Drowning in The Starless Sea

/ Theresa Smith Writes

Can a book be beautifully poetic with its prose to the point that it becomes too abstract and consequently, entirely meaningless?

Yes. I have found that book.

Note to self: don’t assume that just because you loved one book from an author that the next one from them is a sure thing.

#dnf

34 thoughts on “Drowning in The Starless Sea”

  3. I’ve always said that life is too short to continue reading a book that you’re not enjoying (unless you have to read it for uni or some other important reason).
    But I’m still plodding on with a book I really dislike now. The school where I learn French chose it for its next book group, which is really good for improving conversation skills, but if not for that I would have ditched it long ago. I think I have two or three weeks to finish it, and I only have 150 pages to go, but I doubt I’m going to get there.

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  5. Wow, I’m shocked this is a DNF for you. :-O Especially considering how much you loved The Night Circus and how excited you were for this, but it happens. I can understand how the inclusion of the Sweet Sorrows stories can make the overall reading experience feel abstract. I’m just hoping and trusting it’s all going to come together by the end. I’m 60% through the buddy read and many of those threads have now come into the main story and I’m beginning to be able to see traces of the overall puzzle.

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    • This is nothing like The Night Circus, which was historical fiction with magical realism and a very clear plot.
      It’s not just the Sweet Sorrows, I’m actually not even at all interested in Zachary’s sections. I’m glad others in the buddy read are enjoying it, I would feel apalled if everyone hated it and had wasted their money on it.
      The Facebook thread of this post has confirmed for me that stopping is the best idea. The consensus seems to be that this book is hopeless.
      I have made a pact with myself this year that I won’t waste time on books I can’t get into, so in honour of that, it’s a #dnf.

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  6. That’s a bit sad, I so enjoyed The Night Circus and was really looking forward to reading this one. Oh well, I’ll give it a go and see how it turns out. But I do agree, life is too short to waste time reading books we’re not enjoying. And there’s always plenty of other books to read anyway.

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  7. I just had that problem with Hamnet – so disappointed in the end – it wasn’t for me. It’s hard when a favourite author doesn’t hit the write note for you next time round.

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  8. YIKES! That must be so disappointing for you after how much you loved The Night Circus. I really liked The Night Circus too, although I have to admit, it’s been a hugely long time since I read it and I’ve yet to read this one. However, I can relate to the crushing disappointment of reading a second book by the author where you’ve LOVED their previous book and having that second book be an utter fail for you, for whatever reason.

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  9. Well, knock me down with a feather! I was sure you were going to love this one! But good on you for putting it down – life’s too short! I really need to get better at abandoning books that I *know* aren’t for me (even if they “should” be)…

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