Book clubs, reading challenges, professional development, recommendations from well-meaning relatives – many readers will, at some point or another find themselves in a situation where they have to read a book that just... doesn't sound like the right fit.
While that gut feeling can often be right, there are some moments where a book you're not excited about turns out to be awesome. Here are some of those stories from the staff at Washington County Library!
"I'm not usually into fiction focused on romance but I do like young adult titles. Therefore, I hesitantly read Alex and Eliza: A Love Story by Melissa de la Cruz. I mean it's got a pink cover and heart on it (not my style). However, I have to say, I ended up really enjoying it. If you are feeling like becoming part of all the Hamilton type, check out Alex and Eliza." – Katelyn Martens-Rodriguez, Park Grove Library
"I Found You by Lisa Jewel was a book club pick, totally not a book I would pick out. Throughout the first few chapters I thought it was stupid but I finished it and really enjoyed it by the end." – Megan Olson, Wildwood Library
"My internship supervisor asked me to read The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande. I was wary at first. I kept asking myself why he would want me to read a book about checklists and how could a book written about surgeons translate to being a librarian? Then Gawande started talking about all the amazing things that have been accomplished by using simple checklists, like when a commercial airplane landed successfully in the Hudson River after a flock of geese killed both their engines. I flew through the rest of the book and loved it." – Cate Triola, Park Grove Library
"A few years ago, I needed to read a sci-fi/fantasy book in order to complete a Winter Reads bingo sheet. A co-worker highly recommended The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Not a sci-fi fan in the least, I reluctantly began reading the book, and ended up absolutely loving it! And I eagerly went on to read the sequel, Children of God. I was drawn in by Russell’s lyrical style, beautiful descriptions of both setting and characters, and her unique perspective (she’s an cultural anthropologist) of what it would be like to discover and interact with a new species and culture on another planet." – Liz Gonzales, R.H. Stafford Library
"I really didn't expect to love Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser. I don’t love big biographies, but this was a book that my book club was reading so I gave it a try even though I was apprehensive. And it was awesome! I loved learning the true story behind the Little House series, and it made me curious to learn more about that time, especially the US-Dakota War of 1862." – Kim Ukura, Library Administration