I’ve been known to be a tiny bit obsessive. And on top of that, once I challenge myself to something, I pride myself on doing all I can to meet that challenge. So it is with great pain and reluctance that I admit that… there’s a book I just can’t finish. Or perhaps I should say, there’s a book that I just can’t read in its entirety. It’s a book that’s on my Fall into Reading Challenge List. It’s a book I had looked forward too. But it’s time to face it: it’s just not going to happen.
Here’s the book:
Nancy Drew was a key part of my formative years. In fact, at one point, I was determined to be Nancy Drew when I grew up. She had it all: the independent spirit, a quick mind, and countless mysteries that plunged her into adventure and carefully planted clues. My parents fostered my love of Nancy Drew and Christmas or my birthday would often produce yet another of Nancy’s mysteries for my reading enjoyment. But if not, no matter. I’d just read one of the ones I already had again. I didn’t care that I knew “whodunit”; I’d enjoy it the second (or third or fourth or fifth…) time, anyway.
So I was very excited a few months ago when I saw Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her
But alas, I just cannot read the whole thing.
First, the good:
The author seriously did her homework. It’s clear that she learned everything – everything - she could about the initial creator and pseudonymous authors of the Nancy Drew mysteries. Letters, newspaper articles, education, childhood anecdotes — she dug it all up.
But:
I’m afraid the author put way too much stuff in the book that is simply not needed. For example, as one of the key contributors to the Nancy Drew phenomenon began college, the women’s suffrage movement was in full swing. So the author pulled back from the immediate story and spent many pages talking about the history of the women’s suffrage movement, going all the way back to Abigail Adams. Unnecessary. Another time, when telling us about the first Nancy Drew author’s involvement in college athletics, we must take some time to learn about “women in sports,” female Olympiads, etc. Why? I’m not sure. All I know is that there were far more details than necessary for someone who really just wanted to know about Nancy Drew and the women who wrote her stories.
The book got high reviews on Amazon, so don’t take my word for it. Clearly, many readers aren’t bothered by rabbit trails and tangents, or extraneous information. Maybe it’s my natural aversion to reading all things history, I don’t know. (But in my defense, even my history-major husband assured me that when he’s reading a book on a certain topic, he appreciates the author actually staying on that topic.)
I will say that I’ve tried to read this book. I’ve made it the only book on my night-stand. I’ve forced myself to try to read a chapter a day. But it isn’t working. I cannot abide all the extra stuff.
And so, I’ve decided that I will skim and skip, reading passages that scratch my itch to know the story behind Nancy Drew (there are many of these) and ignoring passages that tell me things I didn’t really need to know about World War II, the Great Depression, or great leaps for women-kind (there are many of these, too). I don’t think I’ll be able to bring myself to actually cross the book off my Challenge list, since I’m not technically reading the whole thing. But for my own sanity, I just have to get through Girl Sleuth this way. Otherwise, I fear I’ll be stuck on this book forever.
More and more I’ve come to realize that the mark of a serious reader is the ability to put aside a book that is just not doing it for you. I never ever used to be able to do that. It’s still difficult, but I know that I will be able to continue to make those choices. Why? Because there is so much out there that I want to read. Our reading time is precious, so I really want to make the most of it.
I’m sorry that you didn’t like this book that you were looking forward to reading. I think that I might like the tangents. I like to be tricked into reading history, LOL.
I think what Jennifer said is true, the mark of a serious reader is the ability to put aside a book. I’m still learning how to do that and just crossed one off my fall reading list that I SO struggled to finish…wish I had quit on it but didn’t. I loved Nancy Drew so I hated to hear that you didn’t like this one. I probably would get frustrated that it didn’t stay on the topic either.
http://www.hambones.org/blogs/gail
I am so glad you admitted to this for you see, I too have a book I finally snapped shut last night and said “nope, not gonna force myself”. So even the most voracious readers of us find something we just cannot slog through.
Thanks for the review, I’ve been wanting to check it out, but may hold off for now.
I have such a hard time putting a book aside. I’m very impressed at your ability to know when to call it quits.
If you’re interested, I read “How Nancy Drew Changed My Life” – a light chick lit book, and I’m happy to pass it on to you.
This is a guilt free zone when it comes to dumping books. You have already flushed your cash down the toilet, no point letting a bad book steal your time too.
Glad to hear you are moving on, and you know, there are more books in the sea.
Love,
history major husband
I, too, have a hard time putting a book down without finishing it. I have to fight that feeling of “failing.” You’ve inspired me to let go of some of my nightstand clutter!
Life’s too short to read a bad book.
Well, that’s what I tell myself anytime I don’t finish one:)
I am able to give up on a book that just isn’t giving me anything – my time is valuable, it’s my head and I’ll only read what I like.
Wasn’t there a team of Nancy Drew writers, like the Bobbsey Twins, or did Carolyn Keene do it all?
I had to learn to do that…just say no to a book I just couldn’t get into….but definitely there are better things to do with our time….good for you!!!
Laura
This whole thing surprised me. I assumed this would be a book about Carolyn Keene. Evidently she didn’t do the Nancy Drew series on her own. Hmmmm.
This is exactly where I am with Anna Karenina. Twice I’ve started it and twice I’ve put it away. It feels like I should read it but the language is so so hard to get through.
Good for you for knowing when to put it away.
Thanks, everyone! You’ve made me feel much better about not quite reading all of this book!
Rachel – that book sounds good. If you’re sure, I’d love to read it.
Beck and Barb – Carolyn Keene actually does not exist! That was a complete pseudonym. The primary writer of the Nancy Drew books was a lady named Mildred Wirt, but she was actually working for a “writers’ syndicate” that created the plots for a whole bunch of series books (including the Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, and lots of others). The “syndicate” would come up with plots and send them out to their group of writers, who then do the “writing grunt work” for the books… but they weren’t really allowed to talk about it publicly. Anyway, a man (can’t remember his name right now), wrote 3 or 4 of the Nancy Drew books after the first couple, and then Mildred took it on again.
See – all that stuff is fascinating to me. So if the book had just been about the process and the writers, I would absolutely love it. If any of you really loved Nancy Drew, you might want to just see if your library has this book – then you can borrow it and just read the good parts.
True wisdom is knowing when enough is enough! Good for you!
I agree with everyone else. I have learned not to feel bad for putting a book down, returning it to the library unread, giving it away or even tossing it. Doesn’t happen often but sometimes it’s just not worth my time. Then there are the books I read and reread, and those I nibble my way through, not wanting them to end. Thank goodness for those!!
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.
I was wanting to read that book as well!
Life moves too fast to waste any of it on a mediocre book, so good for you for moving on. The last book in the Tribulation Force I skimmed it and moved on. It was NOT good….Good grief, how can you not make the Rapture dull?