Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.
Yeah.
So long happily-ever-after.
Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.
She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.
And that's only the beginning of the end. (Goodreads)
I picked this book up thinking, "Wow, this is exactly the kind of thing I'll enjoy!" I mean, angels, romance, strange immortals, well, those are things I generally really find fun in a book. And then I started reading. And I honestly couldn't get into this book at all. I really hate to say this, but I don't know why I bothered finishing it. By halfway through, I knew it wasn't going to get any better. I just have a hard time putting a book down. It's like I'm failing it or something :) Anyhow, I really had no connection with any of the characters, felt like the explanations for the Siders, and their random "touch" were not explained at all, and well, just really couldn't get into it. And a few times I wanted to just tell the characters to stop fighting--that they just needed to grow up a bit. (Okay, yeah, I know, they're teens, but they were acting much younger...) Anyhow, yeah, just really not my kind of book. Not at all interested in seeing what happens in the next books either. I hate writing reviews like this, but honestly, I definitely should have just put this one down and read something else.
Anyone else have trouble putting down a book they're not enjoying? Can you put it aside easily?
I bought the book when it first came out because Leah was part of the Querytracker team (the forum team), but I still haven't read it.
ReplyDeleteI recently read a book from a friend and it wasn't very good. And the ending was terrible. I ended up skimming the last third of the book (I didn't rate it or review it). I have a few of her other books, and hope the writing and story is much better than her debut book. I just haven't had the courage to read them yet.
I used to read books to the end if I paid for them, but now if it's a ebook that I didn't pay much for (or a library book), I don't finish it if it doesn't do anything for me after I've read the first 100 pages. My TBR pile is crazy enough as it is without wasting time on a book I'm not enjoying.
I need to get better at skimming to the end or something. My TBR list is painfully long and I have so many books I can't wait to read! :)
DeleteI used to be that way. I thought if I just kept reading things would get better. Usually it didn't. But see, I'm not only a slow reader, I'm WAY older now, so every minute is precious. I don't have time to waste on a book if it isn't working for me when there are so many good ones out there.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone has the time to waste on a book that's not doing it for them :) There are just too many others out there!
DeleteYou have this thing for Angels don't you?
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of TBR books, I get distracted by family and the stuff, but I always try to finish what I started. The only one that comes to mind is Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. I started it in college, but lost the book when I moved. I never bought another copy.
I do have a thing for angels! It's because my books have angel-like people in them :) I'll have to check out Dandelion Wine!
DeleteUgh, "The Host" by Stephenie (SIC) Meyer. (Don't hit me). Okay, I admit, I'm a Twilight fan. I wasn't a junkie like some fans. I didn't stand in line for hours waiting for the release. But I did get around to reading each book and I eventually saw all the movies...books were far better IMHO.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, got off topic for a minute. After Twilight I was excited to read an adult novel by Ms. Meyer and picked up "The Host" not long after it was released. Let's just say it was torture for me to finish it--Sorry to all you lovers out there. This is just my opinion. She's still a great author and it was actually her story that gave me the courage to submit my books--So I like HER. Just not that book. I didn't see the movie version either. It just wasn't for me...I can't even describe how it just wasn't. I forced--forced---myself to finish. I should have put it down as soon as I realized it wasn't for me and moved on. But I rarely DNF a book. I'm like you, I feel like a failure.
Michelle :)
Oh my gosh, you didn't like The Host?!?! I don't know if we can be friends! lol! Kidding :) I know plenty of people who didn't care for it much, though I did enjoy it. And I agree, Meyer did give me the confidence to start really submitting my own work, and I'm seriously grateful to her for that. I enjoyed Twilight, but wasn't a totally huge fan (well, not like some people at least), and enjoyed The Host, too. Even the movie was okay :) *Ducks*
DeleteThe first one that comes to mind for me (aside from academic textbooks, I think the most boring book ever written was by an ivy tower dust collector named Hobsbawm)... was The Casual Vacancy. I got a hundred pages in and gave up.
ReplyDeleteI've yet to pick that one up. One of these days...maybe :)
DeleteI have too many books to read to keep reading one I'm not enjoying... though lately I have tried on a couple, in the hope that they'd get better. They rarely do.
ReplyDeleteThat's my theme song it seems--keep reading and hope it gets better. With very little luck...
DeleteBefore I started writing seriously I never put a book down, no matter how bad. Now I'm definitely better at cutting my losses but there are still those few that, for inexplicable reasons, I feel the need to skim quickly through just to see what happens.
ReplyDeleteI think that's why I keep going, too--to see what happens. In case I "wonder" down the line, though I'm not so sure I would wonder all that much, haha!
DeleteI have finally gotten to the place where life is too short to read books I'm not into. Too many books I do enjoy and limited reading hours. So yes, I can definitely shut the book.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! I need to learn this talent! :)
DeleteToo bad. Based on the write-up, that sounded like a good book, and one that'd be right up your alley.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I usually keep reading, even if a book doesn't grab me from the get-go. Especially if the book was written by a fellow blogger or favorite author, or if it was recommended by a friend. Ya never know. Sometimes, first impressions are wrong. (But not usually.)
I've changed my mind I think twice in the long run, but generally not. I do keep reading especially if it's someone's work I know--that falls into a different category for me:)
DeleteSorry you didn't enjoy this one more! I used to have a lot of trouble putting a book down and didn't have my first "not finish" until I tried reading Moby Dick about 10 years ago. It took me forever and I tried reading it in inspiring places (like Cape Cod- whaling territory). Finally I made it to page 100, got up, did a little dance on the beach, and said enough. I haven't stopped many books after that- but I figure if I give it a good try and it doesn't work that I should spend my time reading something I love. After all- there are so many books I want to read! :)
ReplyDeleteHah! I can totally imagine that little happy dance :) I seriously need to get better about putting books down!
DeleteI have this one, but I haven't read it yet. I put a book down if it doesn't grab me with the first few chapters. I did it just last night.
ReplyDeleteI swear there are like two camps of readers--those that can put a book down, and those that can't! :)
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