I Feel Used
I finished a book the other day, “The Ethical Assassin” by David Liss. I picked it up a few months ago at a local bookstore for the same reason I always pick up books – I liked the brief plot description, it didn’t seem too weird, and the main characters were men.
When I finished the book, I really liked it. The book was part thriller, part mystery, part coming-of-age story. I thought the ending might be a bit contrived, but that’s inevitable in plots that pretty much require a tidy ending. “The Ethical Assassin” wasn’t the best book I had ever read, but it entertained me, which is all I ask. I was satisfied.
Until I visited David Liss’ website and read up about him. One of the characters in the book is a vegan activist. He has several speeches that just made me roll my eyes because I really can’t stand hardcore people like that. I’m not for cruelty to animals, but I see a difference between abusing animals for cosmetic testing and killing animals for food. While reading, I let it slide because it was just a character in a book, right?
Wrong. That character was basically David Liss, except I don’t think he has ever killed anyone because of his beliefs. Instead, he just shoves ideology down your throat in a very clever manner through his books. I have to give him credit – he pulled it off without me knowing that that one particular character carried the message he wanted to get through.
But there’s no way in hell I’ll ever read any of his other books regardless of the topic.
6000
November 15, 2007“Thou shalt not judge a book by its cover;
Thou shalt not judge Lethal Weapon by Danny Glover.”
What’s the problem if you enjoyed the read? Dickens and Twain would probably be quite outspoken if they had websites…
brian
November 15, 2007I don’t like being preached to. Especially when I think the preacher is a freaking nutjob who would be better served by lightening up and enjoying a nice meatball sub with cheese on top.
Michael
November 15, 2007All authors have an agenda. Some our better at disguising it than others.
brian
November 15, 2007Oh, I know. And I’m just as mad at myself for falling for it. I should have known when the character made his first appearance.