MIDDLESEXJeffrey Eugenides ~ BOiPod
Personal Rating: 2.5/5
Finally. I finished it. I have been listening to this book for eons and on top of that, not enjoying it either. There were only a few spots that kept my interest, but for the most part...it just droned on and on and on. For some reason, it didn't register to me how long it really was until I was about 1/3 of the way through. At that point I was hoping it would "get better", so I continued. After that I had so much time invested that I figured I would just go ahead and finish it. I have no redeeming qualities to share, so I'm putting this one to rest. Finally.
I think you just settled the debate I've had going with myself for awhile. When I first read the 'blurb' about this book, I was not the least interested. Then I read rave reviews and thought maybe I'd give it a chance one of these days. I'm going with your opinion and I'm not going to bother with it. Thanks, Joy.
ReplyDeleteouch really? I was into this book from the beginning. If not about the unique subject that the great insight on Greek culture (which I hope is true cause I ain't Greek). Oh well! Different strokes...
ReplyDeleteBooklogged ~ I seem to be out of the mainstream with this one, so don't take my word for it. I have heard from two people that maybe I didn't care for it as much because I listened to it. The reader was VERY dramatic and didn't let me imagine the characters. Also, the length threw me for a loop. I have to be in the right mindset for a book that long. "Chunksters" are intimidating. :)
ReplyDeleteNessie ~ Yep...really. Sorry, but like you said, "Different strokes..." And I'm thankful for that. We wouldn't have access to ALL the books that people write if we all liked the same thing. There are so many components that go into liking or disliking a book as I'm sure you know. Alas, this one just didn't make it for me.
Yay - you finished it ;-) Hope your next audiobook is just awesome - you're due for one.
ReplyDeletejoy, I agree with you. It was like The Book That Wouldn't End. Don't you hate it when you've invested time so that you feel you can't abandon it, but you're Bored To Tears?! I never did finish the last twenty pages. It was just too weird for me. And, it won a Pulitzer! I'm shocked, because I normally love Pulitzer Prize winners.
ReplyDeleteI felt like that for Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco. I think I wasnt in the mind frame at the time. I enjoyed the plot but the history was dense. Even in Italian, Eco is DENSE and HEAVY - hard to get through. Anyways, I understand your position for SURE. It happens to all of us. Lately, I have been seeing a lot of disappointment by readers in general on blogs. So sad! I recently finished Mansfield Park. It was a killer at first - just kept on falling asleep but then it got amazing - at the 300th page!!!
ReplyDeleteBellezza ~ It was definitely difficult to get through. Ultimately...it was a waste of time. :(
ReplyDeleteNessie ~ At least all the negative reviews are "heads-up" for us to stay away from them and not waste our time. :)
Wow, a review from 2006! I came over here from your Goodreads page. I'm reading this now, and it is slow going for me as well. I loved The Virgin Suicides, so I think I'll persevere with this one, but I can tell it's going to take a while.
ReplyDeleteCharley ~ A friend of mine just finished this at the beginning of the summer. It took her forever to read it and was bored to tears for a while (that's why it took so long), but by the end - she loved it! Go figure! :) I hope it works out for you, too. BTW - there were parts I enjoyed.
ReplyDelete