I have started packing for next week's camping trip. Lists, lists and more lists. It's the only way to go. I am going to make a run to the library in a bit to get the most important items!

I did finish reading Until I Find You - John Irving. And so here is the Friday edition of my Reading for Pleasure Wednesday.

Until I Find You - John Irving

I adore John Irving. A Prayer for Owen Meany is one of my all time favorite books. So when I heard John Irving had a new novel out I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. At over 800 pages it is not a light read, but then again what Irving novel is? I don't mind his long-winded descriptions or sidetracks into character quirks but this one was different.

The characters were flat and the first 200-300 pages were a disturbing description of the many, many times the main character--Jack Burns--was sexually abused. But I kept reading. I kept reading because I knew in the end that there would be a payoff. There's always a payoff in an Irving novel, always a reason for the quirkiness.

Not this time. This was not worth the weeks it took to trudge through it. Kind of ironic since it is my Reading for Pleasure Wednesday. This was not really a pleasure. A few good moments, yes, but not enough to make it worth it. If you want to read Irving go read Cider House Rules, Widow for One Year or, of course, Owen Meany but there's no reason to go look for a copy of Until I Find You.