a way to get what needs doing done.
Right now I am stuck in Herta Muller's THE LAND OF GREEN PLUMS, which is set in Romania during Ceausescu's reign of terror. It is only 242 pages and I read the first 145 pages in one sitting. Haven't wanted to get back to it. Herta Muller won the Nobel Prize a couple of years ago, so I feel some kind of obligation to finish it. Ridiculous, of course. That title is so beautiful, though.
At the same time, I will not allow myself to start the next book on my bedside table, which is
Haruki Murakami's KAFKA ON THE SHORE. I need to read some P.D. James as a reward for reading PLUMS and then move onto Murakami, which is what I suspect I will do.
Goal: Finish the Muller tonight.
You are such a polite reader! Any author would be grateful to have you, knowing you will hang in 'til the end. I bet you never leave a live production during intermission, either.
ReplyDeleteHeather, I have left a live production at intermission before, but only because the production was not to be endured.
ReplyDeleteCan I tell you a funny story about that book of yours? I loved that story and got such a kick out of it, I bought it and read it several times, and one day Ben (my husband) read it for fun too. Then we moved to NY where he was a home teacher to a young man who had a girlfriend who was in the hospital for some psychiatric issues. Ben asked if she needed anything, and she asked for a romance novel. He gave her my copy of The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman. He said it was the only 'romance' novel he felt comfortable giving her. I wanted to be chagrined because I liked that book, but how could I be? It was such a funny situation. I need to order another copy and read it again.
ReplyDeleteI gave up being "committed" to finishing a book a few years ago when I belonged to a book club and decided there were too many good books to read and I would rather read them than finish a book that did not hold my interest. I now read between 50-100 pages and if i'm not hooked by then I move on. On another note I wished I lived closer so I could have attended your evening where you shared your reading habits along with Anne Cannon. I hope it went well.
ReplyDeleteI used to feel that way too. Then I found out about Atwood H Townsend, a professor at NYU in the 1930s who wrote a book about reading. He said, "Never force yourself to read a book that you do not enjoy. There are so many good books in the world that it is foolish to waste time on one that does not give you pleasure and profit."
ReplyDeleteWell. If Professor Townsend gives me permission, I can move on to the next book without guilt. And I do.
Of course, one runs the risk of becoming a literary gadabout. We choose our failings.
where is the "like" button on this comment?
Deleteamen.
I still have trouble with it. But I will try harder to accept your permission, Atwood H. Townsend.
Linda J, I have the same 100 page test. But I call it a test, and follow it (I must make it to page 100). So then I don't feel undisciplined. It is all about the way we present the situation. Self-deception is a science.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Fleur changed for you, cause I really like her. After I finished the book I wondered what happened with Fleur. You should write another book about Fleur...for me...cause I want to know what happened to her.
ReplyDeleteOr you could at least break it down on your blog.
I'm impressed that you guys stick with a boring date of a book for 100 pages. Me? I'm outta there by 50.
ReplyDeleteI visited Romania and did not see one green plum. Lots of red tomatoes. And one particularly ugly building Ceausescu had built in Bucharest. Imagine a building of such size it is seen from space and yet it has not one speck of furnishings except these heavy moth eaten drapes.
ReplyDeleteI have a stack of books in a few places in my house which I pick up according to my mood or time. I have the page 35 rule when I select - if it doesn't grab me - I don't buy it or take it out of the library. I probably have missed some great books.
I have been really enjoying your blog and decided to finally take the plunge and comment! I tend to make myself finish even the most boring of books because I always hope they will get better - usually not the case. This is something I should probably change about myself, but I rarely have the heart to "bail" on an author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily, I'm also a big fan of the way Fleur turned out. I love the dynamics of all the characters in The Unlikely Romance of K.B. (full disclosure, that book brought me here!)
I never would have read Love in the Time of Cholera if I hadn't had that "gotta finish" drive, and I'm so glad I did.
ReplyDeleteI feel so guilty when I don't finish. Like you, I feel like I can't move on to the next book until I finish reading what's in my purse. Magazines are allowed, though.
ReplyDelete