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| Image courtesy: Google |
I must tell you in the beginning that this is not a book review. Not even close to it. I just felt like writing about the book that I'm currently reading. I had bought 'The Cuckoo's Calling' by Robert Galbraith from Flipkart sometime last year. Yes, I admit that I bought it not just because I knew that it was by none other than the J.K. Rowling, but also beacause the blurb was interesting. I have been a sucker for solving mysteries for a long time, thanks to the Famous Five from childhood. They are the best, even now!
I have worshiped the Harry Potter series, though it was a tad disappointing for me towards the end. Harry Potter fans, please don't give me those killer looks. And before you start to throw things on me, let me tell you that I love Harry Potter and he shall be one of the fondest memories for me growing up.
But a few pages into the novel and it hardly seemed to move. The book starts off with the supermodel Lula Landry falls to her death. Her brother appoints our hero, detective Cormoron Strike, a war veteran. And that was all that I made it to. I mean, in my defense, I was disappointed that the story was not flowing. It was dragging on and making me feel helpless. You know that feeling, right? Like being stuck in a relationship that you so want it to work, because you know you are with a wonderful person, but the spark seems to be missing? Well, that is exactly how I felt with this book. I desperately wanted to read it, but somehow I couldn't make it to even a quarter of the book.
I did the unthinkable then. Tossed it back on my bookshelf where it lay gathering dust for quite sometime. Till yesterday, when I reminded myself that everyone deserves a second chance. So what if it is not her best work? J.K. Rowling was the Queen of fantasy for a long time. Maybe she needed to do something different. But then again, I don't think she can reach up to the bar that she set for herself when she wrote Harry Potter. I can't bear the thought that her wand may just not be waving any more magic.
I know it's not fair. And this is just my personal opinion. I know a lot of people who have enjoyed this one. I can see a lot of good reviews as well. I just hope I manage to read it through and see the last page of this one. What if the best is yet to come? God, do I need the patience to sit through this one.
I owe it to one of my favorite authors and to myself. I find myself holding the book again, guiltily, and hoping to find that lost spark. Yes, I have started reading it from where I had stopped off. But still no spark. At least, not yet. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm depressed that there won't be anymore of the Harry Potter magic in my life.
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| Image courtesy: Google |
This post is written for Day 25 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo.
Interesting to read your thoughts on JK Rowling's book. Too bad it's so lacklustre and doesn't grab you. I guess she will never be able to top her success with Harry Potter. Who could? It was too phenomenal.
ReplyDeletehttp://cattitudeandgratitude.blogspot.ca/2014/07/ubc-day-26-i-am-grateful-for-nature.html
Thank you Cathy! Harry Potter was phenomenal and I don't think anyone could top that one, even the author herself!
Delete"The spark missing" I very well know that feeling Aathira! Also, I always get this nagging feeling of sth isn't right as long as an unfinished book from my shelf keeps looking back at me :D
ReplyDeleteHey, also, tried writing my first 55 fiction :) (inspiration from u, do check it if you've time)
Thank you Shanx. Glad you could relate to that feeling :) And it's the first time someone is getting inspired by me! So yay!!! I'm checking it out right now :)
DeleteThe one thing I liked about your post is your honesty and sincerity.,Very frankly written.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Ma'am!
DeleteWell...dont hate me but I am not a harry potter fan. I like this woman's imagination though.
ReplyDeleteA very honest review of this one!
Thanks Red :) I know a few people who are not Harry Potter fans! You should try it out if you haven't :)
DeleteWoah, it is one of the best and most elaborately written whodunits of all time! The thing with Rowling is that she really takes her time to set the scene and that can irk some people. But try and stick by it for some more time, won't you? You might end up loving it, like me :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, PeeVee :) Welcome to my blog!
DeleteYes, I do agree with you there. I just have the feeling that the best is yet to come with this book. Have decided to go ahead and finish it. Halfway through now. But you know what, I can't help but compare it to the way she had written Harry Potter. The way she used to grasp the readers right from page one. Even though they are entirely different genres.
I am not picking up any other book of Rowling's for this simple fact. I can't bear it to know that the woman who wrote Harry Potter wrote something else which didn't quench my thirst. I am too much of a Harry Potter fan to do that. I haven't touched Cuckoo's calling or The Casual Vacancy. Someone please tell me they're good and then I will take them up.
ReplyDeleteGood to know that I'm not the only one sailing on this boat! About 'The Cuckoo's calling', I've still not reached that part where I would recommend it to a Harry Potter fan. I know the genres are entirely different but I guess you can say that there would never be anything larger than life like Harry Potter. Ever. The Casual Vacancy is lying on my bookshelf too. But I have been hearing a lot of bad reviews. I shall pick it up someday soon, hopefully.
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