Last week I sat by the pool and read a book. It’s my favorite vacation. Doesn’t really matter where the pool is. I don’t usually pay it much attention. But last week I found myself looking up from the book and gazing into the heavily chlorinated water. A lot.
The back cover copy and reviews from my friends who recommended the book convinced me this book was wonderful. I glanced at the upper right corner of the page: 135. Seriously.
The story was interesting. The characters, fascinating. The setting, exotic. I knew it would take me to an unbelievable place and I wanted to go there. However, this particular author chose to take me there via the scenic route. To be fair, I will write about this book more next week because I stuck with it to the end and I am still savoring it.
Recently, we drove a long and winding way to the top of a mountain and the beauty blew me away. We drove down the mountain the fast way and let me tell you, the scenic route is the way to go, every time.
So when you pick up a book that takes you down the scenic route, how long are you willing to give it?
Do you throw the book against the wall after 50 pages? Worse, do you abandon it completely? For many years, I read with an unusual faith that if I held in my hands an official book, published and bound, it must get good by the end. And I finished every book I ever started in the first 25 years of my life because of that faith. Most of the time, the books ended well.
These days, I hate to leave a book unfinished, but if I am not enjoying it I will. There is a distinct difference between a story that is building and a story that is wandering in the wilderness. There is nothing so satisfying as a book that builds slowly and ends like a perfect dessert after an amazing meal.
All this to say, while there is a time to put down a book if you just can’t get into it, always be on the look out for those wonderful stories with a slow ramp-up that build slowly into an amazing, breathtaking, soul-jarring, life-changing experience.
Look for scenic routes . . . you won’t regret it.
Jennifer, I don't finish every book either anymore. There are so many out there to read that I figure you can't waste time on something that doesn't hook you.
ReplyDeleteBut you're right; sometimes a jewel is a bit slow. My own example was Liz Curtis Higgs' first Scottish book--Jamie's trip to his uncle's home just didn't hook me, and I gave up. But years later--after everyone raved about it--I went back. And I'm so glad I did!