I am an electronic reader. I read articles from The New York Times and The Washington Post on line, for which I have purchased e-mail subscriptions. And of course I read e-mails and Facebook daily. I also read books, and for the last four years I have read them almost exclusively on my Kindle.
However, a friend of mine gave me a book to read. I was familiar with this book and had previously chosen not to read it, so when I received it, I set it aside. Last week when I was decluttering I found it and since I was almost finished with my current Kindle book, I decided to give it a try.
Immediately I noticed that the print was so small and light. It was giving me eye strain to read it. On my Kindle I enlarge the print. We read in bed at night, and when one of us wants to go to sleep, we turn the lights out because our readers provide their own light. Books don't.
The book was The Shack. My friend is a devout Christian and she knows I am not. She thought I might enjoy the book anyway, and maybe she wanted to aid my spiritual growth? I gave it a try. I got through the first 75 pages, then as I was asked to suspend reality I started skimming. I asked myself if I really wanted to finish this book.
I went on line and read some reviews. Most were glowing, so I also read the the ones that were not. There were various reasons why people disliked the book, from that it was blasphemous to that it was hokey. I guess I thought that it was manipulative.
I skimmed through some of the book, read the ending, and set it aside. I will give it away. I never quit things until they are finished. My mother's words ring in my ears, "If you start something, finish it". I didn't this time.
I tried to read a book, an actual book. I gave it up. I happily ordered the next in the Louise Penny Inspector Gamache series and went back to reading my Kindle.
And look here! I published a post with no photos!
Well, maybe just one? Here's the latest bouquet of garden flowers on my kitchen table.
Beautiful bouquet! I've heard mixed reviews of this book too.
ReplyDeleteI bought a copy of The Shack after my very Christian friend recommended it. (I'm not religious.) I have a feeling I'll have the same experience with The Shack as you did. Time will tell. Right now I'm enjoying The Light Between Oceans.
ReplyDeleteWell, you are better than me. I don't read books anymore. Beautiful flowers!
ReplyDeleteSpectacular bouquet!
ReplyDeleteYou are quite open minded. You gave it a try. you got through the first 75 pages....
I vetoed "The Shack" when it first appeared. To this day I do not understand what attracts people to it. Isn't there now a movie or going to be a movie? I believe the author is from Oregon. Regardless, I was not impressed and am surprised to see it's still around. Not my thing.
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful bouquet from your garden, those bouquets can be the best. I like all the yellow, such a cheerful color. I am reading the Louise Penny series too. Did you know she writes a free once a month newsletter? She often writes a little about her grief upon her dear husband's death, which I find helpful.
ReplyDeleteI never heard of The Shack until the movie started being advertised. I have no interest in either. I do read the Washington Post online. I do have a Kindle but I don't quite get the attraction of it. I really enjoy my trips to the library and small book stores and I love have a real book in my hands. I guess I am hopelessly old-fashioned in some ways.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, your bouquet is beautiful. Now about books; I, too, read mostly on the Kindle these days - like the ease with which I can BUY books and have them available, like the dictionary feature, like being able to enlarge print. What I don't like - it's harder to skip to the end and figure out the ending to see if I want to continue (bad habit, I know), and if you drop it, it's toast. I just finished a real book too - "Daughter of Persia" which should be required reading to understand the Muslim world a bit better. I'll write a proper review on Good Reads, but I can recommend it!
ReplyDeleteI have a difficult time reading actual books, though I love to write in my self help books, ideas that come to me. But I need to enlarge my print also. Love your southwestern table mat and lovely flowers...
ReplyDeleteThe table mat is from Oretga's Weaving Shop in Chimayo, NM. It was just one of the wonderful stops along the Turquoise Trail, the back roads route from Albuquerque to Santa Fe.
DeleteI used to have to read any book to the end. I don't anymore. I quit quite a few books that don't catch my interest.
ReplyDeleteExactly the same experience and thoughts about The Shack as you.
ReplyDeletejust goes to show how we are so different from others, even in book choices.
ReplyDeletei like to listen to books on tape when doing busy work such as sewing or beading, or driving.
the other day I had stephen king's "mr. mercedes" on in the car and it automatically starts to play when the engine is turned on. it is has a really sick character with terrible thoughts and i had a friend in the car with me, probably thinking, what is she listening to? ah well. i love the twists and turns of king's books, and that it always ends well.
i wonder what my friend thinks about me now. kinky?
I read The Shack and for the most part I found it worthwhile. So much so that I went out and bought the book Finding God in The Shack by Roger Olson. I know many people had problems with the book for different reasons.
ReplyDeleteI never feel I have to finish a book just because I started reading it. Life is too short.
I love the mixed bouquets you create!!
I am a book fan, loving the feel and the smell of a book, whilst my husband is a kindle fan and rarely reads an actual book these days. I never feel compelled to finish a book if I am not enjoying it. Beautiful bouquet.
ReplyDeleteWell, you sure gave it a good try! I could not count the number of books that I've started and never finished, I am ashamed to admit. The flower arrangement is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI totally am an electronic reader as well. I too find it harder to read the print in hard books. I also like the ability to travel with many books on one device.
ReplyDeleteI no longer believe I must finish a book if I don't like it. There's too many good ones. I borrow my books electronically from the library.
I love Louise Penny as well.
I read most of my books in print, because I really like the feel of a book in my hands. But I also have a Kindle and read books on it occasionally. And yes, it is unusual for you not to have lots of pictures, Linda. It's nice for a chance, but only occasionally, please! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm like you and do almost all my book reading on Kindle. Recently read two hard covers and found them awkward to manage. I'm definitely spoiled now. I did read The Shack years ago but honestly can't remember how I felt about it which means I was not enthused one way or the other. It is rare I don't finish but I am not above deleting a book from my Kindle unfinished that has made me struggle. Am too old to waste my time like that.
ReplyDeleteExcept for magazines, I read pretty much exclusively on my Kindle now too. Occasionally I'll get a real, actual book from the library, but I always ask for the large print edition. I've never heard of The Shack, but it doesn't sound at all like my cup of tea, although it might have been, once, when I was very young. Oh, and I read gardening books in physical form, because -- pictures!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous flowers, Linda. I've given away my books to the library and only use a Kindle for the exact reasons you mentioned. Art didn't jump at getting an electronic reader until I insisted on it. Once he saw me using it, he got a Fire and that's all he reads too.
ReplyDeleteI hate the books that I have to force myself to finish just because I have OCD:)
ReplyDelete