Background: This is the final book read, as part of the Take A Chance Challenge hosted by Jenners. Challenge#7, i.e. Random Bestseller reads:
Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1950 for the min. and 2008 for the max. and then hit generate. Then go to this site and find the year that Random.org generated for you and click on it. Then find the bestseller list for the week that would contain your birthday for that year. Choose one of the bestsellers from the list that comes up, read it and write about it.
So, I came up with 1999, May 6, and the book I ended up picking was David Guterson's bestseller, East of the Mountains.
Review:
While a 1999 bestseller is promising, I regret to say I didn't finish this book. Ordinarily, I wouldn't have picked the book up, but, let's face it: the whole point of this challenge was to pick books I wouldn't have normally "taken a chance on". The thing is, the book is really beautifully written, with amazing descriptions about the landscapes, that the author brings to life:
At the far end of Keechelus Lake, the sky eastward opened wide over distant coulees, buttes, and canyons, all swathed in morning light. Ahead lay a low film of red on the horizon where the sun was new; the road wound down through a a stand of grand firs with long, broad, flat needles.
The story revolves around Dr. Ben Givens, a widower suffering from terminal cancer. He decides to go on a last hunting trip, from which he never intends to return, as he meticulously plans his death, so that it seems like an accident. Essentially, he doesn't want his daughter and grandson to undergo the pains of seeing him suffering.
However, almost before he starts his journey, his plans are turned upside down, by an accident, but he continues with his dogs, on foot, reflecting on the life gone by.
It does sound like an interesting read, but the minute the book started talking about hunting, and killing small birds, I stopped reading it. I don't know why, but, it just made me wary. It's weird, because I enjoy a good murder mystery. My love for reading started with crime thrillers, and I have read some reasonably gory books centring around misanthropists and misogynists. Yet, I just can't stomach cruelty to animals... and, I don't get why!
I'm not going to bother rating this book, because clearly, it's not for me, but, I am going to spend some time introspecting as to why cruelty to animals hits me so hard. I stopped reading this about two weeks ago, and I'm still at a loss.
Any ideas? Do any of you feel strongly about something that you can't really explain as well? Is it just a temporary thing? Please help!