That's the situation I have been in for the last 3.5 years with The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
It's been sitting all forlorn on my bookshelf for that length of time because I am terrified I will not like it, despite it being universally loved by everyone I know that has read it. What if I am the odd one out who doesn't enjoy it? What does that say about me? There's been all this perceived pressure banging about in my head that I just haven't been able to bring myself to start it.
Until now.
I'm not sure what caused the change of heart after all this time. It's not like I don't have lots of other books also clamouring to be read (161 at last count). But last night I took the plunge , settled myself in bed and cracked the spine of this novel so beloved by many.
Its early days but so far so good :)
I'll let you know if it lives up to the hype when I am done.
And please, let me know if you too have been inflicted with book fear at some point. Maybe you can take inspiration from my leap of faith and try your scary novel too!
It's been sitting all forlorn on my bookshelf for that length of time because I am terrified I will not like it, despite it being universally loved by everyone I know that has read it. What if I am the odd one out who doesn't enjoy it? What does that say about me? There's been all this perceived pressure banging about in my head that I just haven't been able to bring myself to start it.
Until now.
I'm not sure what caused the change of heart after all this time. It's not like I don't have lots of other books also clamouring to be read (161 at last count). But last night I took the plunge , settled myself in bed and cracked the spine of this novel so beloved by many.
Its early days but so far so good :)
I'll let you know if it lives up to the hype when I am done.
And please, let me know if you too have been inflicted with book fear at some point. Maybe you can take inspiration from my leap of faith and try your scary novel too!
4 comments:
I read it last year and didnt enjoy the beginning at all! I think I began to enjoy it about 40 pages in.
I loved The Book Thief! Marcus Zusak is amazing.
I felt the same way about The Time Traveller's Wife - time travel, romance, everyone talking about it, oh oh - it was enough to make my lip curl.
And then I read it and it was even more fantastic than I imagined.
Opposite experience with Harry Potter - "You have to read them, you'll love them, etc, etc" - bah. Terrible. (Sorry Potterites)
I loved The Book Thief! Marcus Zusak is amazing.
I felt the same way about The Time Traveller's Wife - time travel, romance, everyone talking about it, oh oh - it was enough to make my lip curl.
And then I read it and it was even more fantastic than I imagined.
Opposite experience with Harry Potter - "You have to read them, you'll love them, etc, etc" - bah. Terrible. (Sorry Potterites)
I have the book thief on my shelf too - not out of fear, just lack of time for getting round to it! Maybe I will give it a go after I've finished my current Victorian phase...
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