Those who know me know that I will read anything I can get my hands on. If it looks like something I might like, is a topic I want to learn more about, or even just something I run across when I'm bored, I'll read it. I have only put down around 3 books unfinished (that weren't required reading in high school- British Lit kicked my butt). So when I struggle to finish something and choose to do other things than read, it's a big deal.
I recently read The Planets by Dava Sobel. We had picked it up, if I remember correctly, at Dollar Tree. You might be thinking, a dollar store book? What did she expect? Well, my family has actually had pretty good luck at discount stores, particularly with Punk Rock Dad by Jim Lindberg (the lead singer of Pennywise).
It wasn't that long, less than 250 pages excluding the glossary and index. I love astronomy and minored in it in college. I will read anything I can on the subject and will resort to textbooks if need be. I thought this book would be a quick, easy read. It even had pictures on the hardcover below the book jacket. Needless to say, I was optimistic.
I was completely mistaken.
The author's writing style made the subject very confusing, which I found remarkable since I already knew most of the information. It felt like the author was trying to be overly complicated in the language, like I needed to have a dictionary next to me to understand what was being said. I had to read many sections two or three times to make sure I was following. And again, this was knowing most of the content trying to be conveyed!
Even with the bad, there was some good mixed in. Two chapters stand out in particular. The book was about the solar system, so each chapter was devoted to a major body. The chapter on Mars was interesting because it was written from a first person perspective (not saying who in case someone chooses to read it after this). The section on Neptune and Uranus was mostly in the form of a letter between famous female astronomers. I think the change in perspective for these two sections gave the text an easier feel. It still provided all of the information, but it was not like reading stereo instructions written in iambic pentameter.
Overall, I was extremely disappointed in this book. Based on the cover and subject matter, I had hoped to pass it on to my daughter. After reading even just the first few pages, I knew I couldn't do that.
