this contains spoilers

[maderr]

Finished read The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes.



I don't get why he was picked to be the title, he did pretty much fuck nothing the entire story. I hated the end. The MC gets nothing but forgotten, the one char was never explained (though, I can guess and guess well), and the bad guys pretty much win. Nevermind the other char I really like, who loses everything and is poisoned, goes a little crazy, and dies alone after seeing his crippled son was beaten to death.

Maybe I'm just not in the right mood, or not deep enough. I have no patience for Deep books. There is an air of better than thou art about I detest. A story can be just a story, it need not be Deep. I have plenty of good books that say a lot without that patronizing air. This one...I dunno. I think it falls flat of what it wanted to accomplish. To be honest, I'm not sure what it wanted to accomplish. It's like it should have been two different books, or something, because in the end the whole mystery solving aspect was fucking pointless, and the MC was treated like crap. I really liked him, despite everything. He really fucking tried. And what does he get? Loses everything that matters, is informed he was played for a great fool, and goes off to die in Africa totally forgotten.

The next time I'm in the bookstore, I'm giving the finger to the fiction and fantasy sections and going straight to romance. I'll say this for my bodice rippers man - I know the authors I like, I can count on them to provide, I know what to expect, and I never walk away depressed. People can put that genre down all they want, but there's a damn good reason it flourishes.

Now to go find something happy to read, cause jeez my day has sucked enough, thanks so much.



Maybe I'm getting too picky -__- Maybe I should just stop. But above and beyond all things I love reading. I get into my stories, there is no way to avoid that. So to read something like this? It will have me in a funk for a long time, and images of the unhappy stuff will probably never totally leave. I hate to be let down, and I hate to walk away from a book depressed. There's a huge difference between reading a tragedy and reading a book that's depressing.

But like I said, maybe I'm just not Deep enough to get it. I'm sure this is the sort of book English major types would fawn over for ages. They can have it.

Comments

[unusualmusic.livejournal.com]

Long, long ago, I gave up on Deep! Serious! Literature! Because they were either boring or depressing, as you describe. So, I join you in the "let the English majors have it!!!" attitude.

[shattereternity.livejournal.com]

ah, this book...people kept telling me it was so great...was unhappy with it...it happens

[chilayse.livejournal.com]

Ah but what have you LIKED? Books writers and what you liked in the stories..maybe you can ask people here who've read the same authors that you liked to give recommendations?

[nikerymis.livejournal.com]

music before I forget to ever send it to you. Sorry if I've already sent or you already have from some other source

Cobra Starship - While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets - Their first (I think) album. Comes before the one I sent you. Highlights (to me) The Church of Hot Addiction and It's Warmer in the Basement.

Seether - Finding Beauty in the Negative Spaces - Not a single song on this album I don't like. Which is an accomplishment in and of itself, but it's also my favorite album from the last year. I keep going back to re-listen in between finding new albums.

Three Days Grace - One-X - I half think I've got the album name wrong, and it's a few years old, but I recently discovered and like most of the songs. Get Out Alive I already sent you, but also stand out is Let It Die and the song I heard on the radio that alerted me to the album's existence isn't bad (Riot).

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I think I do have the first two, and 3DG I've had for ages. Time of Dying is one of my favorite songs of theirs, though I also really like Pain and I Hate Everything About You. They are a shiney group.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I trust recs from a very small handful of people. Too often when I go outside that handful, I wind up wasting money.

[nikerymis.livejournal.com]

::laugh:: Okay, I fail at giving you new shinies today. Heh, Time of Dying is one I always have to crank. It's got great guitar work. Pain I think is really pretty, which probably makes my brain a little twisted. ^___^;; (So, yeah, I really like that album. ^___^)

[hayama-sb.livejournal.com]

This is why you use the library. When you find a book that might be interesting, you check the library listings online (for you thats at http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/ ). I searched on The Somnambulist & there are 7 copies available to check out. So you then click the "Place hold" button, which will let you put in your library card & PIN & say which branch you want to pick it up at.

[spy-c.livejournal.com]

If you want pointless fluffy romantic fantasy to read, I recommend the "Once Upon a Winter's Night" series. It's quite, quite pointless. One of my friends told me about it, and I quote: "It's great to read on the bus and between classes. Really, because you don't have to think and it ends fluffy and happily. In fact, if you think about it, you might start thinking 'why am I reading this again?'"

So, yeah. It's not deep or even the best written stuff I've read, but it passes time well and leaves you feeling...well, not depressed.

[acesha-coeurl.livejournal.com]

I have an extra copy of my favorite book series, Wayfarer Redemption, by Sara Douglass. Its fantasy, and i've read it so many times its nearing the end of its life. If you want to give it a try I really wouldnt mind sending you the first copy to keep and read. As an australian author Douglass isnt really well know. I warn you though, it is a long series (well, its three separate trilogies, with two stand alones that factor into it with the third trilogy) It is a very good example at how prophecies can be woven nicely into a story. Same thing with my copy of Wraeththu, i need to replace it anyway, so i can let you have that one as well if you wanted to give it a try. You wouldn't have to waste money and would get something new to read *shrugs* let me know.

[chilayse.livejournal.com]

The public library is our friend.

[broken-moons.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm an English major, and that doesn't sound like a book I'd read. Of course, there's a difference between reading books for academic purposes and for fun.
I have two bookcases at home, one for recreational fiction and one for the books I read at uni. One of them only collects dust, really (until I get off my ass and do some cleaning). Guess which.

That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the Deep Literature books (okay, some of them I really didn't). It's just... There's a time and place, you know? It was really interesting to read that stuff and try to make sense of it, and I love things that I can't wholly understand. But if I want to curl up with a book before bed, I pick something more accessible.

[gossymer.livejournal.com]

I got the book a few months ago but I stopped reading it within a chaper or two - it just didn't grip me. I always wondered if I'd been missing on something wonderful, but am relieved now that I read your review *sigh*

Do have a light reading rec for you that would get your mind off of it - Hero by Perry Moore - not only is it filled with super heroes, the main guy is also gay ♥ It was a delightful read and made me all \o/

[niravive.livejournal.com]

Hero is absolutely adorable. It's in my small(ish) box of books that are moving with me this summer. I love it so much.

[gossymer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't have much shelf space either, but Hero is a keeper! I ended up spazzing in October and throwing it at the f-list too hahaha

Damn, wish there were more stories in the book store like it...

[zeffy-amethyst.livejournal.com]

I felt that way when I was ready the Tawny Fool trilogy. God damn I love the fool and what does he get? Nothing. The slash didn't even have a chance to happen. T_T

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I am really sick of being told that. I'm not stupid. I know there's a library. Ergo, I must have reasons for not fucking using it.

[chilayse.livejournal.com]

oh. k.

[dmlpacker.livejournal.com]

Goddamn I feel the same way. As an English major myself, I hate how the only books with "literary" merit or the critics' approval are the overly deep/analytical tragedies. I appreciate a good bodice-ripper quite often...