On Not Loving Books

It seems like today’s a big day for hating the books you read. Lev Grossman goes off on hating a novel by a well-respected author and wonders if it’s just him. Publishers Weekly has a post up about which books readers couldn’t finish.

I don’t hate many of the books I read. Maybe I don’t fall in love with all of them, but I don’t think I leave many reading experiences thinking, “Dear lord, if only I could erase all the words from the page.” Still, I’m all in favor of setting aside a book that isn’t working for you. A few years ago I read Anna Karenina because I thought I should. Honestly–not a huge fan. I only finished it because I thought I should, and I don’t think I’m better off for it. Just like you don’t have to like every food or movie or song, you don’t have to love every book you read. Maybe you’re just not in the right place for it, or maybe it’s just not for you. Why waste your time reading books you don’t enjoy or get something out of?

My suggestion: Put the book aside. No guilt. Life is too short and there are too many awesome books out there to waste time on the ones you don’t like.