I finished reading a book today. Don't everybody stand up for that ovation. The rousing round of applause is enough. I started it yesterday, and now I'm done. But I am dissatisfied with my total reading experience.
To put a positive spin on this book...I must say that the title and cover are brilliant (perhaps scathingly brilliant) examples of how to hook a reader. In the immortal words of Wayne and Garth, "Fished in! Excellent!" I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. The cover attracted me, the title made me nibble, and I chomped down when I read the front flap. I grabbed that book off the shelf faster than a flathead catfish grabs a rotten chicken heart off the bottom of the pond.
I began reading. I couldn't put it down. I took it to the movie today to read before the previews started. It was a page-turner. Now that I'm done, I feel bamboozled. Shanghaied. Misled. Buffaloed. Hoodwinked. Duped. Flummoxed. Conned. Swindled. Baited, then given the old switcheroo.
Would I buy it again, based on the title and cover? Yes. Did it engage me, keep me wanting more? Yes. Did it have more red flags that a flag corps convention organized by China, Turkey, and Vietnam? Yes. Did it bring two words to mind, those two words being James and Frey? Yes. Do I find it quite the coincidence that the author was hosting koi shows at Disneyland at the tender age of twelve, and her last name it Karp? Yes. Because as a country gal, I know that a koi is the same as a carp. Which sounds exactly like Karp.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...you're a scathingly brilliant fooler. More power to you.
(Yes, I am aware that I did not give the title of the book.)
4 comments:
We need the warning ... maybe a hint or even code will work. What if I see the book read it and feel bad about and blame you for not warning me then you'll feel terrible or worse :)
Josh,
I'll work on getting you that information. Thank you so much for wanting to spare my feelings of maybe making you read a book that I liked but felt was false advertising.
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Sioux,
I didn't publish your comment, because I was afraid my multitudes of readers might latch onto your email and start secretly corresponding with you, leaving me in the lurch with no stimulation, and tumbleweeds flitting insolently through my comments section.
Of your reading recommendations, I already have two stacked up waiting to be read, like airplanes in a holding pattern while air traffic controllers watch movies, take naps, and haz cheeseburgers while they post LOLcat photos.
I sometimes read a book like that and have that let down upon finishing. Hate that.
Kathy,
I wasn't so much let down as I was miffed that it wasn't about what I was led to believe by the title.
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