I just can't finish this book.
There are a lot of things I like about it: the title (creepy and mysterious!), the cover (ditto!), the opening letter from the author that made me pretty much believe it was a true story, the fact that it's a Printz Award winner...
However, I've been trying to read it for a week and I just can't get into it.
At first I thought it was the writing style: "He recommenced his pacing, incessantly running his fingers through his thick hair, and as he spoke, my presence faded from his consciousness as light fades from the autumnal sky." At times I thought the language was just too heavy handed and it slowed me down as I tried to get into the story. On the other hand, it clearly anchored the story in the very early 1900s, in the office and laboratory of a scientist. If it had been written in today's vernacular, the story certainly would have lost something.
(Plus, the writing style continuously reminded me of The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, and that was a book I liked very much!)
So what was it about The Monstrumologist? You know, I think people-eating monsters just aren't my thing. I try to read a wide range of YA and I almost never give up on a book, but the coffin-robbing Anthropophagus were just a little too creepily disgusting for me.
What do you think, Book Lovers? Am I wrong about The Monstrumologist? And what does it take for you to stop reading a book once you've started? I can't wait to hear what you think!
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Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! :)
ReplyDeleteI used to try to finish every book that I start, but lately I've just been wondering why I should struggle through something that is not enjoyable, especially when the reason it's being read is for entertainment (or escapism, hehe!).
I give up on books when I'm either so bored by them that I read the same sentence 4 times without realizing it because I'm daydreaming about going to poke through my shelves. Or I'll give up on a book that makes me angry, or that doesn't elicit ANY response from me.
I've never heard of this book, but if it wasn't doing anything for you, pick up something better! :D
I have been wanting to read this one for awhile, but everything I read talks about how gross (but good) it is. It is on my list though because it looks like a good one for middle school boys.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by my blog!