FAMINE OR A FEAST.
Or as Mr. Miyagi from the Karate Kid would put it, “Wax On. Wax Off.”
Specifically I’m talking about my bookish habits. In recent weeks I’ve been positively chomping through the pages of my ‘to-be-read’ list.
I have the tendency to have 4-5 books on the go at any one time (usually two of which are novels).
This weekend I just completed The Art of Reading (dense and wordy), the audio-book I am the Messenger (pretty good) and I am Pilgrim (best novel I’ve read this year).
They’ve created space for some new loves in my life. Currently I’m reading Books for Living – a book about books (!), Philip K. Dick’s novel, ‘The Man Whose Teeth Were All Exactly Alike‘ (hard work this one), Jiddu Krishnamurti’s philosophical essays in Freedom from the Known and – how’s this for contrast – on occasion I dip into Los Muertos Vivientes / The Walking Dead comic in Spanish to improve my language skills.
I spent a few wonderful hours yesterday in a second hand bookstore browsing through columns of books and shelves stacked with the most obscure and random titles. Faded moth-eaten hardback classics. Pulp paperbacks with cover-stained covers.
There’s gold in there somewhere. You just gotta know where to find it.
So the question remains…
…what are you reading?
too much and all at once whenever I can between what should be editing time and writing time. Avoidance much?
Like you, I read several books at a time, sometimes more than one novel in there, and no, it does not confuse me. Right now I am reading a hard-hitting novel, Fight Club; A story of a journal written by a young, Japanese girl, A Tale for the Time Being; a book of poetry written by a blogger friend, Evidence of Flossing; a novel about a young Eskimo man seeking his destiny by going on a quest/journey, Dogsbody; The Obelisk Gate the second in a science fantasy series, The Broken Earth series; and probably one in the car and one in the living room. All started, all fun to read.
Wow Rae. That’s a diverse selection. I’m checking some of these out to add to my reading list. Thanks for the recommendations and lovely to hear from you 🙂
Hi Aidan. Not sure how you can read several books at once…I don’t think I could focus on them like that…you must be a far better multitasker than I. 🙂 I’m currently challenging myself by reading the Marquis de Sade’s 120 Days of Sodom…certainly not my usual type of thing…putting aside the rather repetitive, lewd and cruel content, I’m actually enjoying it…it’s all told in a rather light hearted way.
I might caveat my last comment a tad…as I get further into this tome, it gets much harder to stomach…only the first part is complete, the following seem to be in draft form…which kind of takes away the humorous narrative because you’re left with callous, shocking statements of intent. You can see where “Saw” and the like emerged from I think…
Graham, I’ve had this conversation with a few people who read multiples of books at the same time and their answer was illuminating. They have one on eBook, one in the car, one they read in bed, one on audio book to listen to as they clean or travel and so on. I used to have a favorite book I would return to when the mood struck – in the bath. I knew the book well, having read it a few times before.
Crikey. That’s interesting…I guess if you know a book well it’s easier to do. And I can see how the audio option means you can read more in different situations…which is never a bad thing versus the sound of a vacuum! 😄
Love books that provoke a strong response. Maybe that says something about me more than the books. (Dead Inside). Will defo check it out. Any update on the sequel to Baabaric?
I’m planning to continue with the sequel when I finish being a student in a couple of months so hopefully around springtime there might be something ready…but I want to get it just right before release I think.
Interesting about the dead inside comment…maybe no response at all would imply deadness…so at least you have a response! You’re not dead yet, Mr Reid! 😄
Oops, I meant to say that the non-fiction is the “Grammar Devotional” by Grammar Girl. Got to keep that grammar knowledge fresh to spare my editor’s nerves!
‘Sharpen the Saw’ as Stephen Covey would call it. Thanks Gina! Not a bad idea – will have to polish my own knowledge.
That Covey is a wise one!
Bookstores are one of my faves. I have a couple on a list that I want to travel to see – like Turn The Page in Boonsboro, Maryland.
I loved your post and seeing what you thought of those books. Thank you!
Currently reading two books, one fiction, one non-fiction. A popular new release, “Magic Triumphs”, the final book in the Kate Daniels series, by Ilona Andrews. It is nothing short of gripping. I’m sad to see the series end. The authors said that the story was told and I think it is graceful of them to write a different story than to potentially turn the series into a parody of itself simply to make money. They are talented authors and they have more great stories to write.
What a refreshing and excellent post. I love that you gave the titles and described how the book was in a couple of words. Perfect. I knew which ones I would want to skip, or read, in a second. Like you, I read a lot of books at once. There’s a book in every room and sometimes in my car. I can’t leave out Kindle. Just finished a really violent one called THE TRAIL OF LIGHTNING, gratuitous violence and not reading the second one. Also just finished SOURDOUGH, because I loved the author’s first book (not related to this one). Silly and even thought I skipped through it it wasn’t worth even that much. Read HOLLYWOOD DEAD (Sandman Slim)…I LOVE that series so YES. Also just finished Ajax Penumbra 1969, which is the prequel to Mr. Penumbra’s 24 hour bookstore. Loved that one. THE CALCULATING STARS…couldn’t read it. Terrible book for me, at least. Blah. Well, there are more, but I’m sure you’re already sorry you asked. LOL
I love asking others what they’re reading, especially if it’s something obscure and a little outside my comfort zone. Who knows what one will find? 🙂 I’ll start with Hollywood Dead and let you know how I get on! Thanks for the suggestions and your comment.