Shall I preserve with this hugely annoying book?

[SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter]

To be fair I've only read one chapter, but even from the first couple of sentences it's getting on my nerves.

The chapter is entitled 'Conception' and it begins by saying that they (the main character) was conceived on the first stroke as the clock struck midnight, with dad rolling off mum and going to sleep at the last stroke. That's some super-speed sperm he must have there!!! That was annoying, but the book goes on to describe mum's nausea when she wakes up and through the day (it explicitly says that's due to the 'pregnancy', and even culminates in her vomitting with 'morning sickness'!) This chapter refers to mum's heartbeat sounding loudly in their (main character's) ear, and referred to their 'tiny heels kicking'. This is a fertilized egg that won't even implant for like, a week?!! I think the book is trying to be deep and meaningful or something but my eyes are rolling so hard they're in danger if falling out! It has got accolades all over the front though, so maybe I need to give it a fair shot? What do you think?

Behind the Scenes at the Museum is one of my favourite books. But it's probably just as well you are not persevering with it, I get the feeling you would have hated the twist!

I don't actually remember anything in there about dogs!
If you like her style then you may enjoy Shrines of Gaiety. It's about 1920s nightlife and I seem to recall it's a bit lighter.

Is it behind the scenes at the museum?

I loved it! Husband hated it 🤣

ETA- I didn't read beyond your first post, I was too excited to have recognised it!

Oh I absolutely love Kate Atkinson, definitely stick with OP if you can! My favourite of hers is A God in Ruins, absolutely devastating book. It's horses for courses though, I can't stand Sally Rooney books and everyone raves about them. I happily could sit and read Kate Atkinson books in one sitting though

Reading more is a great way to improve spelling, surely?

You have to read Life After Life before God in Ruins or you won't understand the ending. Both brilliant.

I actually shouted out 'Nooooo!' at the end of AGinR.

I thought it must be this! One of my favourite books. OP should definitely persevere.

OP, it’s a brilliant book and one of my all-time favourites but if you are finding it too sad in the first 100 pages, I don’t know what to tell you about the ending … best stop now.

It's also not true that babies can construct a first-person narrative from the moment of conception. Doh!

When I read the OP it sounded awful but when I read the book I read it as a bit of surreal comment on her parent's relationship and it didn't jar.

You will find the narrator's perception of a lot of what happened is quite skewed.

🤣🤣🤣

It's just a bit of whimsy, and it's fine not to enjoy that as a mode, but I think you're missing the point a bit with all the literalism!

I thought Behind the Scenes at the Museum was ghastly and irritating with a whimsical overtone. If it’s annoying you now I think it will keep annoying you.

I know it’s loved by many on here but urgh!

This is true but it sounds like the tone is what’s annoying op.

I had to stop reading a K.A book as I just couldn't bear it. Can't even remember which one. I got over halfway.

The oddest thing is my dad loves her books and usually his recommendations are great...we read the same books all the time.

Try Bog Queen, I think it's by Anna North. I just finished that, really enjoyed it.

To me, that's unanswerable because it's missing crucial information.

Such as:
Was it a gift from a friend?
Is it in some way relevant to your work/life?
Is it by a famous author or is it a multi-award book where it will probably repay your efforts?