Review of some things that suck, and others that don't.

When you realize you're reading an bad book, do you plod though it anyway?

I do.  Well, unless it's The Count of Monte Cristo, which I would very much like to finish, but I bought this massive edition of it and it's literally too big to read in bed.  Bed is where I do most of my reading.  It may end up being my beach book, but something about lugging The Count of Monte Cristo to the beach this summer makes me feel like a poseur.

Anyway, two books I recently read, despite loathing them:

A Widow for One Year by John Irving.  Why do I persist with John Irving?  I hated that other one with the bear in it (I think it was Hotel New Hampshire) and I hated this, yet I read the sappy, shoddily constructed thing to the bitter end.  Actually, the end was less bitter and more totally unbelievable.  Were I cartoon style, I think I would have slapped my forehead with the disappointment of it all.

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby.  Stupid premise, crap execution and yet I wasted about 3 evenings on it.

A book I don't loathe:

I'm completely engrossed in Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi.  I just sort of stumbled across it at the library.  It was a little disappointing to google Ursula Hegi (because once I realized I was really going to enjoy it, I wanted to know what else she'd written and if she's still alive and writing even more) and find that Oprah Winfrey apparently found Stones from the River first.  At least this is an older edition and doesn't have the Oprah's Book Club Seal on it.  Incidentally, I do actually enjoy a great many of Oprah's selections (except that Nicholas Sparks guy and I never read Tuesdays with Morrie - let's yawn for books about old people! - or that book about the people you meet in heaven - not interested since I'm probably not going) but I don't necessarily want to advertise this when I'm carrying my book around.  Not because I'm embarrassed to enjoy the same books as her, but I don't want people to think I can't pick out my own books from sources other than what an afternoon talk show hostess recommends.

Not everyone is so concerned with what other people might think about what they're reading.  There is a mom whose son is in one of mini-pear's classes who usually brings along this huge spiral bound volume with a rather depressing title.  Something to do with demanding respect from your children and maintaining control of a "happy family".  Another mom brings totally trashy bodice ripping romances, complete with gilt covers and Fabio look-a-likes manhandling hot redheads in their very best Ren-fest gear.

Comments

[Vik]

Have you ever read any of Alexander Mcall Smiths?. The No1 Ladies Detective Agency Series / The Isabel Dalhousie Philosophy Series? They are just pure easy reads. Very enjoyable & usually completed on day of purchase. Completely agree with you on John Irving. Was Widow for one Year, the one where the guy wrote the Childrens Books? I think I vaguely remember that. Wasnt great. Just finished Yoga School Drop Out by Lucy Edge. I really enjoyed that, but then again I like Yoga and I know you dont! ;) Watch you dont break your back lugging The Count around in your bag all year :)

[Rebecca H.]

I usually do plod through - even though I may be bored or hating it, I have to know what happens! As for poseur books, I had one of those in high school: I dragged along a copy of Goedel, Escher, Bach hoping that someone would notice and comment on how bright I must be for reading such advanced material. And do you know why I even had that book? Because the boy I was majorly crushed out the summer before was reading it. He was a college boy, you see, and therefore was to be emulated. (Reader, I Married Him.)