i finished reading oral history last week and I loved it! i loved the way that the characters tied in together. I thought that lee smith did a wonderful job letting the reader become attached to the people in the book. I've now started to read the next book but it is taking me a little more to become interested.
I agree as well everytime I finish a book that I really like such as Oral History. I find that I have a hard time getting into a new book as well sometimes I think it is because I hold the same expectations of the last book for the new book. I get a little disappointed if the book does not hold my attention as fast or as well as the last book. I really have to stop thinking like that and just enjoy the book for what it is a new adventure even if it takes a little more time to get started. That is why I sometimes wait a while to start a new book.