Interlude - Many, Many "Meh"s

Couldn't do it with the following books. Read on for disgust, boredom, and minor ranting.

Grit by Angela Duckworth

Now, it's not that this book is bad; it's not. It's more that the words rouse little to no reaction from even the tiniest cell within me. Maybe I'm not the right audience, or in the right place in life to fully appreciate that Duckworth has to offer. I'm more inclined to think this book is an over-explanation of a pretty simple theory. Grit is sustained perseverance towards a goal, and is more of a predictor of success in the long term than talent.

There. That's the book.

Okay, okay, that's probably a bit cruel and not fully accurate - I didn't even get through half of the damn thing. Like I said, it's not bad per se, but once you click with the main concept she's working with the rest seems pretty moot.

BYEEEE.

Yes No Maybe So by Aisha Saeed and Becky Albertalli

This book is like the anti-Normal People. Instead of timeless descriptions of feelings, of the loneliness and potential and fleeting connection that every generation feels in their bones...there's this book, which hangs heavily on specific cultural references that don't add a lick to the story. I swear, I tried to slog through that bullshit, but had to let this one go once the pretence for the two teens being flung together was revealed.

Goodreads reviewer Sumaiyya puts it perfectly when she says, "Just because it’s fiction doesn’t mean you should create whatever situations you want to favour the plot and characters and move the story forward."

HEAR THAT, ALL WRITERS??? I mean, goddamn. It's fiction, but make it believable.

OFFICIALLY ABANDONED

Patternmaster by Octavia Butler

Octavia...I'm sorry.

I just can't do it. This book is so dull. Instead of exploring the world Butler has created, instead of being immersed in the social and cultural and gender-based nuances I know she can rock out, everything from dialogue to descriptions seems to belabor the same, static conflicts. Clayaks bad. Patternists want control....yep, that's about it. I'm curious about the ending, but not enough to submit myself to the rest of the journey. I love Wild Seed, another installment in this series/world, but this one just doesn't cut it.

Byyyye

High Achiever: The Shocking True Story of One Addict's Double Life by Tiffany Jenkins

I came across this book when the author was interview on a podcast (which one? That's an excellent question...perhaps The Cut? Can't remember and, honestly, cannot be bothered), and was veryvery hopeful. Unfortunately, all those hopes were dashing within the first 20 pages or so. The writing is, um, not good. At all. There's a whole lot of cliche language, and if it weren't bad enough that the prose feel stilted, the characters, dialogue, and each and every situation feel the same way. I wish I could ignore it all and get into the story, and I wish Jenkins was secretly a raw genius but sadly...nope.