Awhile back, I write two posts about We, a dystopian novel by Yevgeny Zamyatin. My intent was to follow up on these with more posts, but I found the author's writing style very difficult for me -- it simply didn't flow! So, after wrestling with it for a week or two, I gave up.
In day's past, I probably would have felt a bit down on myself for not struggling through the text. I guess one of the lessons my mother drummed into me noggin -- you should finish what you start -- stuck. I would have felt pangs of guilt for not trying to force myself to read a book that didn't speak to me.
Fortunately, somewhere along the line, it dawned on me that life isn't like formal schooling. There isn't a regimented syllabus I must follow. I'm not going to get in trouble if I decide -- as I did in 10th grade -- to read the Cliff Note's version of Beowulf instead of the epic poem itself. Heck, I even found the abbreviated version to be boring!
And so, We will be put on a back burner. I may try to explore it again. While it may not speak to me now, who is to say it might not at a later juncture?
Owing to the recommendation of, I believe, two commenters, I am now reading Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, The Handmaid's Tale. I'm only about 1/4 of the way through the book, but I can say I like it far better than We. While I'm unclear if it will spur many blog posts, there is, at least, one in the offing.
In day's past, I probably would have felt a bit down on myself for not struggling through the text. I guess one of the lessons my mother drummed into me noggin -- you should finish what you start -- stuck. I would have felt pangs of guilt for not trying to force myself to read a book that didn't speak to me.
Fortunately, somewhere along the line, it dawned on me that life isn't like formal schooling. There isn't a regimented syllabus I must follow. I'm not going to get in trouble if I decide -- as I did in 10th grade -- to read the Cliff Note's version of Beowulf instead of the epic poem itself. Heck, I even found the abbreviated version to be boring!
And so, We will be put on a back burner. I may try to explore it again. While it may not speak to me now, who is to say it might not at a later juncture?
Owing to the recommendation of, I believe, two commenters, I am now reading Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, The Handmaid's Tale. I'm only about 1/4 of the way through the book, but I can say I like it far better than We. While I'm unclear if it will spur many blog posts, there is, at least, one in the offing.
I've read The Handmaid's Tale a couple of times. I will be interested to hear your comments from a male perspective.
ReplyDeleteHaven't gotten around to Handmaid's Tale yet (so many books, so little time), but Oryx & Crake, another by Atwood, was quite good.
ReplyDelete