Since I finished Unseen Academicals and it was my traveling book I needed a new one. My Bookman went into the dim depths of our frigid this time of year basement library looking for a book for himself on Saturday and came up with a book for me too. Miss Zukas and the Library Murders by Jo Dereske. It seemed like it might be just the thing for my next travel book.
But last night I decided I’d start reading it while on the exercise bike just to make sure it was going to be good and I wasn’t going to get stuck with a disappointing book. I either had a premonition or completely jinxed a good book. I gave it two chapters to make me want to keep reading but I just couldn’t. That didn’t stop me from turning to the end of the book to find out who did it though and see how it all ended. In fact by doing that I feel as though I had the right kind of reading experience with the book. I got the beginning and the ending and didn’t have to put up with the prim Miss Zukas exclaiming, “Oh Faulkner!” when she really wanted to say “fuck!” That little schtick was so contrived it grated the first time it happened and when it happened a second time I had to resist the urge to grind my teeth.
What I couldn’t stand was how the different parts of Miss Zukas’ character didn’t seem to go together. Instead of it prompting me to think that maybe this woman who was late to work in the opening chapter because she had to race back into her apartment to close the blinds to keep the sun from fading her pristine pink and beige decor (the book takes place in the early 90s can you tell?) had a secret and/or suppressed wild side:
She kept an electric water-forced tooth and gum cleaner beside her bathroom sink. A warning came with it which read, “Do not use on personal body parts.” Curious, Miss Zukas had, and found it quite pleasant, but usually she carefully tended her teeth with it and hadn’t had a cavity in six years.
Things like that just seemed out of place with this uptight woman who, by my guess from clues in the book, is 36-years-old. Maybe the problems stem from this book being the first in a series, or maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for this book after all. So much for that book.
The next book that got promoted to travel book is one I got from the library, Brohumil Hrabal’s Closely Watched Trains. I know this one will be good.
Definitely sounds like the right decision, and I’m glad you tested the book out first to avoid disappointment while traveling! First books in a series can be difficult, but if that one was so hard to read, the series isn’t likely to improve that much.
That’s too funny that you went to the end to see who did it. I would never do anything like that (wink, wink). Now you won’t feel bad about putting it back on the shelves. I’m like you–I have to have just the right book to take to the gym–something that can catch my attention despite the loud music and noise. At least the bikes are in a new part of the renovated building so I can look out over the golf course if all else fails. Still, I’d rather read a book!
Stefanie, I so “get” what you are saying about a book just not clicking with you. Not ringing true.
And I love how you describe its acquirement, in this instance.
You speak of this subterranean book vault as some might speak of their wine cellar. Was the Bookman is a smoking jacket as he ascended the stairs with what might have been a near-vintage read?
Hmmm… March, 1994 — a great year for wine, but perhaps not for books by this particular author!
But I relate to the feeling you describe. When a book just is not doing the trick! The past few books for me have been terrific reads, and I am currently reading the venerable [in my estimation] John Irving. His latest. Even here, with him, I feel sometimes that the thing is lacking, at times, in believability. But then again, I am a reader that cherishes Tolstoyan verisimilitude above all else.
One thing I will say for Irving though — he certainly does not shy away from using the vernacular for “Faulkner”!
I have been going through a blah phase with books lately. I don’t know why. I think I would have skipped to the end with that one, too! however, am reading “Fingersmith” and that seems to have broken the pattern of bad (or boring) books. I really would love a good run of some fantastic ones but I seem to be in a slight rut (current book happily excepted!)
Hope your next one is better!
Oh Faulkner, indeed! I get most irritated by incoherent characters. Okay, so people in life are often confusing and a bit irregular, but it just doesn’t work in books. Best to put it to one side and try again (I seem to have given up on loads of books recently – I don’t like doing it, but there comes a point when you just can’t keep plowing on!).
I’m so excited that you’re reading the Hrabal. I loved that book.
I had a recent similar experience with The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I did manage to plow my way through it (although I cheated by skipping over a lot of paragraphs toward the end.) It was a “best seller” so I don’t know…maybe it’s just me. Or maybe I just couldn’t wait to start on The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, which I really did enjoy. I am always torn on whether I should try to finish a book I’m not enjoying. I think it depends how much time I have invested in it before I think I simply can’t stand to read another word.
Fingersmith is fantastic, Daphne, and it improved on a second reading. Imagine that!
Good luck with the new travel book, S.
Dorothy, I know! Even though I work in a library if I had taken it with me and hated it my only replacement choices would have been law books and those are even worse!
Danielle, I figured since I wasn’t going to read it, leaving myself in suspense of who did it wouldn’t have been right
Reading is much better, but at least it sounds like you have nice scenery at the gym.
Cipriano, LOL, oh yes, my subterranean book vault, I love it! I could do a Poe inspired story called The Book of Amantillado
I am glad to hear the new Irving is good, even if in places it is not perfect.
Daphne, blah book phases are the worst. I am glad you have found one that has turned out to be good. I hope it is the first in a string of good books!
Litlove, complex characters are great but when there is too much weight given to one facet the others just can’t work. I am curious to know what books you have given up on especially since you so rarely mention giving up on books!
Susan, I expect the Hrabal to be really good then which makes me happy.
Grad, sometime it’s the right book and the wrong time and sometimes the book won’t be any good no matter when you read it. I don’t like giving up on books but in the last few years I have been working on being more ruthless about it given the number of books I’d like to read, there is no time to waste on ones I am not liking!
Maggie, thank you. So far it is shaping up to be pretty good.
*sniggers* I sure hope she washed her tooth cleaner before and afterwards. Not sure even Samantha from S&tC would try that.