Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Sometimes, it's just not the right book....

You know, there's this misconception about librarians -- that all we do, all the live long day, is read, read, read.

Now, anybody who comes in to the library regularly knows, this isn't true -- what we really do all day is move people on an off of computers.

(I'm kidding! I'm kidding! Susan, Kearsten, Karen, Greg, and Kristen -- put down the chairs. Don't hurt me!)

But seriously, while librarians probably read more than the average person, we don't read every single book that comes out...EVER!

And I'll let you in on a big secret -- sometimes librarians don't finish the books they start.

Take for example, Freaks: Alive, on the Inside by Annette Curtis Klause.

I really like Klause's other books, Blood and Chocolate and The Silver Kiss. So, I was excited to read Freaks.

Then, I actually started reading it. And... it's just not the book for me.

Every person has a type of book they like to read more than any other. For me, that type of book is Science Fiction and Fantasy. On the flip side of that, ever person has a type of book they dislike more than any other. My least favorite books in the world are historical fiction. I just...don't like them.

And wouldn't you know it, Freaks, Alive, on the Inside is set in 1899. Drat.

But I persevered, because, sometimes, a historical fiction book will surprise me. A Northern Light? Awesome book. One of my favorite books is City of Darkness, City of Light a book about the French Revolution. So, if the writing is good, the historical fiction thing might not be a deal breaker.

But then, circus freaks. I'm not a big fan of the circus freaks, not even in Geek Love. And Ancient Egyptian mythology shows up. And... after about 75 pages, I decided, that this book, while being well written, and having an interesting idea behind it... is just not the book for me.

For the right reader, Freaks: Alive, on the Inside is probably a fantastic book, with an brave and handsome narrator, a mysterious ring, and a dark and evil circus side show. But, as I said, before, it's just not the book for me.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love A Northern Light.

Awsome book.

Anonymous said...

I loved A Northern Light.

<3

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm... Historical fiction, Ancient Egyptian mythology, creepy circus-y stuff AND a hot narrator? Why haven't you passed this book onto me yet?!?!?!?!?