I feel the need. The need...to read.

[dorinda]

Ugh, lately I have been caught in such a cycle of mostly re-reading books I already own, over and over. And there's nothing wrong with a good re-read, but it's getting a little claustrophobic in here, and I hate to dilute the effectiveness of a Very Favorite Book with too much overuse

Comments

sounds very familiar

[alexfandra]

I've had the same problem for a while now. The bulk of my fiction reading is mysteries or middle-grade children's books, and both seem to be drying up for new, interesting titles, especially the mysteries. I tried re-reading some favorite old authors but it quickly became too obvious that I liked them 30 years ago because I was a different person then. Sigh.

So next I tried 3 different historical mysteries (by contemporary authors) that came highly recommended, only to find them full of anachronisms and 21st-century cultural/social attitudes. Rats.

Anyway, like you, I read tons of nonfiction and it rarely disappoints. Two recent faves: "Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death" by Deborah Blum, and "The Great Wave: Gilded Age Misfits, Japanese Eccentrics, and the Opening of Old Japan" by Christopher Benfey. Good stuff.

Re: sounds very familiar

[dorinda]

Ooh, those sound interesting. Thanks for the recs!

I am also planning to dive into some Mary Beard that I haven't read--her new one about laughter in Ancient Rome, and the 2010 one about Pompeii. I just love her, but mostly these days I read her short-form articles, blog posts, etc., so I was glad to remember, you know, HEY SHE HAS BOOKS.

[tucker_liz]

For fiction, have you read James Rollins? HIs Sigma adventures are based on real science that is kicked up a step or two. Wonderful mix of science, history and adventure

[dorinda]

So many great recs! Thank you!

I haven't read any of them (yet), except for World War Z. That one I listened to as an audiobook, and it was FANTASTIC--they cast all these different actors, being interviewed for the oral history, and really went to town on it.

[keiko_kirin]

Hmmm, if you want to read things...! (Do they need to be finished things? Heh heh)

[dorinda]

Well, as for reading CERTAIN THINGS, I am always in the mood for that... :D

(And...you're back! Are you back? Welcome back!!)

[keiko_kirin]

Well, as for reading CERTAIN THINGS, I am always in the mood for that...

:D I will keep this in mind!

Yes, I'm back! Trip post will be forthcoming...