Thank you for the book recommendations from the other day. When there's not one specific genre that you really love, that makes it much harder to find books to read. As fun as it is to be engrossed in a book I really love, it's equally frustrating to try to read book after book that I just can't connect with. I have to say though, I'm a little baffled by some of the recommendations to read books that were specifically what I said I didn't like to read.
All this reminds me of something...
When I was in grade school, I was also a really avid reader. I read much more then than I do now, because I had actual free time. I can't really remember what I used to read, but I liked some of the girlier mysteries (Mary Higgins Clark) as well as medical mysteries (Robin Cook) and a little bit of Stephen King and that sort of stuff thrown in.
We had to keep a journal of every book we read with a little summary of the book. My teacher Mrs. Hanson collected my journal, and after she saw my reading list, she made a recommendation to me:
"You should read Jeffrey Archer," she said. "Try A Matter of Honor. You'll love it."
And since I was a huge teacher's pet, I immediately rushed to Barnes and Noble to purchase A Matter of Honor.
You guys, I hated it. I found it unbelievably boring. It had all this political intrigue and foreign affairs and stuff that I was totally, utterly uninterested in.
I was pissed off, in a ten year old kind of way. Why did Mrs. Hanson recommend this horrible book to me? Obviously, she didn't really understand what I liked. The book was just something she liked, and without any regard for my own taste, she recommended it to me. I expected better from my teacher.
This is why when I ask people for a recommendation, I always try to make it clear what kind of books I like. Because one person telling me they personally liked a book doesn't really help. I mean, I could go on Amazon and find strangers who like just about any book. I prefer it when someone says, "Well, if you liked Twenties Girl, you would just love...."
Let me try recommendation you prefer. If you did not like A Matter of Honor you will also not like books by Daniel Silva. I enjoyed first book I read by Silva, then grew bored of his style. Also let me guess, you have not travelled to Europe as a teen or university student. It will make it harder to connect with plot taking place in Europe. I prefer book recommendations of people I know well. If I share common values with them, I will like books they recommend.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I really liked Jeffrey Archer when I was younger. But, I love politics now.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the reasons i didn't make any recommendations to you. I loved the Hunger Games, but I am not really familiar with many of e other books you liked. I happen to love Tom Robbins, Christopher Moore andKurtVonnegut as authors, but I haven't idea if you'd like them.
My father used to try to get me to read Vonnegut, but I've long since realized his taste doesn't mesh with mine.
DeleteSorry for the typos - using a mobile device: /
ReplyDeleteYou're never going to like every book in the same genre...and your teacher may have thought you were interested in certain aspects of whatever you were reading that showed in that book that didn't.
ReplyDeleteMost of what I read is fantasy so that knocks me out of the running. :) Currently reading the third book in a Song of Fire and Ice. Frickin' long books, they are.
I don't know if (barring a few...) people intentionally realized what they were doing. Some take the mindset of "oh, this book is /so/ great that even if she doesn't like the genre she'll /love/ this!"
I know what you're saying. It's taken me a long time to realize that just because I think a book is great, doesn't mean others will love it too.
DeleteIdiot, used to enjoy your blog and the cartoons. Now I find your posts just shallow and silly.
ReplyDeleteUnsubscribing
Thanks for the flounce!
ReplyDeletehttp://doccartoon.blogspot.com/2012/06/weekly-whine-ill-never-read-your-blog.html
Drama baby drama... *gets popcorn*
ReplyDeleteNot trying to stir the pot or anything but I don't think he/she finds your post offensive. Just silly.
I do wish you'd make more cartoons...bought your book and all... me and my classmates loved it
I appreciate your compliments. The year I started this blog, I was a research fellow with one child. Now I'm an attending with twice as many kids. The fact that I manage to put up 1-2 cartoons per month without any compensation is, in all modesty, kind of amazing. I literally could not do any more than that. I try to make other posts that people find entertaining and don't take up hours of my time. A post about becoming disillusioned with an old teacher may not interest everyone, but I don't know if I'd describe it as "silly." Reading is very important to child development, and it's sad when a teacher does something to discourage it in any way.
DeleteI've read many blogs over the years that I've eventually lost interest in for whatever reason and stopped reading them. I've never once felt compelled to call the person writing the blog an idiot just because I lost interest. Clearly there's some other pathology going on in that person's brain.
The person called him/herself an idiot for liking your blog in the past
DeleteThat was rude.
ReplyDeleteWhat was?
DeleteHi Fizzy,
ReplyDeleteI like your blog very much, maybe it is partially due to the fact that I often experience similar situations as in your cartoons (in that case - I laugh and subconsciously nod) :).
I'm surprised how much you read... I have very poor time management and can't find time to read anything else than medical stuff :(
I like your taste in books. Will think about one to recommend you (it is quite time since I read something really good)...
Try http://bookseer.com/ You enter a book that you like and then the search engine recommends other books based on the book you've entered. I've found some really good books this way. :)
ReplyDelete