Today I'm talking about two rather disappointing books I've read recently. One of the them was a DNF.
Let's start with The Beauty and the Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve. Since the movie came last month I decided to pick up the book and read the original story once and for all. I wish I hadn't if I'm honest. I love the Disney version of this tale, however problematic is it, and although it follows the premise of the original version I believe the movie makes more sense and it gets rid of many stuff that I truly disliked about Gabrielle-Suzanne's version. All in all, I found it to be very boring and not at all entertaining. At least the edition is gorgeous.
Now, onto the DNF. My first this year: Fish Have No Feet by Jon Kalman Stefansson (translated from the Icelandic by Philip Roughton). This novel is extremely well-written - I have underlined so many quotes - and the translation is fantastic. It fluids; nothing sounds unnatural which is really good but Stefansson's way of telling the story is just a big no. Supposedly this is about Ari, a writer and editor who goes back to Iceland because his father is dying. Well, I made it to page 201 and not a sign of his father. It's just Ari, recalling things about his life and I just didn't wanna waste my time with a guy who is just a plain asshole. I believe I gave it a fair shot.