I Just Couldn't Get Through It – July

When I was younger I used to think I had to read every book I picked up from beginning to end. Even now I have this urge to push through a novel, no matter how much I dislike it or not. But with a “to read list” that reaches into the hundreds, I had to admit, if I didn't like it I should just stop. However, since I don't review books that I don't finish, that left me with the conundrum. How could I let my readers know? This monthly post is going to be my answer to that question. I will list any books I Just Couldn't Finish and tell why this was. It isn't exactly a review, but it's better than giving a book a 0/5 when I didn't actually finish it.

Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris

I really had high hopes for this novel. I loved her Sookie Stackhouse series and I really wanted to find enjoyment in this series too. However, it was just not the same. The narration, third person omniscient, was hard to get into. The story line and plot start out slow...and stay slow. Nothing really happens. I was almost 60 pages into the book and still I felt like there was no plot. Okay, yes there was a little beginning of something beginning to creep into realization, but it was just kind of uninteresting, enough where I didn't mind not following it to fruition. I'm sure there will be fans who actually do like this book, but I won't be one of them.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

When I first started this series, I came into it with high expectations, which is always a bad move. I had heard a lot about it, from readers and authors I respected. However, it was overall a disappointment. I found that with Divergent I was taken initially with the world building, but not much else. My interest declined from there. The plot of the second felt sloppy and by the end I was annoyed with the built up tension of a plot reveal that really wasn't that interesting or groundbreaking. (Comments on the first two can be found here and here). When I started Alligeant the first thing I noticed was the plot didn't get any better and the main character was driving me nuts with deluge of negative thoughts about killing her best friend (a misguided plot point if I ever saw one. I mean she made a clear conscious choice to not shoot her enemies to death but then she just shoots her friend in the head? What?) That would have been enough to turn me off of the story, but I began to hear about a general consensus of disappointment for this third installment, and that decided me. I didn't find it worth my time to try and slog through it anymore.

In the After by Demitria Lunetta

Initially I was interested in this story from reading the inside cover: cool post-apocalyptic type story with a government conspiracy type tinge, what's not to love? A lot as it so happens. I got about 40 pages into this book and I was still stuck in exaggerated exposition and flash back. It wasn't even very good exposition either. Rule of thumb, flash backs are bad. Figure out where you want to start the story and then start it there, none of this 'I'm gonna be in the middle of something and then think about something in excruciating detail from start to finish'. The other major problem I had with this story was that it had major plot holes already. Specifically, the creatures that attack the world are described as mindless zombie like things that eat people savagely, but are expected to be smart enough to man a ship that comes to earth? It all felt a little farfetched. If this wasn't enough, it seemed like the author was trying a little too hard to sound YA. In other words, the character sounded young and dumb, and not in a good way. It all added up to me realizing really quickly that this wasn't a book I wanted to read.

Dead Ever After: The Final Sookie Stackhouse Novel by Charlaine Harris

I rate this Adult Fiction piece 4.5 out of 5

Thirteen books later and I must admit, I am definitely still a fan. I had always been a bit worried about this series. Though interesting, a series so long can many times jump the shark before it finally comes to an end. By this I mean that the writing becomes less immaculate and the characters are forced to do more and more unrealistic and ridiculous things in worn out plot devices simply because the author is grabbing at straws to keep it going. Bad writing, going against characterization, and the inevitable loss of readership is the usual outcomes of such a fate. However, I am happy to report that this last installment of this long supernatural mystery series, is still just about as fresh, fun and intense as the last twelve.

Though I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and finished it in only a few days, I am happy the series came to an end. Amazing writing or no, even the best story world and plot devices can become worn out. I believe Sookie got a good final ending and it should stay that way. For any more crazy happenings to occur for her, it might take on the ‘been there, done that’ feel. As it is, what with running through every enemy, both in every variety of supe, vamp, fairy and human, Sookie might have to outrage some aliens next to mix up the story line (I am kidding…please don’t do this Charlaine!).

All in all it was a really great read and I recommend any fans to devour this last book posthaste.

Note on the end – Spoilers to follow –

I am so very happy that Sookie ending up with Sam came to a natural conclusion. As a reader the believability of the situation was really great. It didn’t feel forced or as if the author was making the characters do something they didn’t want to. It came at a natural progression and worked very well.

I also very much appreciated the final note from Sookie, being that she will always strive forward and live her life, man or no man. Sure it is really nice that she probably will end up with her best bud Sam. However, Sookie’s life isn’t hinged on that working out. She has always been presented as a strong independent woman throughout the many dangerous adventures and misadventures she gets into during the novels. Though she takes her fair share of lovers throughout the book, it was never about Sookie needing to be with a man. It was more like the flowery decoration of the novel: a nice steamy scene here and there to break up the violence and intrigue. The idea at the end however is less of romance, but more of good reliable friendship as well as the permanence of Sookie’s presence in her home that has belonged to the Stackhouse’s since her grandparents. It gave the novel a nicely open ending that was not only pleasing but also realistic.

By Alissa Tsaparikos