Betrayed

Is  how I feel. And it's over a book.
I have just spent the last four months completely absorbed in a book series recommended by a friend. And what a recommendation indeed! Nine out of the fourteen books were read in the last seven weeks. 5,000 pages of teen tiny print with intriguing characters and well researched historical fiction. So well written and researched that the books are used in college courses. And even more impressive, to me, is that they were published between 1986 and 1990 in the time before internet for research.

In actuality, I was most impressed and in philia love (love of the mind) with the first series with nine books, the Zion Covenant. I enjoyed the five books of the Zion Chronicles. I wasn't as in love with the characters but still loved the rich history. I adored the Covenant and felt a little less strongly about the Chronicles. Imagine my excitement when I learned last week that the authors were extending the story line of the Covenant books! I ordered them to our library and was all set last night to devour the first two books of the Zion Diaries series. This time I ordered them in large print.

I am so much enthralled with the books that I now use Jewish, German, British & WWII American phrases in my head as if that is a natural part of  my vocabulary. 

Reading the first line of the story, my heart stopped. Written in first person? Talking about feelings? I guess it is a diary. But, where's the historical fiction? This doesn't sound anything like the character's voice! No, no, no, no, no! 
I keep going for 100 pages to see if I can get over the change. Nope, I sure cannot. The writing style is changed and not for the better and the characters do not seem to act, think or feel organic like in the original story.

Deep sinking disappointment.

Today I looked up reviews to see if others were feeling the same way about the new series. Yes, in the mix of reviews of extreme praise, quite a few were singing the same tune as me. Asking, Why change a good thing? No, a great thing. The historical part is played down far too much and fantasy and racy scenes are brought into the story line instead. The original books were so amazing because of the historical information and realistic characters.

Resigned that I will keep a good thing a good thing; and not finish the new books and delete that file in my brain with the bad part of the story. I am returning the books today, unfinished. I will not tarnish the beautiful story told of Elisa,  Murphy, Leah, Shimon, Ellie, David, Moshe & Rachel. 

In the words of Paul Sweeney,"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend."

Surely, I cannot be the only person to feel passionately about books. No, probably not.
So, cavet emptor when picking up the Zion Diaries.