not on the list

There are a couple of books I've read this year that I would like to not recommend. Most recently, I finished The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I cannot deny that it was hard to put down. The story is a fascinating idea, and Niffenegger masterfully pulls it off. It jumps all over the place, but every piece fits together to create a picture of a most unique love story that redemptively conquers all. So, why not give it my stamp of recommendation? There is quite a bit of language and s*xuality as well as a completely casual attitude towards drug use and other, shall we say, unlawful behavior. I appreciate that all these things were necessary to the plot. The protagonist's s*x drive is symptomatic of the physical condition which controls his time traveling. And it practically becomes a third member in his relationship with the heroine. Likewise, anytime the protagonist time travels, he arrives at his destination without anything but his physical self; no clothes, no jewelry, not even a filling. Consequently, he becomes accustomed to stealing and occasionally beating people up for their clothing. While the story was a singular and fascinating ride, I can't argue in good conscience that it was worth muddling through all the other stuff. It isn't the kind of book that you can plan on just flipping past the bad parts, because the bad parts are purposefully woven too tightly with the rest.

A little while ago, I treated myself to a Sue Monk Kidd double feature. I bought both The Secret Life of Bees, and The Mermaid Chair on the same day. I read The Secret Life first, and loved it. The Mermaid Chair left a bad taste in my mind. Again, it is a masterfully crafted narrative. The characters are real and relative. Disappointment set in as the plot began swirling with infidelity, selfishness, and a couple of pages that I could have done without. I feel that Kidd deals realistically with all the consequences of her protagonist's choices. And there is an important warning--particularly to stay-at-home moms like myself--who have sacrificed personal aspirations for other life roll responsibilities. But again, I can't argue in good conscience that it is worth muddling through all the bad stuff to enjoy the good.

The humanities student inside can academically account for the presence of the bad aspects of these novels. I know the muck isn't there for muck's sake alone. It serves a purpose that goes beyond cheap Soap Opera tactics. The sad truth is that this junk is part of the world we are surrounded by. But this doesn't change the fact that it is still muck. Life is too short, and there are too many other amazing books out there.