Have you ever downloaded an ebook from the library (or, hey, gone old-fashioned and actually picked up an actual book at the library...) and then looked at it five minutes later with absolutely no desire to read it?
If you're like me this is fairly discouraging because I've already committed to the book and will now have to force myself to read it. Maybe that's just me, and maybe it's a tad OCD, but it's the truth.
Today's instant regret download is The Wonderful World of Oz by L. Frank Baum. My goodreads friends have rated it highly, and Gretchen Rubin (who I rate highly) ranks it among her favorite books. So I downloaded it. And now I'm eyeing it with disdain.
I think it's probably because I had such a horrible experience reading Wicked (most awful book ever to grace library shelves, who is with me?!) that now I've been turned off to all things Oz.
I wanted something light and fluffy to alternate with The Audacity of Hope and A People's History of the United States (yep, still slogging through that one), but maybe this just isn't the answer. Maybe now I need something to alternate with my alternate. Oh the conundrum!
So that's your secret to finishing so many books! I am always so impressed with your reading output on Goodreads.
ReplyDeleteI have the opposite problem...as soon as a book starts to bore me, I'm OUT. It's bad - really bad, and it means I have 5-10 half-read books in my nightstand at any given time.
Yeah, the secret is guilt and self-competition. Sigh. I'm such a nerd.
DeleteI go through the same thing of forcing myself to read what I've checked out, and to finish what I've started, no matter how much I hate it (with a few notable exceptions). My suggestion: listen to Oz as an audiobook instead. That is what I did. My library rents those out as well, so maybe yours does too? And I agree, Wicked was a really terrible book.
ReplyDeleteAn audio book is a great idea! I actually ended up reading Oz on the plane this past weekend and really enjoyed it. I'm not quite sure why I didn't want to start it - I really am strange sometimes. It took me years to get started into Jane Austen's collection even though I had the books my shelves staring me down. (sigh)
DeleteA People's History of the United States. UGH. Forced to read it in High school. I automatically doubt the quality of almost every book I was required to read in High school. Why is that? Shouldn't they be throwing GREAT literature at kids?
ReplyDelete