Book Snob

I wish I had more time for reading.  I really enjoy reading a good book.  It's not that I don't have any time for reading - I have a little.  But for me, having a little time is almost worse than having no time.  That little bit of reading time I have is precious and I don't want to waste it.  If I'm going to spend it with a book, it had better be worth it.  If I go to the effort of finding a space where the light is right and a time when the boys are quiet, and then the book is sub par, I will be annoyed.  I can often sense early on if I'm going to like a book or not.  Even if I don't , I usually read on, hoping things improve.  Even when I've given up hope of that, I read on, grateful when it is over.  The whole process puts me in a bit of a foul mood - both while I'm reading the book, and some time afterwards.  When I had more time for reading, I didn't feel this way.  The occasional crummy book was usually offset by numerous good ones.  The reading experience, as a whole, was above average.  I don't feel like I have that luxury right now.  Every book matters and it must be superb.

This need for high quality has left me reading less and less for fear of getting a "bad" one.  I tend to choose short books, reasoning that if they're bad, at least it will be over quickly.  I've found that even if I don't like a book, I'll usually finish it.  No one wants to be a quitter, and I've forced my way through some pretty terrible stuff.  Sometimes I have an imaginary dialog with the author as I read, complaining about the parts I find objectionable.  I should point out that when I say something was terrible, I mean I found it terrible.  Others may find it to be the best piece of literature ever.  Experts may disagree with me.  I speak only from my perspective.  I've found the imaginary dialog trick to be very helpful in getting through a book I dislike.  My expectations are different when I'm critiquing.  The fact that I'm thinking about the author at all shows just how poorly the book has drawn me in.  When I'm reading a book I enjoy, I'm too immersed in the characters or the plot to care about the author.

I was browsing the Internet recently, looking for a good book.  My wife knows I like to read and a book seems like the perfect Christmas gift for me.  It's true that January in Minnesota is a great time for reading.  So, I was surfing, hoping to find a "can't-miss" selection that I could put on my list.  Along the way, I came across a book recommendation site.  The site was built on the opinions of regular readers and seemed like it might be helpful.  It had an online interview format designed to guide you to the books you would most likely enjoy.  Unfortunately, I never got beyond the first question - what type of book do you enjoy?  The options given were things like Mystery or Science Fiction or Poetry.  It gave me pause.  I wasn't certain how to answer - some serious introspection was called for.  What kind of book do I enjoy?

I left the book recommendation web site and will likely not return.  I'm sure it has its usefulness, especially if you happen to be in the mood for a specific genre - sometimes I get that way with mysteries.  For me, though, I have different criteria.  I want the characters and plot to be interesting and believable.  I want imagery so descriptive and rich that I feel like I'm there, where ever there is.  I want subtle metaphors that enrich the story, not ones that merely show me how clever the author can be.  Give me a book with even some of these things and I'll likely enjoy it, regardless of genre.