"Servants of the Map"

Well, I've finished reading "Servants of the Map" and I've just gotta say "why"? ( Obviously my view is in the minority and I'm just showing my ignorance. Just look at those reviews.) I will have to admit to my shallowness and say I much prefer reading for enjoyment, rather than forcing myself through a book that really doesn't hold my interest. Or makes me wonder what the author was trying to say, or prove. Maybe she was just expressing her own insecurities through her characters. The book is a series of short novellas, and it wasn't until the last that I found myself drawn into the characters. She's tied some of the characters tenuously to others, in other stories, but I felt like I needed a map to keep them straight. In other words it required too much thinking. And then I was forced to think about why she bothered. I guess its good that I had some thoughts when I was done, since I am supposed to participate in a discussion on said book, but if my thoughts are not coherent (and mostly emotion based) is that enough? I much prefer my current "fun read" Casual Rex by Eric Garcia. No brainpower necessary. (But it gets great reviews too. Maybe everybody does on Amazon.)