Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Readus Interruptus
I've been so exhausted and overwhelmed with work lately that only books I've committed to with authors or my students or my book group have crossed my eyes (?). Other than that, I just keep picking them up and caving under their weight.
I need your help.
I need a jump start.
I need a no-fail, gripping, thrilling, brilliantly written book to snap me out of my exhaustion.
Let the passionate biblio-advocacy commence! (Gush to me in the comments. Inspire me, blogistas and blogmen!)
MFB,
L
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4 comments:
(I tried to keep your review policy in mind while compiling this list, but take it all with a grain of salt. These books have kept me up at night while I read "just one more chapter.")
Mistress of the Art of Death (Ariana Franklin)
Let's Pretend This Never Happened (Jenny Lawson)
The Reading Promise (Alice Ozma)
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Cathrynne M. Valente)
Hurt Go Happy (Ginny Rorby)
At Home (Bill Bryson)
Those are the highlights of the year so far. I've reviewed all of these on my blog, if you need a bit more info.
Sorry you're in a slump. Hope you find something fantastic soon!
When I'm in a reading slump I find that short stories are the way to go. My favorite short story collections are Bloodchild by Octavia Butler, Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang, and The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter. I know the titles sound violent, but they really aren't. The first two are literary science fiction, and the third is a bunch of fairy tale retellings. They are all well-written, intelligent, and exciting. Every story just sucks you right in to the worlds the writers create. I'd recommend them to pretty much anybody who wants an exciting read that isn't too simple or formulaic. If you can find a copy, you should check them out.
Wow! My gratitude to both of you for your thoughtful and specific suggestions. I will now leap into Amazon's "look inside" feature and thence to my local library to see which of these promising books will be the first on my jump-start back-to-reading list.
Thank you two once again. Book blogger pals are the best!
L
Also, E: I have much admired Octavia Butler's novels, but never dipped into her short fiction. What a fine suggestion!
B - I thoroughly enjoyed Hurt Go Happy, and I agree it's a stellar page-turner with major heart. The title of the Valente book rocks! That will be my first search after the Butler!
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