I don't know what's happening to me! (Disappointed)

[Todash]

I just finished The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson (translated into English). In its original Swedish, it won the Glass Key Award in 2006 for best crime novel of the year. The English translation won the South African Boeke prize in 2008. It has a four-star rating on both Amazon and Goodreads. And I strongly disliked it. The awkward, wooden dialog I am willing to write off as a translation issue, but even so, the book had many other issues, which I won't go into here. The most infuriating thing of all, though, is that the story was there! It just needed more disciplined editing.

Anyway, this is the third book I've read lately that came highly recommended and that I didn't care for. I'm starting to wonder if it's me. Am I too picky? This development has come after I started branching out in my reading; before this I tended to read classics and authors I knew I liked. I don't consider myself overly choosy, but maybe that's because I was pre-selecting good (to me, anyway) books. I'm starting Anathem by Neal Stephenson next, and if I don't like it, I may just have to retreat to my cave of comfort books.

Ideas? Suggestions? Commiserations?

[Cowboy]

You may just be on a bad run of books. Of course, you could be too picky like you suggest.
I'm going to go with bad run of books cause I have never seen anything to make me think you are an overly picky person. But if you ever get that way, may I have permission to be the first to point it out?

[sam peebles]

I'm not familiar with The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo or Anathem, but have you tried Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson? That is an awesome book, and if you like dark sci-fi, I would also strongly recommend Neuromancer by William Gibson. One of the best books in the last thirty years in my opinion.

[Haunted]

Maybe you have hit a plateau in your reading. I have had several where nothing appealed regardless of reviews. Maybe a retreat to some old favorites would be the ticket. Just go with the flow, don't flee.

[Todash]

You may just be on a bad run of books. Of course, you could be too picky like you suggest.
I'm going to go with bad run of books cause I have never seen anything to make me think you are an overly picky person. But if you ever get that way, may I have permission to be the first to point it out?

Yes, you do have permission to give me the too-picky smackdown if needed. I must admit that I am picky about some things, like the way potatoes are baked (high heat, coated with butter, sprinkled with kosher salt, no foil).

I'm not familiar with The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo or Anathem, but have you tried Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson?

No, I never have. This will be my first Stephenson book. The first few pages seem interesting, although I don't really understand it yet (speculative fiction, don'tcha know, bunch of made-up words, etc.).

[Bryan James]

Start writing. Face those blank pages.

It changes your perspective, to be sure.

BJS

[Roseasharn]

Snow Crash is good, but as far as I am concerned The Diamond Age is the best. I haven't read Anathem, but I plan to.
He is a very good author, in my opinion. I hope you won't be disappointed!

[BlueSmurf721]

Second the recommendations for Snow Crash and The Diamond Age. Also, have you read anything by Neil Gaiman yet? I'd suggest Neverwhere if you haven't gotten around to it.

[Todash]

Second the recommendations for Snow Crash and The Diamond Age. Also, have you read anything by Neil Gaiman yet? I'd suggest Neverwhere if you haven't gotten around to it.

I LOVED Neverwhere. I'm putting Snow Crash and The Diamond Age on my reading list too. Thanks, guys.

[BlueSmurf721]

I LOVED Neverwhere. I'm putting Snow Crash and The Diamond Age on my reading list too. Thanks, guys.

Excellent! You have good taste.