Captain Obvious

[pbray]

In 2010 I'd managed to read a fair number of books for pleasure but after the holidays I found myself picking up the Sudoku puzzle book rather than reading with my morning coffee. Every now and then I managed a few pages but I wasn't making real progess. The book I was reading was highly recommended, in a genre that I really enjoy. I was sure that my lack of progress was due to my mood.

Then yesterday at the bookstore I saw a new book from one of my favorite authors. I picked it up, along with another one that looked good. Since yesterday I've read 1.5 books. As soon as the Amazing Race is over, I'll likely finish the second of the books that I bought yesterday.

It wasn't me, it was the book. A lesson that I keep relearning every couple of years--if I'm not enjoying reading a book, set it aside and try something else. Life is short and the TBR pile is enormous.

Comments

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

It seems like it should be obvious, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I finally realized it's okay to start a book and, if I don't get along with it, not finish it. And not a moment too soon, because the older I get, the less patience I have for books that suck.*

Fortunately I'm also getting better at picking books, so I start fewer of them that I don't end up wanting to finish.

*For values of "suck" equal to "undoubtedly the right book for someone, but not me".

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I've gotten better about setting books aside if I don't like them and moving on to something else. But in this case I kept thinking the reason why I wasn't enjoying reading it was all the stress going on. Then I realized that no, it was just a bad book :-)

Or rather it's a good book that lots of people enjoy but I'm not one of their tribe.