The Art of Being Difficult by William Chekhov review (this book certainly lived up to its name because it was VERY DIFFICULT TO READ)

introduction

A Loveless Child. A Loveless Woman. Sweet Romance. Murder. Satire. Desperation. Fate. 

That's it. That's the whole back cover description. I suppose the ominous, mysterious ambience was partly what drew me in, but that's what made me lose interest, too.

Hey, I'm Paige, and this is a review of "The Art of Being Difficult" by William Chekhov. I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review, but these thoughts are my own. Thank you, Mendelssohn Press!

it was confusing to read 

I don't know how to describe Chekhov's writing style, except that it's a tough read for those seeking a straightforward narrative. To me, it looked like a bunch of scenes. There was no storyline. I think there might have been a hidden meaning or something, but I couldn't figure it out. The lack of clear structure makes it challenging to follow the author's train of thought.

it got boring soon

Aside from the whole 'I don't know what's going on' thing, there was another issue. The majority of this book (if it can be called a book, and not a jumble of scenes) was trying too hard to be fancy and poetic. If a book starts with explaining the plot, like this one did, there needs to be a compelling reason for readers to continue. That was unfortunately missing from this novelette. 

the lack of coherence

One of the most frustrating aspects of "The Art of Being Difficult" was the lack of coherence. While I expected a challenging read, I also anticipated a cohesive narrative that would gradually unfold. Instead, the book felt like a series of disconnected vignettes, with no clear direction or purpose. Characters appeared and disappeared without explanation, and the timeline seemed to shift arbitrarily. As a reader, I struggled to piece together the puzzle, ultimately feeling more perplexed than enlightened by the end.

conclusion

In conclusion, "The Art of Being Difficult" by William Chekhov could have been an intriguing exploration into the complexities of human nature and societal norms. However, the delivery and writing style of this book was extremely confusing. While there may be hidden gems buried within the text, they are overshadowed by the overwhelming difficulty of the reading experience. Overall, I found myself struggling to stay engaged and ultimately lost interest in the book.

Paige C, signing off