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Have you ever picked up a book that you think is right up your alley based on the cover, the synopsis and the overall premise, only to start reading and find out that the story is the complete opposite of what you thought you were getting into? And because it wasn't what you thought it was you found you couldn't keep reading?
You all know how much I love underdog stories, and I got this book from the library that I thought for sure - based on both the synopsis and the book's cover - was going to be a literal underdog story of the kind I love, literally because the story is about a dog. I had thought the story was about a puppy who goes on to do great things. Then I start reading. Cute little helpless puppy immediately begins growing up into a strong, handsome dog with sharp teeth and a love for battle and violence.
And I immediately lose interest to the point that I don't even care to find out if the hero escapes from his current predicament.
Chances are this is probably an excellent book and were I to keep reading I would come to love it. And I might try to do that... maybe (because while I enjoy the author, he does have a love for side stories, stories within stories and digressing, and while interesting it tends to make his books ridiculously long (in fact the last half of one of his books was nothing but chapter after chapter of rehashing the previous book!) so I kind of don't want to keep reading for that reason as well). It was just interesting how quickly and immediately I stopped caring about both the story and protagonist. And I do feel there was a bit of false advertising going on, because to look at the book and to read the synopsis your immediate assumption is going to be "story about puppy who saves the world." Not "strong, capable adult dog who saves the world."
*Shrugs*
But I think there is a lesson to be learned from this - be careful what you what you put into your synopsis and on your book cover. Because if your story is about an adult dog and not a puppy, then maybe you shouldn't put a puppy on the front cover.
You all know how much I love underdog stories, and I got this book from the library that I thought for sure - based on both the synopsis and the book's cover - was going to be a literal underdog story of the kind I love, literally because the story is about a dog. I had thought the story was about a puppy who goes on to do great things. Then I start reading. Cute little helpless puppy immediately begins growing up into a strong, handsome dog with sharp teeth and a love for battle and violence.
And I immediately lose interest to the point that I don't even care to find out if the hero escapes from his current predicament.
Chances are this is probably an excellent book and were I to keep reading I would come to love it. And I might try to do that... maybe (because while I enjoy the author, he does have a love for side stories, stories within stories and digressing, and while interesting it tends to make his books ridiculously long (in fact the last half of one of his books was nothing but chapter after chapter of rehashing the previous book!) so I kind of don't want to keep reading for that reason as well). It was just interesting how quickly and immediately I stopped caring about both the story and protagonist. And I do feel there was a bit of false advertising going on, because to look at the book and to read the synopsis your immediate assumption is going to be "story about puppy who saves the world." Not "strong, capable adult dog who saves the world."
*Shrugs*
But I think there is a lesson to be learned from this - be careful what you what you put into your synopsis and on your book cover. Because if your story is about an adult dog and not a puppy, then maybe you shouldn't put a puppy on the front cover.
