Sunday, June 28, 2009

Sunday Book Review

When I picked up Vamped, I admit it was with ulterior motives. Sure, I wanted a good book to read, but I also wanted to be able to say I'd read the book. You see, the author is none other than literary agent Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency, and I was still waiting on a reply to the query I sent to her. You know, if she happened to request pages and we ended up talking. (Dream big much?)

Anyway, I went into Vamped hoping I'd like it. It has all the earmarks of a book I'd enjoy. I'm a fan of paranormals, and I enjoy reading YA novels. Of course, I don't love every book in either genre, but I was prepared to slog through the book whether I enjoyed it or not.

Starting out I got a vibe like it was going to be similar to Happy Hour of the Damned, which I didn't like and didn't finish. I wasn't exactly grooving on the spoiled chick turned vampire, but I kept reading. And you know what?

Ms. Diver surprised me. About halfway through the first chapter, I wanted to put the book down and move on to one of my other purchases. But I promised myself I'd finish the damn book. Good thing, too. Just a little bit further, I began to see where she was going with her character development. Farther along, and sure enough, she gave me a likeable and sympathetic character. Then she hit me with the whammy and presented a heroic MC. (I love me some heroic characters, doncha know.)

Darling Daughter hasn't read Vamped yet, so I can't give you the teen POV on this novel, but for my part, I ended up enjoying the story. I am glad I kept reading, and my experience here reminds me to give new authors a chance. Who knows, maybe I'll go back and finish Happy Hour.

So, tell me, have you ever kept reading something you were pretty sure you wouldn't like? Did you end up liking it, or were your first instincts the best ones? Dish in the comments, but please be nice.

3 comments:

  1. Hmm, you've piqued my interest. I might just have to add Vamped, to my "to read" list.

    As for finishing a book you just can't get into, I'm sorry to say, I haven't been able to do that. I won't list titles, but there have been some books, that I started, and forced myself to read a few chapters of, before simply giving up and shelving. It may have nothing to do with how well the author writes, or even how good the story is. Sometimes it just doesn't speak to me and I can't push myself to read the rest.

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  2. I used to finish every book I started - mainly because I didn't want to give up - then I realized I don't have that kind of time. If it hadn't been for who the author was, I would've shelved this and cursed the money I spent. I'm glad I was wrong at the beginning and stuck this one out.

    I hope you enjoy Vamped if you do try it.

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  3. I have to say that I tend to put a book down if I’m not enjoying it; though, I do give it 3 chapters to impress me first. I used to force myself to read a book the whole way through regardless of whether or not I liked it, but I just can’t do that anymore. I have too many favourite authors and too many new books I want to read to wait around until I eventually slog my way through the book.

    My real problem is bad books from good authors. I feel a sense of loyalty to them that forbids me from putting the book down forever. I have several on my shelf right now that are 1/4 to 1/2 finished that I pick up every so often. Then, when—or if— I eventually finish those books, I hum and haa about whether or not I should get rid of them. Generally my sense of loyalty prevails and it stays on my shelf gathering dust.

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