Something strange has been happening to me over the last few years. I can’t read books anymore…strange right? For some reason in the last few years I’m almost completely unable to concentrate on a page in a book for more than a few minutes without my mind straying. That can be to a knitting project I’m working on, or the bills I have to pay or anything but the book in front of me. Don’t get me wrong, if the book takes off on the first page then I can stay with it but if there is a long lead in then forget it…..
I even joined a book club a couple of years ago to try and help focus myself but then I got engaged and started planning awedding, got married, etc…needless to say this added distraction didn’t help the situation…Not to mention each meeting of the group only talking about the book for about 15 mins then we launched into everyone’s personal lives for the next 3 hours.
The last book I read cover to cover was The Children of Men by PD James. Awesome book…..there was an honesty and rawness in the book that fascinated me. Not to mention it touched a nerve since Chris and I are trying have a baby. What if no one could have babies…? I read this book almost in one sitting.
Now as I mentioned a few posts ago I finally relented and decided to join the ranks of Potter followers. I didn’t know if I would like the series but I wanted to give it a shot…Guess what? I’m hooked…Now I’m not exactly “reading” the books I’m listening to them on CD…much better. I can actually focus as I listen, continue to knit, cook, clean, what ever I want/need to do. It’s great…I know purists have problems with books on tape and there have even been articles in the Times about it but you know what…it is what it is and I’m doing what I can do right now to get what I want done done…did you all follow that? My sentence structure sucks….
My thoughts:
Book 1: Simple, entertaining story that held my attention, made me laugh and took the edge off the crap in my day and stresses on my mind.
Book 2: Things are a bit more interesting this time around, but I found it a bit irritating that there was so much re-capping. My friend suggested that it’s a kid’s book thing.
Book 3: I’m a little more than half way through and the writing just keeps getting better. It’s not Shakespeare of course but very good. Again my big complaint is re-cap, re-cap, re-cap…If one is reading the series then don’t you think we remember stuff book to book.
I’ll keep you all posted as I go. Gotta get back to my “reading” and knitting.
To be fair to JK Rowling, the HP books were all published several years apart. She was not assuming that you would “read” them back to back to back. I find some of the recap helpful.
I must read Children of Men. I loved the movie but I hear the book is far superior.