The problem with reading a book like
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is that it's hard to find a book to follow. I was in this crazy mindset and it was tough to find something to match it. Here are the five books I tried reading after I finished it...
An Atlas of Impossible Longing by Anuradha Roy- A friend of mine is reading this for her book club that I'd like to participate in from afar. I enjoyed Roy's writing and loved that the book begins with a who's who list of characters, but I couldn't get into it, but I'm going to give it another shot after the Mara Dyer dust has settled... So I may be blogging about this again in the near future.
A Partial History of Lost Causes by Jennifer Dubois- Again the writing was good, but I just wasn't in the right mindset for this one. I will probably try picking this one up again some day, but who knows when. I had picked it up (knowing nothing about it) solely because I liked the title. But the praise listed on the book does make me think it might be worth reading.
The Train of Small Mercies by David Rowell- This book's spine kind of jumped out at me and the front cover includes praise by Ann Patchett, whom I love. Unfortunately, it didn't do anything for me and is going right back to the library, where I may never check it out again. The writing was decent, but nothing about it pulled me in.
Boy Minus Girl by Richard Uhlig- I thought for sure a YA book would help cure my inability to read anything. It was a YA book that got me into this mess, perhaps only another YA book would dig me out. But this book fell flat.
Say You're One of Them by Uwen Akpan- I figured short stories might help, since I was having trouble committing to a whole novel. I think this collection was too topic-heavy though for my state of mind. I'll definitely be reading this sometime in the future because there is real beauty in his writing, but not now.
It was indeed a collection of short stories that I was able to settle into. I'll be writing about it soon.
I am having a super hard time getting into An Atlas of Impossible Longing. I keep trying, but indeed, it is hard.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I hear you. I'm glad it's not just me. It just starts so slow with nothing to pull you in. I'd like to give it another chance, but might have to sit this one out.
ReplyDeleteYah, it's rough. I keep trying and trying, but always find myself thinking of all sorts of other things. Damis, the book club organizer, feels the same way...and she read 3/4 of the book, and really didn't sell me on trying again. Basically said it's not that great...so I would just not worry about it. I think I'm giving up.
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm with you. If she's 3/4 in and she could take it or leave it, I'm done with it. Hopefully the next one will be better! :)
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