It was bound to happen, I should not be surprised. I should have known it was going to happen when my library did not have Darkmans even though it made the Booker short list. I should have known it was going to be like this when the thing came really quickly – all the way from Alabama via ILL. I should have known.
Darkmans. Sucks.
I tried, I swear I did. I get that it’s supposed to be weird and quirky and Gravity’s Rainbow-like (which in case you don’t remember, I never finished either because GR sucked the life out of me after 100 pages.) It’s far easier to read than Gravity’s Rainbow and for that reason alone, I attempted to stick with it. But as I started Part 2 I started thinking about just how old I am (Michelle will be 18 tomorrow, which makes me much older than dirt) and just how many books are on the shelf that I’m aching to read and the fact that I dislike every single character in the book – except maybe the lurchers (aka dogs).
So. I closed Darkmans. Gave it a little sigh. Put it back in the library bag. Today I’ll send it back home to Alabama. (I’d like to meet someone from Alabama who likes this book… I can’t see it.)
I have one more book two more books to read from last year’s Booker short list… and one is the book that won the prize. I’ll probably hate it, but at least I’ll know why it beat out Darkmans. (shudder)
Oh, it’s so difficult to read a book that you’re truly not enjoying. I had to put down one the other day, & just realize no one was going to quiz me about it upon returning it to the library.
Isn’t it funny how you can stay up all night reading a good book, forcing your eyes back open when they close. But, a bad book, you mind wanders after two words, you have to re-read every paragraph three times.
I had the hardest time teaching my oldest daughter to read (now 16 avid reader). Turns out the books I was using to teach her were putting her to sleep, once we started reading Harry Potter, problem solved.
See now this is why I can’t get excited by the Booker. While occasionally there are phenomenal books that make the list more often than not I find I hear people saying they hated the selections when they tried to read them.
Remind me of this when I say I’m going to do a Booker challenge. You know I’ll crack and say that some day.