Unfinished Business

I've been a bad reader lately. I've done something I hate to do, and it's time to come clean ...

I started a book and I didn't finish it.

Then I did the same thing with another book.

I'm such a quitter!


In general, when I start reading a book, I'm a dedicated reader, in for the long haul. Sure, I may pick up a magazine from time to time, or even pause to read a short "fluff" book if it's taking me a while to get through a particularly long book. But I always finish what I start.

Well ... almost always.

It all started a little over a month ago. I picked up two books at the English Language Library. Both were historical fiction, and I was confident that they would both be very interesting. I started the first, and discovered that although it was a novel based on the life of a 19th-century royal, it read more like a scholarly biography. Too many names being thrown around, too many family lines and relations to keep straight, and not enough juicy bits. I got about halfway through, and then it was time to go on vacation.

I didn't want to get halfway through my vacation, finish the book and be without reading material, so I opted to leave this book behind and take the other one with me to America. This book took place in London, in the beginning of the 20th century. I started it on the long journey from Angers to Paris to London to Charlotte to Charleston ... but once I arrived in Charleston, I didn't pick it up again. Not even once. I was too busy reading housing ads and Charleston tourist magazines. And playing Uno. ;)

So although this second book could possibly have been a winner, I never gave it a fair chance. And for this, I am sorry. Perhaps someday I'll pick it up again. But not yet. I'd have to go back and start it from the beginning again, and I'm just not ready to do that.

Especially because I went to the Big Book Sale at the library Saturday. And brought five new books home with me. And I ony have till June to read these so I can donate them back for the next book sale.

I've started a new book, and although it's taking some effort to get into it, I'll keep forging on. And I'll post about it soon.