Comments on: The Booklover’s Curse: When Good Just Isn’t Good Enough!

By: Susie

Susie — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 01:57:53 +0000

In reply to Patricia Brown. You're so welcome. Thanks for reading!

By: Patricia Brown

Patricia Brown — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:44:49 +0000

It’s so good to hear from others experiencing how I’ve been feeling about my most recent reads. However, I won’t give up. Thanks, Susie for doing what you do!

By: Susie

Susie — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 15:39:55 +0000

In reply to susan. Thanks so much, Susan.

By: Susie

Susie — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 15:39:23 +0000

In reply to Madeline.

I so agree with you about the hype often building unrealistic expectations. On the other hand, I don’t want to just ignore the hype because many times it is warranted. I feel like I know my book tastes well and can navigate through and find books that appeal to me, but lately that hasn’t worked as well.

I loved some of the books you didn’t like. Both Commonwealth and The Mothers’ were on my top ten last year and Exit West will probably be this year. But I also loved some of the same ones you did. I’m Thinking of Ending Things was brilliant and underrated. We Were the Lucky Ones and Based on a True Story are two of my favorites from this year (both had a lot of hype). I’ll check out some of the others you mentioned.

Hopefully, we’ll both be connecting with more great books soon.

By: Susie

Susie — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 15:34:05 +0000

In reply to Annie. Thanks, Annie!

By: susan

susan — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 05:14:14 +0000

Good post. I can relate to the “symptoms” you note above. Sometimes I find that books raved about on Goodreads are not ones I’ve liked and ones on Goodreads with only so-so ratings have been ones I’ve liked quite a bit. So go figure. Highly hyped books can get the anxiety flowing for sure!

By: Madeline

Madeline — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 22:50:08 +0000

I agree with a lot of this. BUT I think there is a lot of information and noise about new books. Blogs are fabulous but I realize that one needs to apply filters. I’ve learned to walk away from books that have rave reviews or major hype but aren’t in my genre or sweet spot. (Goodbye Vitamin was an example.)

There are a lot of “hyped” books over the past couple of years that are TERRIBLE. And my book reading friends think they are too. (Commonwealth, The Mothers, Exit/West are just a few.)

But I have read some good books this year: In the Darkroom, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, The Circle, We Were the Lucky Ones, Behind Her Eyes, Passing Strange, Shotgun Lovesongs, The Devil and Webster, Based on a True Story, Last Cowboys of San Geronimo, If the Creek Don’t Rise, Small Little Things.

Unfortunately, that’s just a bit over 10% of what I’ve read. I have to find a way to filter out the noise and stick with good resources and listen to my own gut feelings.

By: Annie

Annie — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 04:53:48 +0000

Agree so much with this post. I’m always saying: if I had read this book 3 years ago I would’ve probabyl loved it. But as I read a lot of similar books, it’s hard to find that WOW!

By: Susie

Susie — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 04:16:56 +0000

Meh is definitely the right word. I hadn’t really thought about the negativity out there impacting my reading life, but you’re right that it probably is. In the past, reading has been a great escape for me during hard times, but right now that just isn’t happening. (or, at least not enough!)

By: Susie

Susie — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 04:14:51 +0000

In reply to Lindsey. Well said, Lindsey. Thanks for stopping by.