When you don't like the book

It was book group tonight, and once again, I think I'm going to be the hold out. 

I didn't really like the book. I didn't hate the book. But I didn't love the book. 

And you often have better conversations when you don't like the book. 

The book was a popular fiction book - historical fiction with an element of murder mystery/thriller, which is fine - books mix genres all the time, but this felt like it was doing too much. 

My biggest beef was that there were too many characters, none of whom had any character arc - no growth to speak for. Everybody was a caricature. The plot was somewhat convoluted, but in its thriller form, this was to be expected. I did like part of the ending in a Javert jumping off the bridge at the end of Les Miserables. 

Yet the setting was great. 

Also, the main character, a midwife in Maine in the 1790s was a modern woman. As much as I got her, and her relationship with her husband, it felt a bit to modern, like the writer was trying to shoehorn all of their research into this. 

The names Hannah Kent and Geraldine Brooks were raised - both write historical fiction - but literary historical fiction. Their characters are better developed, not so two dimensional.

And this is why I err towards the more literary of fiction. 

And as I said, I didn't hate the book. It wasn't a struggle to read, but I felt it was lacking and a bit convoluted in parts - and possibly 50 pages too long.

That's fair, isn't it. And it's what book group is all about. You don't necessarily have to love the book.

Ah well, we'll see what next month brings.  

(For those wondering, the book was Ariel Lawhon's The Frozen River. Many adore it. Don't let my thoughts put you off). 

Today's song: