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Wednesday, July 3, 2013

DNF


Mending the Moon
by Susan Palwick
standalone
336p.
Publisher: Tor
Source: Tor for review
Melinda Soto, aged sixty-four, vacationing in Mexico, is murdered by a fellow American tourist.

Back in her hometown of Reno, Nevada, she leaves behind her adopted son, Jeremy, whom she rescued from war-torn Guatamala when he was a toddler—just one of her many causes over the years. And she leaves behind a circle of friends: Veronique, the academic stuck in a teaching job from which she can't retire; Rosemary, who's losing her husband to Alzheimer's and who's trying to lose herself in volunteer work; Henrietta, the priest at Rosemary's and Melinda's church. 
Jeremy already had a fraught relationship with his charismatic mother and the people in her orbit. Now her death is tearing him apart, and he can barely stand the rituals of remembrance that ensue among his mother’s friends. Then the police reveal who killed Melinda: a Seattle teenager who flew home to his parents and drowned himself just days later. 
It's too much. Jeremy's not the only one who can't deal. Friendships fray. But the unexpected happens: an invitation to them all, from the murderer's mother, to come to Seattle for his memorial. It's ridiculous. And yet, somehow, each of them begins to see in it a chance to heal. Aided, in peculiar ways, by Jeremy's years-long obsession with the comic-book hero Comrade Cosmos, and the immense cult of online commentary it's spawned. 
Shot through with feeling and inventiveness, Susan Palwick's Mending the Moon is a novel of the odd paths that lead to home.
I started out thinking that despite the darkness that it would have a lot of light at the end, but there was so much sadness and anger it was just hard for me to deal with right now. I just wasn't in the mood for the book. And when anger was turned on an innocent dog (it wasn't physically abused and the dog is okay... it was all just in the random thoughts of people hurting) I just didn't want to read further. It made sense in the story and showed how much the people were hurting, but I just had to have something light.

What is strange is that for what I read I can see me recommending this book. The writing was well done and I can see her weaving in lots of personal aspects of the character to bring home the emotions very effectively. Perhaps too much in my case. I do hope to start this one up again someday and see how the book goes.

I rarely post DNFs but I've read that several people like to know why. I thought I'd say that sometimes it isn't a bad book, but just not good timing for the reader. If you read this one, I'd love to know what you thought!

Any books you DNF'd for the same reason?

25 comments:

  1. Yes, I've have books where I DNFed but it wasn't because the book was bad, it just wasn't for me. And I've had books where I've ended up with a sincere lack of appreciation simply because animals were injured or mistreated.

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    1. I just can't stand for animals to be killed or mistreated. Bugs me so much. It didn't happen to where I read, it was only thoughts. Still bugged me.

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  2. *sadness* And yes sometimes the time just aint right

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    1. I do think it was timing for this one. Otherwise I do think I would have liked it.

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  3. I've had a few DNF's lately which is rare for me. People ask me why too even though I've never posted a review for those books.

    i might because I enjoyed reading why this didn't work for you but you did it in a way that wouldn't deter people from reading the book if it appealed to them.

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    1. I don't consider this one a review, but I think it should be acknowledged that it happens... and it isn't because it is a bad book!

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  4. Too stubborn not to finish a book, I'd rather be a typical Brit and moan about how dreadful it was rather than admit defeat.

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    1. I was like that until I have a lot to get done on a time schedule... :)

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  5. First off, I love that graphic for DNF. That's damn funny! Second, yeah. I've totally DNFed books because they're just too much (and I can't handle animal abuse of any kind).

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    1. :)

      At least (at the point I read) it wasn't as far as abuse, but I just couldn't handle the thinking process atm.

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  6. It think it's fairly easy to not finish a book based on timing, especially if it deals with a lot of darker issues. This does sound like a pretty good book though, so thanks for sharing!

    -Lauren

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    1. If you get it, I hope you review it. I would love to know your thoughts.

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  7. :(

    I have had 3 DNF's lately! It always kind of sucks!

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  8. Ugh, animal abuse would have been a total dealbreaker for me too. I don't deal well with sadness and angst these days so I might as well skip this one. I know you don't DNF often.

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    1. It wasn't abuse (as of where I read) but it was still hard to take. I hate to DNF, but felt like I should with this one at this time. :-/

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  9. I tried to watch Water for Elephants, but kept having to change the channel b/c of something that was cringe worthy for me. That is so hard for me to take! :) Still, the thoughts made sense in the book and where I read, there was no actual abuse going on. That is why I'm willing to pick it up at a later date. :)

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  10. I'm all for emotion but man, that sounds like quite a bit for the start of the story.

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  11. I'm sorry it wasn't for you... I confess I have a problem with the cover.

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  12. Yeah sometimes my mood can impact my enjoyment of a book, thanks for sharing and I hope you next book rocks

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  13. It sounds like a really intense book one must be in the right frame of mind for.
    I would probably try to read it. Sometimes I like books like this. Sometimes.
    I could barely finish Marley and Me because I figured out how it would end. Sadness involving animals in any way, shape, or form upsets me.
    I swear I turn the channel when those heart wrenching commercials come on about the ASPCA and Humane Society. I feel they are needed. Society has become desensitized. Not me or any of us that's for sure.
    I like your 4th of July header. Very cute! Do you own a Dobie? I have a Pitt & Chihuahua & love them to pieces. They are beyond spoiled rotten. lolz.
    Have a great 4th!

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    1. Yep, that's my baby up there. :) He's not spoiled at all... *cough* ;)

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  14. I've worried about posting DNFs. I've only had one recently and thought about sharing why, but don't want to upset anyone. Thank you for sharing!!!

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  15. Sorry that this one wasn't for you!

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  16. I think this is the first DNF I've seen on your blog, and I love the pic that comes with it! :-) Somehow an animal being mistreated in a book (even if it's not physical abuse) it seems to hurt so much worse than when a human is. I know it's crazy, but it feels out of bounds for me. Sorry this didn't work for you, and it sounds like it wouldn't be my cup of tea either.

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