• Mood: thoughtful

To Say Nothing of the Dog

I've been reading To Say Nothing of the Dog today, and I must say I haven't been impressed. I don't think it's anything wrong with the book, though ... we just have different senses of humor. So I find myself groaning and saying dryly, "Oh look, how funny, the old guy is fishing again," or, "Oh look, how funny, the other guy let the cat escape again." Thus far, it is my impression that every character -- except two -- is stupid. The only two intelligent characters have been the two women the viewpoint character is attracted to. I do admit, however, that calling the viewpoint character stupid may be taking things a bit far, since he is just out of his element and so doing stupid things while not actually being stupid. Still, I can only watch somebody doing so many stupid things before I start tearing my hair out.

When I expressed these opinions to him, Shannon recommended that I not finish the book, since he attests that what I'm not liking is what the book is by its very nature. I'm 157 pages in, so I probably have a good idea of whether I'm going to like the book or not.

But something in me just hates not finishing a book once it's been started. I think rollick had a poll about this in her journal a year or two ago, about whether you'll put down a book you aren't enjoying or whether you feel obligated to read through to the end once you've started. I responded to the poll by saying that I would put the book down, but now I find myself in the situation and I'm not as willing to do so as I might have thought.

For one thing, I always have hope that a book will get better. Or that something will click and I'll suddenly get it. I've heard such good things about this book that I want to like it. I want to get it. I want to see the funny. I just don't. I'm very willing -- perhaps too willing -- to believe that the problem is me, rather than the book, and so I continue to try.

I'm not sure if I'm going to keep reading or not. I'm leaning toward not, because I haven't been enjoying it. I think the book and I just aren't a good fit.