You might know that I recently borrowed The Lake Shore Limited by Sue Miller from my local library, I had been under the impression that it was the book which Peggy Ann at Peggy Ann’s Post had enjoyed, but that was a different one by the same author. So I didn’t even look at the blurb before borrowing it and when Judith (Reader in the Wilderness) commented that she had tried the book and had given up on it, I thought that I was unlikely to have the same reaction – just because I rarely give up on books – but I gave up on The Lake Shore Limited on page 56 to be precise – nine lines from the bottom of the page.
It was the words Lou Gehrig’s disease which stopped me, and I only realised a few weeks ago that that is what people in the US call Motor Neurone disease. For me that was the last straw in what was a bit of a doomfest of a book with one character mourning the loss of a brother at a young age in one of the September, 11th planes.
It reminded me of the Kate Atkinson book When Will There Be Good News – which I ploughed my way through as I really usually enjoy her books but at the end of it I could only think – what a miserable book. Why write such depressing stuff, I feel like prescribing the writers a course of anti-depressants just so that they won’t infect the rest of us with negativity.
This could well be an age thing. I imagine that as a young thing there’s a fair chance that you haven’t had the misfortune to have experienced at first hand things like the early death of siblings – or in my case three cousins who died before the age of 10. You might not have had to nurse your parents and in-laws who had diseases such as cancer, heart disease, peritonitis and MS. You probably haven’t experienced at close quarters someone with MN disease, but I have. And that was why I couldn’t read on any more. I read for entertainment and that doesn’t include horror. I feel the same way about television programmes, it has always been a mystery to me that things set in hospitals are so popular. I suppose those who watch them are not the people who have had to visit hospitals or even had the misfortune to be the person in the hospital bed. When you are the one having to give permission for a life-support machine to be switched off in reality, then you don’t wish to revisit the experience again, not even at second hand.
So I prescribed myself more from P.G. Wodehouse, and I’m feeling quite like my old self again. What ho!
I just looked this book up and it doesn’t sound like one I would read either. Sorry! I guess every book by her isn’t good. Maybe that one I read is the one fluke, good book for her. I agree with you I don’t need a novel to depress me. Life can do that all by its self!
Peggy Ann,
It’s absolutely not your fault and I’m going to try some more of her books in the future, but I’ll read the blurb first!
Some things are just too close too home!
Margaret,
Absolutely, I’m sure you know that close contact with hospitals and the like make you want to avoid revisiting them in fiction too!
I agree with you and Peggy Ann. I read to learn, to time travel, to armchair travel, usually armchair and time travel at the same time, and to be entertained and taken away from real life.
Here’s something that might make you laugh, or disgust you. Next time I’m in Scotland (if ever), not only will I expect everyone to be wearing tams, I’ll expect to see this:
http://now.msn.com/shetland-ponies-wearing-sweaters
Joan,
I hope you do get back to Scotland sometime, if you do you might see my Jack wearing a Fair Isle jumper like that, I knitted him one about 30 years ago and it’s still going strong! I love Shetland ponies in fact I don’t think I could go too near any as I would want to take them home! I could knit them a tam!
I’m totally with you! My heartstrings are already frayed to breaking and self indulgent tugging does me no good.
The other type of fiction that I run from like the plague is books about dysfunctional Southern families (ie Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood and anything by Fanny Flagg.) Not because I came from a dysfunctional Southern family, but because I came from a perfectly normal, lovely one. That stereotype is icky and, unfortunately, sticky – so I refuse to fund or encourage it.
I stick to mysteries. And biographies of interesting people. I’m reading Keith Richards’ right now. Fascinating.
Pearl,
I think I saw that Ya Ya film but I can’t say that I’ve had much to do with anything southern – not even Gone with the Wind. But I know stereotype nonsense – as a Glaswegian I should be a drunken, violent bigot – apparently. And then there’s the redhead stuff!
I’ve heard that the Richards biography is a page-turner.
Oh do share your thoughts on Wodehpuse,I aim to read more this year!
Jo,
I’ll definitely be writing about Blandings sometime soon, I’m really enjoying the second one now – Summer Lightning.
This is a very interesting post. I am older (nearing retirement age) but have not experienced a lot of first-hand contact with illness and death. My father’s death as a result of dementia is the exception. I did like When Will There be Good News? But in general, an uplifting book is preferable. Have to think about this more.
Tracy K,
I’m 53 but my parents were oldish when I was born , as were Jack’s when he was born so they are all long gone. I remember When Will There Be Good News particularly because a neighbour and a relative had horrible health news whilst I was reading it. It’s strange that murder mysteries are so cosy compared with other types of writing, logically they shouldn’t be. I’m glad you were interested in my post.
The Sue Miller novel that I loved and believe is exceptionally well done is While I Was Gone. Many consider it her best book, although she is also well-known for an earlier title, The Good Mother. I wouldn’t give up on her, and I heartily recommend While I Was Gone. It’s a definite page-turner.
Well, I wonder that you didn’t heave the book at the wall! LG disease or MN is a horrible, horrible disease, and to have to watch someone you care about deteriorate with it would be an experience you wouldn’t want to repeat, even in literature. Like you, I strictly avoid any book that’s likely to remind me of traumatic memories.
So glad you leaped into Wodehouse!
Judith (Reader in the Wilderness)
Judith,
It was While I Was Gone which I meant to borrow I’m sure, I think I’ll have to request it. What about The Senator’s Wife?
MS is just as bad as MN only much slower progress of course. Jack’s mother had MS for the last 30 years of her life. There’s just no point in revisiting traumas again, especially if you’ve been there in reality but I suppose someone must read those books, they seem to be manipulative to me and sort of ‘writing by numbers’.