For What It's Worth


Monday, September 21, 2020

Let it Go…Let it Go!

via GIPHY

I've been reading outside my comfort zone a lot lately. Especially with audiobooks because I tend to like a lot of different genres in that format.

but...

I’m finally learning to let a book that’s not working for me go so this is my spin on Lindsi’s DNF&Y feature where she talks about the books she didn’t finish but explains why they might work for you.


Anxious People by Fredrik Backman ~ Goodreads “This is a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.”

Source: Libro.fm and Atria books in exchange for an honest review

Why I dnf’d – This is not my typical kind of book so this was an outside my comfort zone read.  I listened to it on audio and there’s a full cast of characters (one narrator) and so many of the voices grated. But to be honest, it wouldn’t have worked in any format for me.

The story takes place during a failed bank robbery turned hostage situation and bounces around between the pov’s of the robber, the hostages and the police officers investigating the incident and alternates between the past and the robbery, slowly layering the story with twists and unlikely connections.

With the exception of the father, son police partners and the robber – I stopped caring about any of these people. I found the authors effort to show the human condition super heavy handed with every possible topic ever (often in bizarrely quirky ways) and then - we should all get along despite our differences! It’s nto that I disagree – it just felt very forced to me.

Why you might like it more – If you like a (slightly quirky) exploration of the human condition, with flawed characters and the theme that one small action can have reverberations far beyond that one moment in time.


Shit, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema by Lindy West ~ Goodreads “New York Times opinion writer and bestselling author Lindy West was once the in-house movie critic for Seattle's alternative newsweekly The Stranger, where she covered film with brutal honesty and giddy irreverence. In Shit, Actually, Lindy West returns to those roots, re-examining beloved and iconic movies from the past 40 years with an eye toward the big questions of our time: Is Twilight the horniest movie in history? Why do the zebras in The Lion King trust Mufasa--who is a lion--to look out for their best interests? Why did anyone bother making any more movies after The Fugitive achieved perfection? And, my god, why don't any of the women in Love, Actually ever fucking talk?!”

Source: Libro.fm and Hatchette Books in exchange for an honest review

Why I dnf’d: Since the pandemic started, I’ve had a weekly, virtual movie date with a friend where we watch and snark text a movie. Kevin and I also watch movies this way so I thought for sure this book was made for me.

It’s not baaaad but it wasn’t that funny either. West tackles one movie for each chapter (Forest Gump, The Fugitive, Harry Potter, Twilight to name a few) and basically recaps the entire movie scene for scene with added commentary and that…got a little old. I would have rather watched the movie again and make fun of it myself or just binge Honest Trailer videos all day.

When I first started getting into audiobooks, I was sure essays and biogrophies would be the easiest for me since you can drop it and pick up again without losing the thread but I’m finding them super boring for some reason. The humor feels forced to me with a lot of these narrators.

Why you might like it more: If you’re a fan of essays, pop culture, snarky humor and a movie buff this is worth giving a go.


19 comments:

  1. "we should all get along despite our differences! It’s not that I disagree – it just felt very forced to me."
    I hear you. It never ever works, especially at a time like this.

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    1. It depends what the differences are lol And, in this case, it was incredibly heavy handed (imo anyway) like checking boxes to include every issue.

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  2. Yes! I love this post. I get sucked into reading a few books because of hype and "everyone else loved it." Then I feel bad DNFing the book. But...we are all different!

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    1. It's so individual - what works for me might not work for someone else for the exact same reason I hated it lol

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  3. I am sad about the Backman, but I can understand if his style is not for you.

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    1. It also might have been the audiobook. But then I was reading some reviews online and several people said this was different for him so I'm thinking of giving Beartown a try.

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  4. I find the same thing- sometimes going outside my comfort zone works wonders and something it definitely doesn't! Haha Good for you for chucking 'em if they weren't working...

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    1. I have found that with audiobooks I can listen to different genres so I give things a try.

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  5. LET IT GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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  6. Sucks that Backman didn't work out for you. But that's fine. I'm hoping to get a copy of that one soon. It's definitely good to let go of books that you aren't enjoying though. saves a lot of time.

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    1. I had heard this one was a little different for him so I might try a different one. Maybe Beartown.

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  7. Yea! I love that you are trying new things. Not me... sticking within my comfort zone.

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    1. Ha! I can't listen to romance or my usual genres on audio so I branch out in that format.

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  8. My reading all through the pandemic has been away from my usual kind of read-lots of kids books from Enid Blyton, Paddington and more non fiction than usual. I'm hoping to hit my next Goodreads reading target soon with a few short biographies.

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    1. It's rally hard to focus these days and lighter reading is perfect.

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  9. Sorry neither of these worked for you, but I do love these type of posts! It gives people an idea of whether a book might work for THEM or not. Shit, Actually definitely sounds like one that I'd find annoying with how it's set up.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. I thought for sure I'd love it but it would have been more fun to watch the movie myself.

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  10. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I want to read a Backman, but don't think it will be this one. 😊

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