Books I Didn't Finish
I was able to read 12 books in 2019, which is huge for me, since I don't remember reading any books for the past 5 years and I think the last time I read two books in a year was when it was required in college.
That being said, there were several books that I picked up, started and didn't finish. This could be due to many reasons from being busy when I picked up the book, or it being a slow read. In 2020, I want to read more of what I enjoy, so I also want to document what I didn't enjoy in 2019.
Into the Woods by Tana French
I enjoyed the beginning of this novel, but eventually, found myself looking for spoilers to see if the novel was worth finishing. I found two things that made me not want to finish the book.
Spoilers ahead.
First, I found many triggers (including child abuse) in the conclusion of the mystery. I didn't realize that reading about this would be that triggering to me, but this is certainly something that I do not enjoy thinking about or experiencing in a novel. Triggers have been a huge turn off for me, even for other books I have enjoyed (example). Then... I find out that the murderer gets away, which is so unsatisfactory. Second, I found that the main character's childhood trauma, which was the most intriguing thing in the first 100 pages, is never revealed. While this is probably realistic for real life, I do enjoy fiction when it is neatly tied with a bow. So, in conclusion, I probably won't be going back for this novel, though I'm open to other Tana French novels.
Salt by Kurlansky
This is a novel about the history of salt, and while extremely interesting and informative, the lack of a payoff at the end of the book made it difficult for me to get though. That... and the fact that this book is almost 500 pages. I might reach for this in an audiobook format or try to finish it at a time with fewer distractions. I find that more informational books like this is easier for me to absorb through a podcast or audiobook format than through reading.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
I wasn't sure what the vibes where to this novel, until I looked up some book reviews after I turned it in. Magical realism was the term I was looking for. Some parts of the book were incredibly interesting, and other parts of it confusing as a result of the magic realism. However, I'd definitely go back to this novel as well.
That being said, there were several books that I picked up, started and didn't finish. This could be due to many reasons from being busy when I picked up the book, or it being a slow read. In 2020, I want to read more of what I enjoy, so I also want to document what I didn't enjoy in 2019.
Into the Woods by Tana French
I enjoyed the beginning of this novel, but eventually, found myself looking for spoilers to see if the novel was worth finishing. I found two things that made me not want to finish the book.
Spoilers ahead.
First, I found many triggers (including child abuse) in the conclusion of the mystery. I didn't realize that reading about this would be that triggering to me, but this is certainly something that I do not enjoy thinking about or experiencing in a novel. Triggers have been a huge turn off for me, even for other books I have enjoyed (example). Then... I find out that the murderer gets away, which is so unsatisfactory. Second, I found that the main character's childhood trauma, which was the most intriguing thing in the first 100 pages, is never revealed. While this is probably realistic for real life, I do enjoy fiction when it is neatly tied with a bow. So, in conclusion, I probably won't be going back for this novel, though I'm open to other Tana French novels.
Salt by Kurlansky
This is a novel about the history of salt, and while extremely interesting and informative, the lack of a payoff at the end of the book made it difficult for me to get though. That... and the fact that this book is almost 500 pages. I might reach for this in an audiobook format or try to finish it at a time with fewer distractions. I find that more informational books like this is easier for me to absorb through a podcast or audiobook format than through reading.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
I wasn't sure what the vibes where to this novel, until I looked up some book reviews after I turned it in. Magical realism was the term I was looking for. Some parts of the book were incredibly interesting, and other parts of it confusing as a result of the magic realism. However, I'd definitely go back to this novel as well.
1 comments
I have an 100 years of solitude on my shelf that I've been meaning to read but just haven't.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments!