Sunday, August 10, 2008

Illiterate


Despite having an English degree, I am an abysmal reader. I have absolutely no concentration span, so I'll read a few pages of a book but my mind will soon be on the evening meal, work stuff, O Men stuff, whatever... And then I'll just plough on and by the time I'm on page 300, I have no idea what is happening. I'm sure I'm not the only one - or maybe I am, lol...
In fact, the only author I can actually deal with these days is Stephen King - although his last few novels have been a bit of an effort...
But this time it's not my fault - I really tried! I tried The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by GW Dahlquist (I think those details are right, lol), and got to page 130, and I'm sorry, but there was just no indication of what was actually happening, that I just got really frustrated and bored. This follows actually re-reading the first 100 pages again, just to get a better grip on it...
I also think the chapters are too long. Averaging 60 pages per chapter - that's not a bad thing at all - but when each chapter focuses on one of the main trio of characters, meaning we're a third of the way through the book and we still haven't met one of the major players - well, I'm sorry, but this time it's not my fault!!!
So next up... I will attempt The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Can I fuck that one up?
Holiday reading - in a month's time - by the way, has been almost decided on...
Zot, Black Dossier, Fragile Things (Gaiman), and maybe Carter Beats the Devil (or whatever it's called).
Or maybe I should just give up and lounge by the beach...

2 comments:

JamieB said...

Erm... you're planning on taking "Black Dossier" across an international border (or two)...is that a good idea, do you think...? :)

Mart said...

uh-oh... strip search! lol