Is it okay to not like a book?

[Danny]

Review by Pat Herndon

I am a committed reader. If I start a book there is a 98% chance that I will see it through to the end. But what does this accomplish? If one reads for pleasure, should one not quit reading a particular book once the experience becomes bothersome? After all, there are thousands upon thousands of books to read. I debate my choice to continue a ‘bad’ book with my busiest reader friend who informs me that she will put down any book that becomes unenjoyable. She reads a lot…a whole lot. I read a good bit and admit that the bad books can really slow me down. I will pick the offender up, not being carried by the story, not wishing to turn each page just to see what happens next. I will put the book down to have internalized musings on why the characters are behaving inconsistently and on matters such as missed opportunities the author had to impart a sense of place. I can have some great internal discussions.

So there lies my answer. I do think it is okay to not like a book. I think it is okay to keep reading that book too. Reading broadens the mind, providing new perspectives no matter how well or poorly composed is the execution. If I love a book, I will know it from the beginning. I will keep turning those pages anxiously enjoying the journey or the minutiae. If I hate a book, I will keep reading, still firmly convinced that I am a better person for the experience. After that, I head online for the book reviews to see if other people felt the same way about the book that I did. Searching for that book review that confirms my opinion then becomes part of the experience for me…part of the fun.

So, here is my heresy…I will let you know the book that I just read that others have loved. I did not like State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. State of Wonder is about American medical researchers in the Amazon jungles and their quest to understand the native customs that may lead to the development of an astonishing new product for a United States pharmaceutical corporation. I found the plot too outlandish and the characters unbelievable. As another reviewer stated, “I was unable to suspend my disbelief.” But, that is okay. And guess what, I will probably go read another book by Ann Patchett just to see if this was an anomaly or if I just need to steer clear of her books. After all, there are plenty of books to read. Plenty.

If you like books that talk about medical science and its practice in faraway lands, consider reading Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. This is an epic tale of brotherhood, medical practice, loaded with cultural and interpersonal conflicts.

Click here if you'd like to read State of Wonder and see for yourself.

Click here to request Cutting for Stone.

[Liz]

Hi Pat. We read this book for our book club and none of us LOVED it. Most of us liked it but we all agreed it wasn't a page turner. It started slow - a slow build. But picked up halfway through the book.

This book is an outstanding choice for book clubs because it is very discussible. Our club spent an hour on these two topics and the choices the characters made :

1. Was Annick a good person?
2. Was Marina pregnant with Anders' baby?

It was very interesting to see what lines people fell behind. Our values, our views of life, whether we're realists or not - all played into how we felt about what happened. The artistry here is that it's only after the book is read and you start discussing it, that the complexity sinks in. I've been running our book club for 10 years and this book was one of the best for discussion.