Miss Landers' Book Club Reviews: The Swan Thieves: A Novel by Elizabeth Kostova (2010)

The following post was written for the From Left to Write Book Club. Unlike other book review posts, club members write about what the book inspired them to reflect on.

Judging Books by Their Covers

It has happened to most, if not all, avid readers. You pick a book to read based on what is on the covers, not what is between them. For me, I get my books in stores and on the Internet. Rarely do I read a book I have not purchased, or that has been given me to read. I pick my books mostly by their covers.

So looking at a cover of a book by an author I do not know, I must trust the judgement of the people who have recommended the book. I will read the synopsis and open the book to a random page and read. And, if the book holds my interest, I will read how it ends (never worry about spoiler alerts with me).

Sometimes I write comments on a book blog I follow. There are several other chatty contributors who also leave comments on a regular basis, so much so I feel like I know them personally. I sometimes look down my book snob nose at them because they write comments like "I love the cover! Looks like a great read!" Cover art does not equate with literary greatness. 

Then you have the pages to consider. Most books I start of are short or average length. I am under the impression I do not have time to read long books. I like to keep the readings of my life short and concise, sort of like reading the newspaper. If you suggest a long book for me to read, I might buy it, but it will sit on the bookshelf waiting for the moment I feel I have time. Dr Zhivago is waiting for me to retire, from work, not for the night. 

Books on my nightstand at the time of this post

Recently I had to drive about seven hundred miles over a couple of days. I purchased Keith Richards autobiography to keep me company on the road. When I returned home, after religiously listening to the out-of-control member of the Rolling Stones for ten hours, I realized I had about ten more hours to go. It must have been a thick book and I never realized it.

The Swan Thieves is a thick book, a lovely well-written book, of about 560 pages. It has the elements a book needs for me to read it. It is written by a best-selling author. It has press reviews on the cover and the first several pages. I liked the last sentence in the book and the random passage I read when I first opened the book. However I was annoyed when I received my free book (ungrateful blogger) that the book was thick, because I am first and foremost, a lazy reader and do not pick out long books. 

I started reading, and reading. My reading before bed was not going to get me done with The Swan Thieves in time for my book club review. The club mercifully extended the deadline and I finished in time and enjoyed every minute of my reading. I realize now that the only constraints a long book puts on me are the ones I allow it to. I usually have five or so books going at once. What difference does it make if one book is thick and I am not done with it quickly? I need to let go of this boundary and go exploring.

The Swan Thieves was given to me by the publisher without obligation for the purpose of review as part of my association with the From Left to Write Book Club.