I recently started reading a book that had an appealing blurb about the loyalty of a soldier to his dog, however, as soon as I opened the book I knew it wasn’t for me. The first paragraph reads:
“The wind sulked around Hampton Lane cemetery like a child lamenting the loss of a favourite toy. It stirred the crisp autumn leaves lining the many cobbled paths, but did little more than tow them along slowly, like condemned souls being dragged to the afterlife.”
Apart from the unnecessary commas, the pretentiousness of the writing made me wince. I read it to my son, and he snorted with laughter, saying it reminded him of school when he and his friend competed to cram as many adjectives into their essays as possible just to annoy the teacher and then, crazily, got top marks!
People often come into the library and ask me to recommend a book, saying they struggled to finish their last one because it was too difficult/boring/poorly written. As adults we can read what and when we like; we are free from prescribed school texts and teachers and parents nagging us to “finish what you start”.
If you are an avid reader like me, you will know from the first few pages if the book is well written and interesting. For the not-so-confident reader, if the book hasn’t absorbed you after two chapters, give it away. Life is too short to waste time reading a book you are not enjoying when there are so many brilliant stories waiting to be read.
What have been your dud reads?
Janet
1 comments:
Hi,
My worst dud read was 'From a Buick 8' by Stephen King. I have been an ardent fan of his books since the 1970's and am currently reading '22.11.63' which is excellent. However,'From a Buick 8was tedious, self-indulgent, boring and altogether no fun at all to read. Most disappointing to come from a writer who has given me so many hours of reading pleasure over the years.
Jeff
(former member of Essendon-Niddrie library 1974, now member of St.Kilda library (Port Phillip Library Service)
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