Wednesday, July 28, 2010

On Being Stuck in a Biblio-Blah-Ble

Just flushed the third book in a row out of my Kindle.
Also ejected an audiobook from my car and reverted to Shout Out Louds and Flaming Lips.
Have three unfinished book-books sitting at my bedside- and one, the ever-popular 'purse-book'- languishing in place.
What the aitch is going on here?
The last time I was at this pass, I was coming off a hot biblio streak (The Help, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Water For Elephants and The Girls). I remember that I had to do what a fellow patron of my highly informal (think post-it notes on covers/cases, left in a drawer with a sign-out notepad) worksite book-club- calls 'cleansing the palate'.
I simply could not find a single book worth sticking with for more than 52 pages. No matter how much time and dedication I lavished on them.
I was forced to stop the books- in any/all formats- completely and move over into pure music (oh, yeah, and mags). This lasted me about 8 weeks which slipped by with nary a notice until temptation, in the form of City of Thieves and First, They Killed My Father, popped up in my path.
This rift between books and me is, based on recent history, temporary. Thank God. But what makes it happen? Within the past three weeks, I have tossed aside The Faculty Club, A Visit From The Goon Squad, American Music (and I loved this author's I Was Amelia Earhart) and One Day. The characters did not engage. Or the premise was too scattered. Or the plot was underdeveloped. Whatever, each of those books seduced, but was soon abandoned.
Here's my question: why does this happen- to even the most devoted bibliophiliac? More importantly, what can I do to bring it to an end? And, post haste!
Who's with me on this? Anyone? Anyone? Hellll-oooh-oooh...[cue crickets]

1 comment:

  1. I read My Life In France by Julia Childs and Desert Flower by Waris Dirie when I was in Europe. Both were good, with My Life being the standout. I'm sure you've already read it. Halfway through "From Those Wonderful Folks Who Brought You Pearl Harbor" by Jerry Della Famina. Supposedly, it's the tell-all that inspired Mad Men. As someone who works in a parallel field to advertising, it's a pretty depressing read...

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