Name a book or author that you truly wanted to love but left you disappointed. (And, of course, explain why.)
John Steinbeck.
I want to love his work, I really do. And I still try.
But I go back, and back again, and back – yet again – and to no avail.
I don’t know if I’m reading his stuff in the wrong frame of mine. I know he’s considered a great author. But ever since struggling to get through Of Mice in Men in high school I just have not been able to shake it.
As James Gould Cozzens once said, “I can’t read ten pages of Steinbeck without throwing up.” I understand completely.
Among Stories 
I hated Of Mice and Men, too – even though I’ve mostly loved everything else I’ve read by Steinbeck. I think it gets taught in English classes mainly because it’s short!
I wouldn’t doubt it. I don’t think I could have taken anything longer from him honestly. I really feel bad that I can’t get into his stuff. But I will keep looking, hopefully one of these days I’ll finally find something of his to love.
I really like Steinbeck, but I think if you don’t like an author then you don’t like them – nothing to be helped, there’s a pile of other brilliant ones you will love. I might give an author a second try but rarely a third. I gave Neil Gaiman a second go – Stardust was an improvement on American Gods and I liked it okay enough but not enough to bother with him ever again. And I’m willing to give Marcus Zusak a second try after (shock horror) not liking The Book Thief.
I really loved East of Eden – but it was pretty slow for the first 150 pages. I’m glad I didn’t give up on it as I had thought about doing several times because I ended up really loving it. I wouldn’t have predicted that when I first started reading it in a million years.
Sad! 😦 Keep trying!!
I really liked Of Mice and Men but couldn’t finish Grapes of Wrath. I’d like to try another Steinbeck just because, but he’s pretty low in the TBR pile.
I’m thinking that since I’ve got tons of other books that I’m looking forward to currently, it won’t hurt to put of Steinbeck a little longer. You never know, it may only take time before I randomly come across something of his that I end up loving.
As long as I don’t have to read any Steinbeck in my English class this semester, I’ll be happy. 🙂