I know, I know, I'm really behind on reviewing the books I've read. You'll have to forgive me until I take my big test this week. Then I should have some extra brain power for other things!I read this one for the Something About Me challenge I'm hosting. I really wanted to like it. I tried to like it. I did finish it, although it took me absolutely forever. It's about a female literary detective of sorts that pursues literary mysteries. A person who loves books should love this book!
I didn't love it, though. It has a pretty distinct science-fiction type flavor, with a bizarre world that is unrecognizable. Part of my dislike was that I felt like this imaginary world wasn't described well enough. The book is supposed to be set in 1985, but it's not like the 1985 I lived through. So what happened? How did the world get in such a state? I guess it's really not necessary to describe - you just have to let go and accept that this is a totally different world and just get into it. But I just couldn't. I liked the characters well enough, and I wanted to read to the end and make sure the bad guy got taken care of. But I just couldn't suspend my "reality" enough to fall into this crazy book world.
It probably has something to do with all the stuff that's going on in my life right now. I have little patience for reading anyway, and then this book was a little too much imaginary work. So if you have this on your list, don't give up. You might have a totally different experience. I might even try the second in the series at some point when my life isn't so crazy, who knows?
I only have one more to go from my original list of 6!
3 comments:
I see this boook all the time and have wondered if it's any good. Thanks for saving me the time to get to the same conclusion that you have. Phew.
I really enjoyed The Eyre Affair, but I'm sure a lot of that had to do with the references to Jane Eyre and the simple fact that I wouldn't mind having Thursday's job. :-) Just the same I didn't love the book, and I agree with some of your criticism. I do plan to read the next book in the series. Someday.
I didn't like this at all the first time I read, exactly because of the sci-fi feel. However, I recently reread it (after about a three year gap), and for some reason I really liked it! I've read the second book in the series, and it's much, much better.
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