Had an annoying experience last night where I had to stop reading a book by an author who I really like because I realized that the book just really wasn’t ever going to start working for me. I’ve read a handful of other books by this guy and enjoyed them tremendously; this particular book was his first voyage into YA, but he kept the darker, grittier, more violent themes from his adult-oriented work precisely intact. I discovered very quickly that I’m not interested in YA where absolutely everything about the world sucks and everyone and everything is terrible.
(I’m not going to name the book. I’m not actually sure why; I just don’t want to. Be aware that it’s not terribly difficult to figure out what I’ve been reading if you visit certain readin’ themed websites, though.)
At any rate, I didn’t like the main character very much, the plot, which centered on bullying, was alternately enraging and weirdly triggering, and and in general everything was just kind of overwritten. It wasn’t enough for the bad guy to be a vicious bully, he had to be a literal skinhead neo-Nazi. We can’t just have a character beaten up, somebody’s gotta put out cigarette butts all over them or try to make them eat dogshit. And then the only-barely-veiled rape threats started, and peace out, thanks, I’ll be back for your next book for grown-ups but I gotta bounce on this one.
I changed the Goodreads rating three times before deciding that even though I hadn’t finished it I was content with a one-star. Ordinarily I won’t review a book I didn’t finish but in this case, especially knowing more bad shit was coming from the synopsis, I don’t feel as bad about it.
As bad. Still a bad taste in my mouth, though. This “not liking work from authors I enjoy” thing can stop now.
Discover more from Welcome to infinitefreetime dot com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Welcome to infinitefreetime dot com 
i so want to know the name of the book. I like the dystopia YA books that are popular now but that sounds like way to much for any reader, much less a YA reader. Also, if you want themes like that with no triumph over evil you’d just watch the news
LikeLike
I’ll give a hint. I’m on Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8197103.Luther_M_Siler
LikeLike
I suppose everyone is entitled to one slip up – goodness knows I’ve had many. Although I shouldn’t presume to know this author’s mind or speak for him/her, perhaps knowing that many adults read this genre more than the actual intended audience ….? Either way, thank you for your review! I always try to find new works to read.
LikeLike
Thanks for this – I see your ratings on goodreads, and I always want to know the why behind them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Feel free to ask if you ever want details.
LikeLike
Atlanta Burns!
There, I said it…and look around…fingers of electricity are not grappling at your throat! It’s no big deal when a person doesn’t like a book. Authors know a book is not for everyone. What an author looks for in criticism is maturity and professionalism: a description in what a reader didn’t like about the book. And you nailed it above. No reason to hide who or what you’re talking about as you’ve been perfectly fair.
One question though, are you talking about book 1 or book 2 as I’ve yet to read either?
LikeLike
I was unaware there were two, actually. So it must be book one.
(I’m weird about panning books, I admit. I’ll rip a book to shreds if I really hated it but generally I prefer to not single out stuff I didn’t enjoy.)
LikeLike