Why some books suck to me...

I just finished this book by a well known author that was shockingly dull and I realized there are two reasons I found it so, that others might very well not. It was not in the genre I usually read (but then I should stop saying that because, really, I'll read anything you put in front of me). It was what I would call general fiction, which means no real theme (court, mystery, detective, romance, fantasy... whatever) and without that theme it seemed like I kept waiting for something to happen and nothing really did. In some sense I think general fiction like this is about the people more than anything, because some authors totally pull it off and I am enthralled by the depth to the characters. Not so in this case. It reminded me of those movies that are about random chance and the people involved, rather than a plot and the ending always seems so incomplete and unsatisfactory. Anyway, clearly I want something significant plot wise. A rise in intensity, action or mystery. A culmination. And a satisfactory ending. Something that compels me to finish the story. However, I suppose there must be some appeal to this sort of story, about people, their relationships and interactions without any significant drama. To me, without some intensity and without some really fine characterizations, it is like someone telling you a dull story about people you don't know.


The other factor that clinched it with me was the perspective. I can enjoy a good first person novel. Especially when that character is interesting, unique and/or funny. I whiz through them reading wise, because that tone just makes it so much easier to do, but sometimes they are awesome reads. I also enjoy third person limited, where either the whole novel or each chapter is defined by one person's perspective. It has more depth to it. And if you are going to tell a story about people and their interactions, this is a fine way to do it, since each person would have chapters devoted to their life and mindset... giving you a more complete picture of what is going on. What I don't really like, and what this novel was, is third person omniscient where it jumps around from thoughts of one, to thoughts of another, but with no real depth to anyones. The reason I don't like it is that it lacks depth and life. This novel I found to be... flat statements of the bare facts and sometimes rather repetative in those bare facts.  I knew what the characters were feeling because it was clearly and simply stated, but that gave me no real 'feel' for them.  I really did not feel any empathy for anyone.
 
So that goes on the discard pile for sure.  Makes me wonder how such an author, of so very many books, is considered to be so 'good' when I found it barely sufficient and near the end was speed reading just to get it over with.  Which just goes to show you that when people think genre fiction is the lesser sort, they are making a very broad generalization.  I have said in the past that I am often disapointed with hype novels, because it seems to me I am usually very disapointed with them... even when they get rave reviews.  In this case it is simply a matter of presentation and tastes.  Just not for me.