Monday, July 12, 2010

"'You begin,' he said, 'by setting your scene.'"

I feel like I'm in a book choosing funk lately.  I've had a short string of duds and The Finishing School is yet another in that string.  Honestly, I'm not sure that Muriel Spark is for me.  I kind of remember liking The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie but I read it many years ago so I can't honestly say.  I still have it around and have considered a re-read but just haven't gotten around to it.  When I read Memento Mori two years ago, I thought there were moments of wit and intelligence but wasn't in love with it.  And then this one rubbed me the wrong way from start to finish.  I didn't care for any of the characters, the plot was a bit scattered and some of the "issues" seemed contrived and/or half-hearted.

I think this may be my last attempt at reading Muriel Spark -- unless someone convinces me that there is just one more book I need to try to give her a fair shake.  Any suggestions or is it time for me to move on?

Moving on,
K


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5 comments:

  1. I had heard so much admiration for Muriel Spark that I went out and got three of them from the library. I was disappointed with them and just read them as I wanted to see what everyone else was talking about. I felt that I was very strange for not liking them so very much, so am glad that there is someone else out there for whom it did not do anything.

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  2. I do quite like Spark, but have not read everything that she has written. I would quite like to try this one with some reservations!

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  3. I tried one of her books, A Far Cry from Kensington, and was not impressed. I want to try again, but not right now; so I have no recommendations for you, I'm afraid.

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  4. I hate reading slumps ... it must be hard to work up enthusiasm to even review them!

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  5. Mystica - Exactly. I heard so many readers gushing about Spark so I felt a bit guilty for not liking her.

    Hannah - There seem to definitely be two camps on Spark. Obviously she appeals to many readers or she wouldn't be as prolific as she was!

    Jenny - It will be interesting to see what you think of her on a second try. It really took me three books to come to a decision on her.

    Jenners - I just don't like writing one negative review after another. It's depressing.

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