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Tonight, my book club meets to discuss In the Time of the Butterflies. I have to tell you, I am not a fan of this book. I was very eager to read it, but at 200 pages in, I’ve decided to divorce it. There are just too many characters and none of them pull me in. I’m disappointed because I have had this book for over a year and I’ve always wanted to read something by Alvarez but this one just didn’t do it for me. My book club may be watching the movie version within the next few weeks and I’m interested to see how the material comes across on film.Â
 
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Another book that I am giving up on is The Last Song. I read it with Rebecca during her #IHeartTheSpark Twitter read-along and I just could not get through it. Not even for Rebecca and that says a lot. My main issue with this book started with the knowledge that Miley Cyrus is slated to play the lead in the movie version. I like Miley and we watch a lot of her in my house but while reading this one I kept seeing the main character as “Hannah Montana” and I could not for the life of me get that vision out of my head. The writing was so, so…forced. It turned my brain to mush and it took days for me to recover from it. No, I won’t be picking it up again.
So there you have it. Two divorces. I’m a tarnished reader. Â
Source:Â The Last Song is a review copy sent to me by Little, Brown and Company. In the Time of the Butterflies was a gift.
Book Chatter 
Ti, love your sense of humor about divorcing books! Sometimes you just don’t connect to a book …at least you gave it a try. I find that I enjoy my book discussions even when I’m not fond of the book. I like hearing others perspectives and thoughts and it can make for a great book discussion.
It sounds like you gave them both a fair chance. Sorry they didn’t work for you.
I received a copy of the Nicholas Sparks book, too, and I can’t bring myself to pick it up now that I know it’s based on a movie with Miley Cyrus. That ruined it for me.
–Anna
Last night, Jennifer and I had some rather interesting discussions about Mr. Sparks, our feelings about the man and his books, Rebecca’s challenge, the fact that I missed her post about it (gotta go look it up) and those people in our lives that actually read everything he writes. I have read a few of his novels, but have basically given it up. Add the whole Miley Cyrus thing on top of this one, and it is just TOO MUCH. Not to trash Miley completely, but adding her to a movie adds a whole new and unpleasant dimension.
I read In the Time of the Butterflies a few years ago. I don’t recall much about it now. I don’t think I disliked it, but I seem to recall that some parts were slow and a bit confusing.
I’ve read one Nicholas Sparks book – The Wedding – for my now-dormant book club, and that was quite enough for me. I disliked it less than I thought I would, but I’m perfectly fine with not reading anything else of his.
I hope you will have a happier relationship with your next book!
Hey if you read 200 pages and still weren’t clicking, you gave it well more than enough of a chance.
And the Sparks’ book? I know some people love him but for me it’s akin to drinking Mrs. Butterworths.
Mrs. Butterworth’s! Now that is one I have not heard before. A tad sweet for ya? For me it was like OD’ing on Morphine or something. I was way past numb by page 170 (re: Sparks).
Uck, the image of drinking Mrs. Butterworth’s is too much even for me, who loves butter and syrup!
I think you did the right thing by divorcing these books, but it will be fun to hear what your book club members say!
I never read this book. For some reason it never called my name like so many others..LOL
Sorry it did not work for you. I always want to love book club selections, but sometimes the book is just awful.
Lady, I totally understand why you had to divorce Mr. Sparks, and you know I would have, too, if not for that horrible dare. But you were great company during the first half, and I’ll always appreciate that!
You made me smile tonight! I am sorry you needed to suffer through, not 1, but 2 divorces, but sometimes it just can’t be helped! 😉 It has taken me a long time to get to the point where I can give myself permission to drop a book. I do think you gave it the old college try with going 200pages into the one. That is farther than I am willing to give most books. And regarding Sparks? I am not a fan either.
Hope you have fun at your book club anyway and that the next book you pick up hooks you from page 1!
*smiles*
Nicholas Sparks is so overated. HIs books are written like paint by numbers.
I love it! Paint-by-numbers describes his writing style perfectly.
Not even a trial separation? Just straight to the divorce? Tell the truth, you’re leaving them for another book.
You found me out. And I didn’t leave them for one book. I left them for many. I’m a real tart. Where’s my Scarlet letter??
ha!! Hey.. life is to short to stick with books you can’t enjoy. Glad you are moving on.. hummmm I maybe be the only one on the planet that hasnt’ read N. Sparks. I do have Nights in Rodanthe (sp?) on loan from my sister here.
You are so funny! I think that sometimes you just have to divorce a book. You gave it a great shot and it didn’t work out. It happens. No worries. There are too many books to read to worry about ones thta didn’t work for you.
I think it’s smart to be able to say when enough is enough.
Good post, Ti!
I haven’t had a book divorce in a long time, I wonder if that means I’m not taking enough chances with my reading. I have one of Julia Alvarez’s books on my shelf, but haven’t read it yet, I hope it’s good.
I love the idea of divorcing a book! And quite a few people said that knowing Miley Cyrus was going to be in the movie affected their reading of this book!
My mom is having a hard time getting through the Nicolas Sparks book as well.