I’ve fallen victim to my own self-imposed ignorance. So I can’t be mad about it. But I kind of am.
I make a point of not reading book summaries, be it a Goodreads summary, a review, or even the blurb on the back of the book. I found that far too often, these give away major plot points and sometimes those points come very late in the book and lose their impact. So I’ve given up the practice and prefer recommendations with no summary or a one-sentence recap.
However, it’s gotten me in trouble this time. I’m trying to find a book to wrap up the When Are You Reading? Challenge where I have a gaping hold in the 1600s. I’d looked up a Goodreads list for books set in the 1600s and picked one. I skimmed the summary and saw a date from the 1600s so I figured I was golden and started listening to the audiobook.
But I was wrong. The book is set in the late 1990s with flashbacks to earlier periods (but nothing long or consistent) chronicling a book that existed through the 1600s. I’m guessing I’ll get to that point soon. I allow myself some leeway when assigning a time period to a book, but I feel I’m pushing it way too far to count this one as the 1600s.
I found a Shakespeare play that was written in the 1600s to read. I’ll finish the book (it’s People of the Book, by the way) but I need something else to fill the time period. I’m determined to finish this year and I’m so close I can taste it!
Am I alone in skipping book blurbs? Has it ever landed anyone else in trouble? Let me know of any good books set in the 1600s you make know of!
Until next time, write on.
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Taking On a World of Words 