Tuesday 31 January 2012

Challenge Me 2012 - January - A Madness Of Angels


As many of you remember I set myself a little challenge. I gave you the option to choose 12 books for me to read throughout the year 2012 - one book each month.
For January, I was to read A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffiths and I am here to hold my hands up and say I failed!
However there are reasons to my failure, so I want to explain myself and make myself feel better about the whole situation.
Firstly, when I began this project, I had aimed to begin reading the book chosen at the beginning of the month and read a little every day. January began and I forgot all about it until about two weeks ago, so I failed at the starting line.
Secondly, I did manage to read half of the book, but to be honest I really struggled with it. The first thirty pages of A Madness Of Angels, lost me completely. I really didn't have a clue what was going on - the main character constantly referred to himself as 'we' which left me really confused. I had to go on Twitter for an explanation and was relieved to discover I wasn't going mad and  that the main character Matthew Swift was sharing his body with the blue electric angels.
So I progressed a little further into the book and I enjoyed it a little more as I read it, but I found it just too hard going. This isn't a book that can be read in a couple of days, as it is so detailed and needs time to be digested.
As many of you know, I have been taking some seriously strong medication this week and even the thought of attempting to read such a detailed book actually put me off reading anything at all. So a couple of nights ago, I came to the decision to stop reading this book. At this moment in time, it wasn't for me, I wasn't enjoying it and I couldn't see any reason to continue with it if it wasn't working for me.
However, I do intend to one day attempt to read it again, when I am in the right frame of mind and when I can devote my reading time to it completely.
If you have read this book, I take my hat off to you, as I know one day I will fully grasp the greatness of this book. Unfortunately that time is not now.
Apologies for everyone who chose this book for me and all the people on Twitter who urged me to carry on.

I have downloaded February's book Benny and Shrimp by Katerina Mazetti and I hope to actually complete the challenge for February.

6 comments:

  1. Dont' beat your self up over it, first off reading is meant to be an enjoyable experience and this just goes to show that reading is such a subjective experience, what one person loves someone else can't stand.

    Good luck with Feb (I love the title:))

    I hope you are feeling better
    x

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  2. Jules - I know. I suppose that was why I set up the challenge in the first place. I just hate to be defeated.

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  3. Vivienne - I think the whole point of this was that you tried some different things - you didn't have to complete them but at least give them a go! Don't feel defeated, you've made a great start to the challenge of reading outside your comfort zone. I enjoyed benny and Shrimp so hope you do too. Verity x x

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  4. Verity _ thank you. I just thought I would breeze through the books I that had been chosen for me. It never really occurred to me that I might not like them. I so desperately want to move out of my comfort zone though.

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  5. At least you tried Viv, dont fgeel bad over it.
    I hope if you get time to read Benny and Shrimp, you enjoy it :) That was my pick :P

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  6. Hope you're feeling better now and good luck with February's book!

    I had planned to get started on my 'bucket list' challenge in January, but I still haven't ticked any books off the list. Fail!

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