Three years ago I tried to muscle my way through this list. I read 15 pages of the first book and stopped; I just couldn’t make myself care about the protagonist enough to carry on. My friends Angela and Gina, however, read the entire book and Gina at least loved it. She said it got really good about halfway through.
My sister-in-law Amanda said the same thing about Great Expectations, another book I didn’t finish. I made it about halfway through before I had Little Missy, and then there is no reading of classic literature when a newborn is in the house.
Why must “good” books only become interesting halfway through? I really don’t like reading a book, finishing it, then holding it in my hand and thinking, Yeah, you were an uninteresting read, and I knew that 10 pages in. Most recent example: The Scent of Rain and Lightning. I mean, it wasn’t terrible, just kind of meh.
Of course there are the books that I’m glad I didn’t finish. The one about the self-important lazy Italian who goes back and forth between two sisters, all while morosely moving through life? No thanks. I read the last chapter before reading the middle, found that he has a baby with one of them and instead of manning-up, decides to hang out on a boat. I probably would have thrown that one through the window if I’d finished it.
But I would like to read again. It’s cliche because it’s accurate: I love getting lost in a good book. Most recent examples being The Liars’ Club and The Earth Hums in B Flat. Or nearly anything in short story anthologies. Just keep me away from the books that make me wish I’d watched more lame TV instead of reading them.
So I’m trying this reading thing again [<--here's a link to my column. it probably got lost among all the other links in this post]. Right now I’m nearly halfway through Reading Lolita in Tehran and I have to say that, so far, it’s worth my time. I’m trusting my sister that it will stay that way until the end.
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I used to love reading back in grade school, but college must have done something to me. I’m so ADD now that I skim magazine articles. Alas, my friend recommended The Help by Kathryn Stockett. From somebody who doesn’t “read,” I highly recommend it. I could not put it down. And for some reason it seems to be all over the place now (OMSH on PW, a movie coming out in August).
(Sorry my italic tag didn’t close)
Thank you! I will definitely look into it.
And Pioneer Woman’s movie is coming out in August? That seems fast. Also sounds like a girl night! Farm Chick, you in? Jessie, if you live close you can come, too!!!
No, the book will be made into a movie. But regardless, I’m always in for a girl’s night!
My favorite book is The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. It is the story about her life and eccentric family and REALLY is wonderful. Then she wrote another book, Half Broke Horses that is about her grandmother’s life. They both get A++++ from me and are interesting from the first page!