Dear literary friends,
And what did I do right after I read it? I picked up a book that I have been wanting to read and just dug my heels in. It honestly wasn't difficult because it was something that I actually enjoyed reading. I will finish it here in a few minutes. But my point is this...I wonder sometimes why I bother reading all of these lists "Best Summer Reads of 2014" or "20 Books Every Writer Should Read" or "Literature that Everyone Should Take Time to Read". I get all these lofty ideas and then take a look at my TBR stack and think "When will I ever find time to read everything?" I bought "The Book Thief" after it came out and it took me MONTHS to get through half of it! It was boring and dark and I just couldn't stand it! Many people rave about the book, and now the movie, and say I should give it a chance. Really?
Do you want to know what I think? (If not you don't have to continue reading.) I think that a reading list is as unique as each individual. And nobody should "recommend" books that they enjoy, suggesting that EVERYONE will enjoy them. It is unfair, really. I mean, what I read makes me intrinsically "me" and I shouldn't kowtow to the whims of another reader. Should I? I don't have to read ALL of "The Book Thief" to know that I will not like it. I don't have to read the Harry Potter series to know that I will not really enjoy the plot at all. I am not saying that others shouldn't enjoy it. I am just saying that everyone will not enjoy it. Is there anything wrong with that? I was given a book by Terry Pratchett to read from my fiance because he wanted me to "expand my mind." I gave it a try. I didn't like it at all. I don't think I made it through the first chapter. Does that make me Stubborn? Resistant to change? Close-minded? Ignorant of what is good? I don't think so. I just know what I like and what I don't like. I don't need to finish a book to know if I don't like it. I mean I don't have to finish a bad meal to know it's 'bad'. I know it will be bad from the first bite!
My shelves are packed with famous authors whose books I have never read and I have heard they are awesome: James Patterson, Tom Clancy, Stephen King, John Grisham, and Nora Roberts. All were recommended to me because I love Mary Higgins Clark. And I have most of her books so that I can re-read everything. But there just isn't enough time in the day. So I will be content to read what was popular many years ago or what was free on my Kindle. I am sure I will find a niche that I will love, as I already have, but until then I refuse to accept any more recommendations. I will just keep adding books to my TBR stack that look appealing to the eye for some reason or another. That's how I will express my ignorance!
Apologizing to my reading friends,
Petra
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