I haven't been reading a lot and what got me started again some years ago was the Harry Potter books. Before that I had read maybe 2 books since I graduated. They were both by John Grisham. The first was The Testament which I enjoyed a lot and the other was A Time To Kill. I had read A Time To Kill earlier that year for my graduation paper and enjoyed it, still it had that feeling of school about it. Like I had to read it, which I did, but I wanted to read it again without that pressure. It was good, it was heartbreaking and I genuinely liked it. The movie, although not completely faithful to the book, I liked too.
Still after school I had grown tired of reading and the thing that changed that was Harry Potter and Miss Rowling. They brought the magic (so to speak) back into reading again. I can't say I read a lot of books after that, but I did read the Harry Potter books more than once, well except for the Order of the Phoenix which was just so long, boring and at loss for a better word, dreadful. Especially after The Goblet of Fire which was my favorite.
Now almost, and when I say almost I mean, 10 years later I've properly started reading and I did something I've not done since I had to in school. Read two books at the same time. Frankly I've never understood why one would do that. It's just indulgent and perhaps a little insulting to the author? Well, I don't know. Just the thought of having to follow two stories at once, no matter how complicated or not, they are because with books I've always thought more about it than when watching a movie. Well so I've finally caved and done just that.
Two books at once and I'm not sure it's working for me. Not the way it was intended anyway. You see, I started reading The name of the Rose by Umberto Eco a book that I really really wanted to read. I really really want to like it too, but I'm not sure I do. That being said I've only made it to page 81 which isn't that far. What's so frustrating about it is that I'm not sure what it is that I'm not liking, if it's the style, the characters (William is a tad annoying) or if it's the story. The last being a big problem if that's the case. I just can't put my finger on it.
So last night I started another book. Dinah mentioned it on her blog about Canada along with some other books. Naturally I just HAD to read it, and rightly so. It's absolutely brilliant. It's Will Fergusons Beauty Tips From Moose Jaw: Excursions in the Great Weird North. It's so brilliant in fact that I'm about one third into it already. Really really good book Dinah thank you for recommending it! There is SO MUCH to learn about Canada and I'm still learning - who knew!
Still, this two books at a time project is not working out the way I planned it. I just wanted something else for a while and then go back to The Name of the Rose but now I don't really want to. I have sidetracked it for something else, and I fear that once done with Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw, I'll just hop on to some other book.
How do you do it? How do you keep focus, and how do you finish those slightly heavy books that you aren't motivated to finish? - Not to say I don't like The Name of the Rose but frankly I don't know.
CP, sometimes, those big books aren't worth it. I remember reading Moby Dick, and for the luv of God, 75% of that book was descriptions of a whaling ship! But I stuck thru because I was afraid I might miss something good. Well, I didn't miss anything good but if I ever need to build a whaling ship, I'm picking up that crap book!
ReplyDeleteSome books take a little longer to get to the action, but if you find yourself drifting to something else, maybe it's just not the right time to read that book (or it's not the right book to read).
Reading for fun should be just that: fun. If it's not fun or interesting, why waste your free time?
I'm so glad you're liking Will Ferguson! His nonfiction is really great. I used to feel that I had to finish every book I start, but now I give up if I'm not enjoying it, and it's a really freeing feeling.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know how I read. I just go find a book that has an interesting cover, read the first page and if it appeals to be I get it. Then I spend a few hours when I can reading it.
ReplyDeleteMind you, I was the kid at school who read the assigned reading books for the whole year on the break.
We had good English teachers that picked awesome books.
Will Ferguson has an amusing view of Canada and Canadians. He also wrote a book entitled "Why I Hate Canadians."
ReplyDeleteI read a lot although blogging has cut into my reading time.
So if I don't like a book after the first chapter, I put it down.
I learned this the hard way after reading almost to the end of Anne Rice's "Mummy" book, waiting for it to grab me. It never did. I stopped reading it with only one chapter left to go! I never did find out what happened.
My motto is: "Life is too short for bad books."
MJ, I'll tell you what happens! They're mummies! Mummies don't die! And this being Anne Rice, they're gay mummies! (lesbians??!)
ReplyDeleteBingowings: True, reading should be fun or at the very least interesting.
ReplyDeleteDinah: I watched the movie late last night and decided to give up on the book. I just don't like it.
I wouldn't mind reading the sex scene though because oh my gosh that was almost hardcore porn! I was shocked!
I feel so free now.
T-Birdy: The cover was nice, the blurb on the back was pretty good. I can't see why I just don't like it.
I did read the interesting books during break in school. But all that Ordinary People and Dead Poet's Society and Memento Mori left me cold. I think Ordinary People actually turned me off reading.
MJ: I'm not sure it's a bad book. It just doesn't do it for me.
I'll have to pick up that Will Ferguson book too!
Read Anne Rice's sons books his name is Christopher Rice. Now there are some good books.
Bingowings: Quite possibly, I heard that her books were sort of vampire homo erotica.
Is that why Tom Cruise starred in Interview with a Vampire?
Oh my gods! I'm blogging again when I should be reading!!
ReplyDeleteBlast!
I know!
ReplyDeleteI'm mostly reading on the train in the morning and then just before bed at night.
I only ever read one book at a time. As for what to do with The Name of the Rose - fling the f**ker out the window.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be my pleasure Tim
ReplyDeleteHowever, like I wrote to Dinah I would like to see how Umberto Eco describes the hardcore porn scene in the movie because
Oh.my.god!
Is there a porn scene in that movie? For reals? I haven't seen it for ages. Are we talking about the same film that has Sean Connery and Christian What's His Face as monks?
ReplyDeleteOr am I completely and utterly wrong?
Yes that's the one T-Birdy!
ReplyDeleteIt's quite raunchy, I'll dedicate a post to it in the near future.
umberto eco is worth the read, sugar. maybe just not right now for you. his style is layered with history and a sense of place that sets the tone for the story. he's an italian medievalist, semiotician, philosopher, so very much into detail. ;-) xox
ReplyDelete