Thursday, May 28, 2009

Reading, and so on

It was just days after I left a comment on a friend's blog about how I'll never understand twitter, that I logged into my twitter account and now I'm hooked and there's no going back.

And then, a few weeks after leaving yet another comment on a different friend's blog about how I'll never quite get used to reading books from a .pdf file and here I am - doing nothing but reading the trashy romance novels that Harlequin have given away for free.

Funny, isn't it? How things happen? Clearly, I'm not very self-aware. Because I think I was also putting pressure on myself to blog everday, when what I really needed was a mini-break from it all. (even though my google reader is pushing 1000 - I'll get around to all your great posts eventually!)

Anyway, I like books with romance in them, but I never thought I'd enjoy these Harlequin/Mills and Boon type books as much as I have. If you click on the link above, I've skipped over the weird vampire/witch blood story entirely and have left the stories involving babies to last because that's not really my thing, but I've been suprised at the rest. I'm not a total convert, but they really did drag me out of my reading funk. I think I just needed to try something new. And maybe I've been craving a love story. Luckily, they're showing The Thorn Birds on TV and that's fit into my recent mood perfectly.

I've been to the library this morning and now I feel all excited about reading again. I had to return everything that I had checked out before. I had some great books, but it felt like too much pressure to read them because it's the next in the series or because everyone says this book is really good so I must like it, and so on... so, for the second time this year, I just returned everything, wiped the slate clean and started again. I actually felt relieved when I'd left those books behind. Is that a normal reaction? It occurred to me that I haven't shared my library list in awhile, so here they are:

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
The Gathering by Anne Enright
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
Engleby by Sebastian Faulks
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
The Sorrows of an American by Siri Hustvedt

Where should I start?

8 comments:

  1. "Garden Spells." But then, I love books involving food of some sort. Also love "The Sugar Queen," by the same author.

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  2. Mwahahaha...I knew me mentioning Twitter in that post would get you back on it!

    I was going to say Gods Behaving Badly and then I spotted Garden Spells.

    I would say if you can get time in the garden with some sunshine and a cold drink - Garden Spells. (it deserves to be read in the sunshine). If it's grey and rainy then Gods.

    xx

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  3. Sometimes you just have to take time out and get back to life. I am struggling to keep up with blogging myself. I hope you like Garden Spells. I have a couple of good pdf books that I have read to be reviewed if you ever want any.

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  4. I just bought Garden Spells from the library yesterday for $1. The Uncommon Reader is a great book. It's a fast read. Gods Behaving Badly is really funny.

    I'm so glad you feel better now that you've taken your break. Happy reading.

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  5. The Uncommon Reader! A very quick and funny read. I haven't actually read any of the others, though :P

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  6. Quite a stack. I'm new to Twitter. Not addicted yet. I use it more to promote events and activities. It also helps that I don't understand how to use it and since I have not binged on it like I normally do when I find a new platform, my limited knowledge and ability is helping. :-)

    Happy reading.

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  7. I don't read a lot of romance any more, but once upon a time it was my favorite thing to read. I'm still a rabid supporter of the genre though and firmly believe that all the people who hate it just haven't read the right one.

    I haven't read any of your library books, so I'm no help there.

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  8. I loved The Uncommon Reader: it's a definite 'comfort' light book! :)

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