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A review by bargainbookquest
Reading Through the Night by Jane Tompkins
Did not finish book.
***ARC provided by Netgalley Darcie Rowan PR and University of Virgina Press in exchange for an honest review***
DNF 50%
2.5*
I knew what I was getting into when I requested this book so this is not the reason I couldn't finish it. As I am affected with a neurological illness myself, I was very interested in reading Tompkins's experience with reading and how it has affected and effected her since she has a chronic illness as well. I wanted to see if I would relate to her in that way but I wasn't able to at all.
Not only is she writing about books and authors I have never heard of before and have no interet in reading but she spends a lot of time explaining in lots of details the events of those other books and how she could see glimpses of the authors' lives through each of the books they have written. Tompkins' book feels more like a review, with lots of spoilers, of her own readings and almost a thesis on those authors than her actual love of reading and her experiences and reactions and impressions.
I totally understand wanting to discuss her reading in details, explaining how she felt compelled to look further into the authors lives and everything but what has reading books given you in your more negative points of your illness? This is what I was looking forward to with this book. The escape reading is giving you.
I wanted to feel included, to relate like I have mentioned earlier. I was really excited when I saw this book would be available because it's not every day you read an author with an illness talking about what a certain hobby is doing for you but instead I felt excluded and I could not relate to her at all. granted, a book or certain books haven't affected me as much as those have impacted her but books leave an impression on you no matter what. I would have loved to finish it and give it a better rating but, alas, it's not happening.
DNF 50%
2.5*
I knew what I was getting into when I requested this book so this is not the reason I couldn't finish it. As I am affected with a neurological illness myself, I was very interested in reading Tompkins's experience with reading and how it has affected and effected her since she has a chronic illness as well. I wanted to see if I would relate to her in that way but I wasn't able to at all.
Not only is she writing about books and authors I have never heard of before and have no interet in reading but she spends a lot of time explaining in lots of details the events of those other books and how she could see glimpses of the authors' lives through each of the books they have written. Tompkins' book feels more like a review, with lots of spoilers, of her own readings and almost a thesis on those authors than her actual love of reading and her experiences and reactions and impressions.
I totally understand wanting to discuss her reading in details, explaining how she felt compelled to look further into the authors lives and everything but what has reading books given you in your more negative points of your illness? This is what I was looking forward to with this book. The escape reading is giving you.
I wanted to feel included, to relate like I have mentioned earlier. I was really excited when I saw this book would be available because it's not every day you read an author with an illness talking about what a certain hobby is doing for you but instead I felt excluded and I could not relate to her at all. granted, a book or certain books haven't affected me as much as those have impacted her but books leave an impression on you no matter what. I would have loved to finish it and give it a better rating but, alas, it's not happening.