Day 11 – A book that disappointed you

Most recently, Kraken by China Mieville, which I discussed in the last Galactic Suburbia – I do blame myself for this, not so much because of reading it as an e-book (I’m over that) but because I failed to notice ahead of time the obvious signs that it was a text heavily influenced/inspired by Lovecraft, and even once I worked that out, I failed to take into account just how hard I bounce off any fiction at all which is heavily influenced/inspired by Lovecraft. And I just continued on, nursing my expectations for the book based entirely, let’s face it, on the awesome title.

I really like kraken, but I do not like this book, and I’m okay with that. Plenty of people are busy liking it for me.

Also, since I have the newly-acquired DVD sitting right here to remind me, and thinking back into the deep mists of time, I have to say that I was deeply disappointed by each of the sequels to the Mists of Avalon, a little more each time. I gave up on them at about the third and there have been many since. There are some books so awesome that they simply should not, ever, be diminished by sequels.

Going even further back, I would say that the Dune sequels had the same effect for me. How sad that Herbert was basically forced to continued writing in that world in order to be published, and that his readers and publishers would not accept anything else from him. A magnificent book, let down by everything that came after.

The worst thing a book can do to us is to fail to reach our expectations, or to thwart them in some way. Likewise, the worst thing we can do to a book is to impose unrealistic expectations upon it. Really, it can be a toxic relationship between reader and text!

Other Days of the Book Meme:

Day 01 – A book series you wish had gone on longer OR a book series you wish would just freaking end already (or both!)
Day 02 – A book or series you wish more people were reading and talking about
Day 03 – The best book you’ve read in the last 12 months
Day 04 – Your favorite book or series ever
Day 05 – A book or series you hate
Day 06 – Favorite book of your favorite series OR your favorite book of all time
Day 07 – Least favorite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
Day 08 – A book everyone should read at least once
Day 09 – Best scene ever
Day 10 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 11 – A book that disappointed you
Day 12 – A book or series of books you’ve read more than five times
Day 13 – Favorite childhood book OR current favorite YA book (or both!)
Day 14 – Favorite character in a book (of any sex or gender)
Day 15 – Your “comfort” book
Day 16 – Favorite poem or collection of poetry
Day 17 – Favorite story or collection of stories (short stories, novellas, novelettes, etc.)
Day 18 – Favorite beginning scene in a book
Day 19 – Favorite book cover (bonus points for posting an image!)
Day 20 – Favorite kiss
Day 21 – Favorite romantic/sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)
Day 22 – Favorite non-sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)
Day 23 – Most annoying character ever
Day 24 – Best quote from a novel
Day 25 – Any five books from your “to be read” stack
Day 26 – OMG WTF? OR most irritating/awful/annoying book ending
Day 27 – If a book contains ______, you will always read it (and a book or books that contain it)!
Day 28 – First favorite book or series obsession
Day 29 – Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)
Day 30 – What book are you reading right now?

Tags: 30 Days of books, china mieville, frank herbert, marion (zimmer) bradley, reading