That one person at the bookstore who changed how I read

I was at Powell's Books in Portland last month, browsing the mystery section. A woman maybe 70 years old picked up the same book I was looking at and said, 'Don't bother with that one, the author cheats on page 47.' She explained how the detective figures something out based on info the reader never got. I started flipping through books looking for that kind of thing after that. Has anyone else had a stranger ruin or improve a book for them with just one line?

2 comments

2 Comments

lindaowens21d ago

Oh wow, that's such a specific thing to notice! I love that she had a page number memorized, like she's been holding a grudge against that author for years. But here's what I'm wondering, did you ever find any other examples of that kind of thing in the books you already own? Like, going back and noticing a moment where the author pulled a fast one on you, but you just didn't catch it the first time? I've had that happen with a couple of thrillers where I realized later the narrator flat-out lied to me, but it was hidden so well I didn't even question it.

lucashart21d ago

Oh, "pulled a fast one" - yeah, I've got a whole shelf of books that I'm pretty sure LIED to me. It's like finding out your favorite friend has been gaslighting you for DECADES, real trust issues forming over here.