It's not very often that I give up on a book. I have my own personal limit of 50 pages. If the contents haven't grabbed my attention by the 50th page, I stop reading. There's just too much good literature I can spend my time on instead of continuing to read a not-so-interesting book.I also have book moods. The genre I choose to read depends on the season and my mood. Sometimes I'm in the mood for mystery/suspense. Sometimes AA fiction. Sometimes a memoir and every once in a blue moon an informational or non-fiction book. Summers and traveling usually warrant light reading or chick lit.
So what was I thinking when I chose to pick up The Kid by Sapphire in the middle of summer? This is NOT a beach read. I cannot frolic by the pool, tan my brown skin in the sun, or chill in central air conditioning (that I just discovered is cause of my allergies) reading The Kid. It's too heavy and unsettling. Just past my 50-page mark, there was a graphic rape scene. Cannot. Handle. I put the book down, regrouped, picked it up again and kept pushing. I finally quit at page 101.
Sapphire is a great writer. I do not doubt her storytelling or disagree with her message. However, I can't get on the same line as Abdul's thoughts. Abdul is the nine-year-old Kid
of the famous character from Push
, Precious. Abdul is left alone in the world after his mother's passing. I don't expect his journey to be easy. But I'm not ready for his horrific, hard life. Not in the summertime. Maybe I'll pick it back up later this year.
How do you handle not-so-interesting books? Do you quit often? Have you tried reading The Kid? Share your thoughts.
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