I very rarely abandon a book without finishing it. This is quite a bad habit, as it means I waste my time forcing myself through books that I don’t like very much when I could be reading something more enjoyable instead. Sadly, I never learn. The latest novel I made myself finish was “Silver Nitrate” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I really enjoyed one of her other works, “Mexican Gothic,” so I had high expectations. Unfortunately, the pacing of this book made it difficult to get into, so I felt like I was forcing myself through it. I also exacerbated the situation by reading seven other books during the time I was attempting to read “Silver Nitrate” (and starting an eighth). I read small sections of “Silver Nitrate” during this period, but I obviously spent much more of my time reading books that were very much not “Silver Nitrate.” Silvia Moreno-Garcia, if you ever read this, I am so sorry, but here is every book I read instead of your novel.
1. “A Very Merry Bromance” by Lyssa Kay Adams
Why I read this instead of reading “Silver Nitrate” like I was supposed to:
In my defense, I started this book because lately I have been attempting to read one e-book and one audiobook at the same time, alternating between them depending on whether my circumstances are more conducive to actually reading words on a page or listening to a narrator instead. The “Bromance Book Club” series has been my go-to for audiobooks, since my library always has them available.
My review of this book that is not “Silver Nitrate” and probably should have been:
“A Very Merry Bromance” is the fifth book in the “Bromance Book Club” series. It features a cheerful country singer who is trying to convince a grumpy immigration lawyer to love Christmas. If you’ve read my review of this entire book series elsewhere in The Hoot, you’ll know how I feel about this novel. It was tragically mediocre, and it felt like a slog to get through. I was not particularly interested in the main romance, and the formulaic third-act breakup was irritating.
2. “Plot Twist” by Erin La Rosa
Why I read this instead of reading “Silver Nitrate” like I was supposed to:
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley, so I was on a deadline to read it and get a review written before its publication. I had been putting it off, but time was running out, so I had to start it instead of focusing all my attention on “Silver Nitrate.”
My review of this book that is not “Silver Nitrate” and probably should have been:
“Plot Twist” is about a romance author reconnecting with her exes so she can understand why she has never really been in love. Regrettably, this was another boring book with a romance it was difficult to care about. I disliked that the whole book took place over a six-week timeline, and I found multiple parts of the book oddly executed. The main character got into a major fight with her sister early in the book, and I don’t think enough was done to resolve that issue. Additionally, the grand gesture at the end of the book was genuinely bizarre and way too much for a weeks-long relationship.
3. “Check & Mate” by Ali Hazelwood
Why I read this instead of reading “Silver Nitrate” like I was supposed to:
This excuse is not quite as strong as my last two excuses. This book had just come out, and I noticed my library app had an available copy of it, and I was worried that by the time I finished “Silver Nitrate,” my only choice would be to get on a long line to loan it out. Also, I adore Ali Hazelwood.
My review of this book that is not “Silver Nitrate” and probably should have been:
I loved this book so much (so much that I wrote a full review, which is published elsewhere in The Hoot)! “Check & Mate” is about a chess prodigy returning to the game after years away from it. When she starts playing again, she begins to fall for the boy who should technically be her rival. I had an excellent time with this book, and it gave me faith in the entire genre of romance after the last two books I read and disliked. Even though it was considered a young adult novel, it did not feel juvenile at all. I was very pleased.
4. “What the Hex” by Jessica Clare
Why I read this instead of reading “Silver Nitrate” like I was supposed to:
This excuse is probably one of my flimsier ones. I had put a hold on this audiobook from the library much earlier, and when the loan finally became available, I just couldn’t resist having an audiobook to listen to. I could have clicked the option to let the person behind me in line get the loan, and I would have received it later, but who knows how long that would have taken?
My review of this book that is not “Silver Nitrate” and probably should have been:
The romance in this book centered on Penny, who wants to be a familiar to a witch, and Willem, a warlock who has been banned from taking on a familiar. This book was fine! At the very least, I wasn’t bored while reading it. However, the writing was occasionally immature and unnatural. The author kept having Penny say “oh em gee” out loud. Spelled out like that. Also, she described Penny’s outfits in detail almost every time she was wearing something new. It was extremely awkward.
5. “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare
Why I read this instead of reading “Silver Nitrate” like I was supposed to:
The incredible editor of the arts section in this very newspaper, Naomi Stephenson, was directing a production of “As You Like It” at Brandeis! I had told her for months I would read the play before going to see it, but I kept not doing that. My bad. On the day I was going to see the show, I decided to spend all of my free time reading the entirety of that play. This was by far my fastest reading time on any Shakespeare play, and I was very proud of myself.
My review of this play that is not “Silver Nitrate” and probably should have been:
This play was like “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Twelfth Night” and “The Winter’s Tale” were all combined. To be honest, I think I liked “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Twelfth Night” better (although “As You Like It” does beat out “The Winter’s Tale,” which is not so hard to do in my book). Naomi’s production was wonderful.
6. “What You Wish For” by Katherine Center
Why I read this instead of reading “Silver Nitrate” like I was supposed to:
I barely have an excuse here. I just wanted to have an audiobook to listen to, and I really did not want to read “Silver Nitrate.” This probably should have been where I quit “Silver Nitrate.”
My review of this book that is not “Silver Nitrate” and probably should have been:
In this novel, school librarian Sam unexpectedly reconnects with Duncan, the man she fell in love with years ago, when he becomes the new principal at her school. This book was really cute! I especially enjoyed that Sam and Duncan had known each other for a long time, which I think made everything work a lot better for me and made me root for them more as a couple. Without giving spoilers, the scene where Duncan is on painkillers post-surgery was everything to me. At times, Sam was a little obtuse, but I prefer that because it keeps the pining going.
7. “In the Form of a Question: The Joys and Rewards of a Curious Life” by Amy Schneider
Why I read this instead of reading “Silver Nitrate” like I was supposed to:
I have no excuse. I just didn’t want to read “Silver Nitrate.”
My review of this book that is not “Silver Nitrate” and probably should have been:
I loved watching Amy’s run on “Jeopardy!” as it aired, so I obviously had to read her book. She has had an absolutely wild life, which I definitely did not expect. One of my favorite anecdotes was when her path to atheism was completed after she prayed for Al Gore to win the 2000 election and he lost anyway. Justice for Al Gore! However, I found the organization of this book to be a bit chaotic at times, and I also hated the sheer number of footnotes. This was super frustrating to read as an e-book, and there were also a lot of footnotes that probably should have just been incorporated into the text.
8. Bonus: “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy
Why I started this instead of reading “Silver Nitrate” like I was supposed to:
I started this book while I was still reading “Silver Nitrate,” but I finished “Silver Nitrate” first! Hooray! I began reading “The Road” because I am taking a class on apocalyptic literature next semester and I was hoping to get ahead.
My review of this book that is not “Silver Nitrate” and probably should have been:
“The Road” is about a man and his son trying to go to the South as they navigate a post-apocalyptic landscape. I don’t think I was the target audience for this book. I know a lot of people love it, but I just wasn’t charmed by its repetitive nature. It was mostly the man and the child walking and foraging with the child occasionally begging the man not to go somewhere/do something and telling the man that he was scared. There were some beautiful moments between the man and the child, as well as some interesting religious themes, but in general, this wasn’t really for me. I also feel like I sort of cheated by listening to the audiobook, but I don’t exactly feel bad about it. I know this novel is supposed to be written with no quotation marks and hardly any dialogue tags, but the audiobook narrator was fantastic and really did a great job with the voices. My apologies to Cormac McCarthy.
After writing this list, it is difficult to deny that it was a mistake to make myself read “Silver Nitrate.” If I learned anything from this experience, it’s that in 2024, I will be more willing to say goodbye to a book I don’t like all that much.
