A little while ago, I interviewed G.D. Giant for Quick Questions with a Cannonballer. Of course we talked about books as part of that process. (How could it be otherwise when that’s what we’re here for?) She mentioned that A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine is one of her favorite books. The description she mention is “Aztec Empire in Space,” which, honestly, YES. I’m immediately interested. Then she mentions world building and mysteries and questions about citizenship, colonization, and belonging, and I’m immediately like, TELL ME MORE.
Before we go any further, there is a key piece of information about me that you probably should know: the best way I have found to keep my book spending under control is to keep a Kindle Unlimited subscription and only read books that are available through that service. So when I tell you that I ran, not walked, but ran, to Amazon and purchased A Memory Called Empire for download, I need for you to understand what a big deal it was.
All of that said, I am heartbroken to tell you that it is on my DNF pile, at least for now. I’m still in the first chapter and I can tell you that it is incredibly dense and layered. Ten years ago, I probably would have had to take off work so that I could just read and finish this modern masterpiece. Now? I’ve picked it up and put it down at least five times. And, I haven’t been able to get more than two or three pages through before I put it down again.
Don’t get me wrong. This is not the fault of the book or the author. It’s all on me. My attention span has greatly diminished, and these days, when I do read, it’s to turn off my brain instead of having to think on difficult ideas and themes. So, A Memory Called Empire is going on my DNF pile. For now. Maybe some day I’ll pick it back up again. I hope I do. I hope I find that ability in myself again.
Is anyone else experiencing this problem or something similar? The reduced attention span, or the inability to read anything that requires actual thought.
