Reading Is Sexy: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I’m admitting defeat. The Jane Project is a failure.

I made it through Northanger Abbey without too much trouble, and despite dire predictions from one of my blog readers, I actually enjoyed some parts of it. The story arc resolved nicely, and I learned a bit about Bath.

My second book was Pride and Prejudice, and I had high hopes for falling in love with Austen with this one. But it wasn’t meant to be.

I read the first few chapter and it was really only OK for me. I put it down at some point and haven’t picked it up since. I don’t even really know where it is! Somewhere in the house? In my studio? In my work bookbag? I really don’t know. Which makes me think it’s time to move on.

I think Austen’s style is too removed and disspassionate for me. It’s all very cool and proper and I guess that’s the appeal in some ways, but I’m not feeling it.

There are so many wonderful books to read, and I don’t think they should feel like homework after, say, the time you’re required to do homework.

When I couldn’t sleep the other night, I reached into the top drawer of my nightstand and grabbed the first book I touched:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It was loaned to me by my co-worker and fellow word-nerd Patrick. I don’t know anything about it except that it’s much-acclaimed. I didn’t read the flaps or anything. I wanted to see what it’s like to read a book with no context — just jump right into the story. One of my greatest regrets about Jane Eyre is that I knew the big secret before I started the book.

So I’m immensely enjoying having this story unfold in a completely unexpected way. If you do want to know more about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, check out this Wikipedia entry. I didn’t peak at even a single word!