I, like many others, had a blog briefly.It was essentially a book-reviewing system wherein I rated and reviewed whatever book that I was reading at the time.I had the idea for this blog from a woman who I worked with in Victoria.She had a book journal that she had kept from when she was a teenager.She would write down the title and author in a cute little journal and when she finished a book, she would write a few lines about her thoughts about the book she just read.It was for everything that she read.I thought it was an amazing idea and so very disciplined.Why shouldn't I do that too for the readers of the internet? However, what I neglected to take into account was the volume of books I consume.
I read every day.I may be reasonably skilled at a number of things but my biggest skill is the speed at which I burn through novels.It's my superpower.I don't like to brag (lie) but I am very good at reading so when tasked with a self-imposed deadline of commenting or reviewing every single book I've read, the homework was astronomical.In order to streamline this process, I developed a very simple 5-point scale ranging from 1-Wall Slapper (a book so bad that mid-sentence you throw it against the wall) to 5-Seriously This Is The Best Book Ever! (And you'll talk about it incessantly to everyone you've met and insist on buying the book for your uninterested relatives for birthdays and Christmases). Most of the books I read fall into the mid-range 3-Meh or 4-Pretty Good But There Are A Few Annoying Bits. Luckily, the Wall Slappers and books in the number 2 slot (2-Kind Of Poopy) are few and far between.
And although I no longer have my blog, I thought that maybe some of my readers might be interested in some of the books in the classic Wall Slapper category. Maybe they are some of your favourite books and I am going to inadvertently insult you.Please note that this is not my intention.
I don't hate you.
I hated these books.
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder - a young girl named Sophie (obviously) meets some old philosopher and then we're all taught boring philosophical lessons in an exceptionally condescending way. I couldn't finish it and this was the first time in my life I threw a book against a wall.In the early nineties, everyone was buying this book.Did anyone finish it?
She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb - story about a girl who works in a photo shop and steals photos of this family who take pictures of themselves in coffins on vacation. This was an early Oprah book club sellout and I have no idea why.I still can't come to terms with how much I hated this book and if I meet someone and they tell me it's their favourite book, I am immediately distrustful of their judgment.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel - This is a book that has made it into this category by virtue of the ending alone.I loved this book and felt it was magical and fun and then in the final few paragraphs, it flip-switched the entire book as a terrible "Choose Your Own Adventure" ending.Did this story really happen?You decide.I hate that.
The most wonderful thing about reading is that no one reads a book the same way and your reading tastes change over time.I love the fact that my least favourite book could be your favourite book.It's what is so amazing about stories.I have read many of my favourite books from when I was a kid and I am always relieved when I still enjoy them.
Every once in a while, I find that what I loved as a kid, I find repulsive as an adult.Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice didn't hold up to a second read but A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle did.Enjoy today.Read a book you love or hate and then tell someone about it. You may find that someone you know loves a book that you absolutely despise.
